Everything about James Best totally explained
James Best (born
July 26 1926,
Powderly, Kentucky) is an
American actor best known for his role as bumbling
Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the television series
The Dukes of Hazzard.
Best was born as
Jules Guy in
Powderly in
Muhlenberg County in western
Kentucky. After his mother died in 1929, the three-year-old was sent to live in an
orphanage. He was later adopted by Armen and Essa Best and went to live with them in
Corydon, Indiana. He began his acting career with an uncredited role in the
1950 western One Way Street.
Best would portray a wide variety of characters in a wide spectrum of film genres. Some of his more notable roles include Jason Brown in the 1955 historical drama
Seven Angry Men, Kit Caswell in the 1958 western
Cole Younger, Gunfighter, Private Rhidges in the 1958 film adaptation of
Norman Mailer's
The Naked and the Dead, the vicious outlaw Billy John in 1959's
Ride Lonesome, Dr. Ben Mizer in the 1966 comedy
Three on a Couch, the
cross dressing Dewey Barksdale in the 1976 drama
Ode to Billy Joe, and the gunman Drew in 1968's
Firecreek, with
James Stewart and
Henry Fonda.
He has also appeared more than 280 times in numerous televisions shows including
Bonanza, Gunsmoke,
Have Gun – Will Travel,
The Twilight Zone,
Alfred Hitchcock Presents,
Combat,
The Mod Squad,
The Andy Griffith Show,
I Spy,
Perry Mason,
The Incredible Hulk,
The Fugitive,
Stagecoach West, and
In the Heat of the Night. Fans of
The Andy Griffith Show will remember Best for his portrayal of the young
guitar player Jim Lindsey in two episodes.
The Dukes of Hazzard role was Best's most visible success. He later revealed that the caricature-like persona of
Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane was developed from a voice he used when he'd play with his young children.
After
Dukes, Best continued to act. He later moved to Florida and taught at the
University of Central Florida. Now semi-retired, Best runs a production company and takes occasional acting roles. He has also earned a name for himself as an artist and painter.
A highly respected acting coach, he taught drama and acting techniques for over 25 years in Los Angeles. His acting school listed some of the top names in Hollywood as pupils. He also served as artist-in-residence and taught drama at the
University of Mississippi for two years prior to his stint on
The Dukes of Hazzard.
Family
He has two daughters, Janeen and Jojami, and a son named Gary.
Partial Filmography
Further Information
Get more info on 'James Best'.
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