- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJewel Franklin Guy
- Nickname
- Jimmie
- Height6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
- American character actor and teacher. Born Jewel Guy in Powderly, Kentucky, on July 26, 1926, he was orphaned at three and adopted by Armen and Essa Knowland Best, who renamed him James Knowland Best and raised him in Corydon, Indiana. Following high school he worked briefly as a metalworker before joining the Army during World War II in July 1944. The majority of his service was as an MP in Wiesbaden, Germany just after the end of the war. While still in Germany, Best was transferred to Special Services and began his acting career. According to Best, he first acted in a European tour of "My Sister Eileen" directed by Arthur Penn. Upon his return to the U.S., he toured in road and stock companies in plays and musicals, and was finally spotted by a scout from Universal Pictures, who put him under contract. A handsome young man, his rural inflections perhaps kept him from frequent leading man roles. During the 1950s and '60s, he was a familiar face in movies and television in a wide range of roles, from Western bad guys to craven cowards and country bumpkins. Physical ailments curtailed his work for a long period late in his career, and he established a well-respected acting workshop in Los Angeles. He also served as artist-in-residence at the University of Mississippi, teaching and directing. He worked in both acting and producing capacities for Burt Reynolds on several of the latter's films in the late 1970s, before taking on his greatest commercial success. Although the The Dukes of Hazzard (1979) TV series was far beneath his talents, his role as Sheriff Rosco Coltrane was the part that gave him his greatest fame. He continued teaching, both in Hollywood and later in Florida (at the University of Central Florida). Semi-retired, he makes personal appearances and exhibits his paintings. James Best starred in the 2007 feature film, Moondance Alexander (2007), along with Don Johnson, Lori Loughlin, Kay Panabaker, Sasha Cohen and Whitney Sloan.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net> / edited by Rob
- SpousesDorothy Best(August 15, 1986 - April 6, 2015) (his death)JoBee Ziegler(August 6, 1958 - 1977) (divorced, 2 children)Matilda Jean Engleberg(September 14, 1949 - August 4, 1954) (divorced, 1 child)
- ChildrenGary Alan Knowland BestJojami Kay Best
- RelativesJennifer Lyons(Cousin)Don Everly(Cousin)John Collier(Sibling)Phil Everly(Cousin)
- Southern accent.
- Roles in Westerns.
- High-pitched, exasperated voice.
- The catchphrases - "Cuff 'Em and Stuff 'Em!" and "Kew-kew-kew-kew!"
- Occasionally worked with Burt Reynolds.
- Had a black belt in karate.
- It was Best's idea to bring his real-life dog on The Dukes of Hazzard (1979) with him; her name was "Flash".
- When casting The Dukes of Hazzard (1979), there was a concern about Best's health. He had had at least one heart attack and insuring him was problematic to the degree that he might not have gotten the part. His friend Clint Eastwood stepped up and posted the insurance bond for him.
- Cousin of singers Don Everly and Phil Everly.
- In the mid-70s he decided to take a semi-retirement, and became an artist-in-residence at the University of Mississippi. During his two years there, he taught motion picture technique and drama, directed four plays, established the Mississippi Film Commission and was elected to the university's Hall of Fame.
- [on Norman Lloyd turning 100 in 2014] I had the honor to have been directed by Norman in [The Jar (1964)]. Having worked with hundreds of directors in my career, I found very few that had Norman's qualities. He was most kind, gracious and patient with his actors. He is in all respects a complete gentleman in his personal life and I found it a genuine pleasure just to be in the presence of such a talented man. I am also doubly honored to consider him my friend. We are so blessed to have such a man among us for so long.
- [on his favorite The Dukes of Hazzard (1979) episode] What I really enjoyed was the episode where Rosco thinks he inherits a million dollars and makes Boss Hogg his deputy. That was a fun, fun show. And then the other show that I enjoyed, I got to play a dual role, where I play a guy who actually has his face built like Rosco and he's trying to imitate Rosco. So I actually play Rosco two different ways. That one was fun. But I'll be very honest with you. Almost every show that I worked, it was a blessing. I worked, of course, mostly with Boss Hogg. Sorrell Booke [Boss Hogg] spoke five languages. He was a brilliant actor, and he let me ad lib all over the place, and he would go along with it.
- When I was putting the "Best of Hollywood" book together, I sat down and added up just the list of Westerns I've done, and it came to well over 200.
- [on his early career] Well, I was very lucky, because I was under contract with Universal Studios for two years, and after I got out of there, I got up with Gene Autry and his series. So I was working constantly.
- [in 2009, about his role as Rosco Coltrane in The Dukes of Hazzard (1979)] I acted the part, as good as I could. Rosco, let's face it, was a charmer. It was a fun thing.
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