James Best
American actor, musician, artist (1926-2015) · United States · On the map · Actors · Died at 88
Jewel Franklin Guy, known professionally as James Best, was an American television, film, stage, and voice actor, as well as a writer, director, acting coach, artist, college professor, and musician.
James Best is read about 761 times a day, in 24 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 9 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 114 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
Gore Vidal: The United States of AmnesiaFilm2007
Moondance AlexanderFilm, McClancy2006
Hot TamaleFilm, Hank Larson1997
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!Film, Boss / Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane1988
In the Heat of the NightSeries1979
The Dukes of HazzardSeries, Director1977
Rolling ThunderFilm, Texan1976
NickelodeonFilm, Jim1968
FirecreekFilm, Drew1965
ShenandoahFilm, Carter, Rebel Soldier1964
Daniel BooneSeries, Jethro Wyatt1963
Shock CorridorFilm, Stuart1962
Combat!Series, Trenton1961
Ben CaseySeries1960
The Andy Griffith ShowSeries, Jim Lindsey1959
BonanzaSeries, Sheriff Vern Schaler
Ride LonesomeFilm, 1959Billy John1957
Have Gun, Will TravelSeries1956
Forbidden PlanetFilm, Crewman (uncredited)1955
Alfred Hitchcock PresentsSeries, Norman Frayne1954
Climax!Series, Shag1953
Column SouthFilm, Primrose1952
Flat TopFilm, Radio Operator1950
Comanche TerritoryFilm, Sam1926Born26 July 1926People around James
Denver Pyle Also in The Dukes of Hazzard and Shenandoah
Budd Boetticher Directed Ride Lonesome and Seminole
Gregg Palmer Also in Shenandoah and The Cimarron Kid
R. G. Springsteen Directed Black Spurs (1965)
George Sherman Directed The Battle at Apache Pass (1952)
Rock Hudson Also in Seminole, I Was a Shoplifter and Peggy
Audie Murphy Also in The Cimarron Kid and Column South
Michael Damian Directed Moondance Alexander and Hot Tamale
Hugo Fregonese Directed Apache Drums and The Raid
James Stewart Also in Winchester '73, Shenandoah and Firecreek
Lee Marvin Also in Seminole, The Raid and The Rack
Samuel Fuller Directed Shock Corridor and Verboten!
John Schneider Also in The Dukes of Hazzard
Claude Akins Also in First to Fight, The Raid and Black Gold- Walter Mirisch Produced Flat Top and Cast a Long Shadow
- Lesley Selander Directed Flat Top and The Yellow Tomahawk
Frank Ferguson Also in The Cimarron Kid and The Quick Gun
Rick Hurst Also in The Dukes of Hazzard- Fred de Cordova Directed Column South and Peggy
Leslie H. Martinson Directed Temple Houston and Black Gold
Aaron Rosenberg Produced Winchester '73 and Air Cadet
Tony Curtis Also in Winchester '73 and Kansas Raiders
Hugh O'Brian Also in Seminole and The Cimarron Kid
Sonny Shroyer Also in The Dukes of Hazzard
James BestPartners
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Correct this familyKnown for
View all 40 titles
Sounder 1972
Forbidden Planet 1956
Winchester '73 1950
The Caine Mutiny 1954
Shenandoah 1965
Filmography 40
170 credits on file
Television 24
Media & music
About this person
During a career that spanned more than 60 years, Best, who was known for his high-pitched, exasperated voice, performed not only in feature films, but also in scores of television series.
