Willie Best

Acting

Willie Best

Born May 27, 1913 · Sunflower, Mississippi, USA

Died November 27, 1962 · aged 49

William “Willie” Best (May 27, 1916 - February 27, 1962), sometimes known as “Sleep n' Eat,” was an American television and film actor. Best was one of the first African-American film actors and comedians to become well known. In the 21st century, his work, like that of Stepin Fetchit, is sometimes reviled because he was often called upon to play stereotypically lazy, illiterate, and/or simple-min…

Known For

Vivacious LadyVivacious Lady · 1938
Vivacious Lady
7.01938
MovieComedyRomance
College town life gets turned upside down after a button-down botany professor secretly weds a sizzling night-club singer.
BlondieBlondie · 1938
Blondie
7.01938
MovieComedyFamily
Blondie and Dagwood are about to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary but this happy occasion is marred when the bumbling Dagwood gets himself involved in a scheme that is promising financial ruin for the Bumstead family.
The Ghost BreakersThe Ghost Breakers · 1940
The Ghost Breakers
6.51940
MovieComedyHorror
After intrepid working girl Mary Carter becomes the new owner of a reputedly haunted mansion located off the Cuban coast, a stranger phones warning her to stay away from the castle. Undaunted, Mary sets sail for Cuba with a stowaway in her trunk—wise-cracking Larry Lawrence, a radio announcer who helps Mary get to the bottom of the voodoo magic, zombies and ghosts that supposedly curse the spooky estate.
DixieDixie · 1943
Dixie
5.01943
MovieMusicComedy
A young songwriter leaves his Kentucky home to try to make it in New Orleans. Eventually he winds up in New York, where he sells his songs to a music publisher, but refuses to sell his most treasured composition: "Dixie." The film is based on the life of Daniel Decatur Emmett, who wrote the classic song "Dixie."
Breakdowns of 1941Breakdowns of 1941 · 1941
Breakdowns of 1941
7.01941
MovieComedyDocumentary
Flubs and bloopers that occurred on the set of some of the major Warner Bros. pictures of 1941.
Night WaitressNight Waitress · 1936
Night Waitress
6.41936
MovieRomanceCrime
Helen Roberts, who's on probation, goes back to work as a waitress at Torre's Fish Palace, a San Francisco waterfront dive. The customers are low characters trying to make time with Helen and ex-rum runners trying to make a dishonest dollar. Some of the latter, including Helen's unwelcome suitor Martin Rhodes, are after a mysterious, valuable hidden "cargo"; when violence erupts, Helen finds herself innocently involved, and is soon on the run from both cops and crooks.
Ladies of LeisureLadies of Leisure · 1930
Ladies of Leisure
6.21930
MovieDramaRomance
Kay Arnold is a gold digger who wanders from party to party with the intention of catching a rich suitor. Jerry Strong is a young man from a wealthy family who strives to succeed as an artist. What begins as a relationship of mutual convenience soon turns into something else.
Juke GirlJuke Girl · 1942
Juke Girl
7.21942
MovieCrimeDrama
During the depths of the Great Depression a hitch-hiker Steve Talbot and jukebox-joint hostess Lola Mears stumble into Cat-Tail Florida where farmers and pickers struggle under the buyer who rules by monopoly, dirty contracts and violence. Steve helps organize against the buyer, leading to further escalation ending in a lynch mob.

Movies

Vivacious LadyVivacious Lady · 1938
Vivacious Lady
7.01938
MovieComedyRomance
College town life gets turned upside down after a button-down botany professor secretly weds a sizzling night-club singer.
BlondieBlondie · 1938
Blondie
7.01938
MovieComedyFamily
Blondie and Dagwood are about to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary but this happy occasion is marred when the bumbling Dagwood gets himself involved in a scheme that is promising financial ruin for the Bumstead family.
The Ghost BreakersThe Ghost Breakers · 1940
The Ghost Breakers
6.51940
MovieComedyHorror
After intrepid working girl Mary Carter becomes the new owner of a reputedly haunted mansion located off the Cuban coast, a stranger phones warning her to stay away from the castle. Undaunted, Mary sets sail for Cuba with a stowaway in her trunk—wise-cracking Larry Lawrence, a radio announcer who helps Mary get to the bottom of the voodoo magic, zombies and ghosts that supposedly curse the spooky estate.
DixieDixie · 1943
Dixie
5.01943
MovieMusicComedy
A young songwriter leaves his Kentucky home to try to make it in New Orleans. Eventually he winds up in New York, where he sells his songs to a music publisher, but refuses to sell his most treasured composition: "Dixie." The film is based on the life of Daniel Decatur Emmett, who wrote the classic song "Dixie."
Breakdowns of 1941Breakdowns of 1941 · 1941
Breakdowns of 1941
7.01941
MovieComedyDocumentary
Flubs and bloopers that occurred on the set of some of the major Warner Bros. pictures of 1941.
Night WaitressNight Waitress · 1936
Night Waitress
6.41936
MovieRomanceCrime
Helen Roberts, who's on probation, goes back to work as a waitress at Torre's Fish Palace, a San Francisco waterfront dive. The customers are low characters trying to make time with Helen and ex-rum runners trying to make a dishonest dollar. Some of the latter, including Helen's unwelcome suitor Martin Rhodes, are after a mysterious, valuable hidden "cargo"; when violence erupts, Helen finds herself innocently involved, and is soon on the run from both cops and crooks.
Ladies of LeisureLadies of Leisure · 1930
Ladies of Leisure
6.21930
MovieDramaRomance
Kay Arnold is a gold digger who wanders from party to party with the intention of catching a rich suitor. Jerry Strong is a young man from a wealthy family who strives to succeed as an artist. What begins as a relationship of mutual convenience soon turns into something else.
Juke GirlJuke Girl · 1942
Juke Girl
7.21942
MovieCrimeDrama
During the depths of the Great Depression a hitch-hiker Steve Talbot and jukebox-joint hostess Lola Mears stumble into Cat-Tail Florida where farmers and pickers struggle under the buyer who rules by monopoly, dirty contracts and violence. Steve helps organize against the buyer, leading to further escalation ending in a lynch mob.
Hot TipHot Tip · 1935
Hot Tip
7.01935
MovieComedy
An amateur handicapper must help his future son-in-law recoup the money he lost while playing the ponies.
Racing LadyRacing Lady · 1937
Racing Lady
6.01937
MovieDramaRomance
A shrewd millionaire who owns races horses for publicity for his automobile business, claims ownership of a female horse trainer's thoroughbred in order to get the trainer.
High SierraHigh Sierra · 1941
High Sierra
7.11941
MovieCrimeDrama
Given a pardon from jail, Roy Earle gets back into the swing of things as he robs a swanky resort.
Super-SleuthSuper-Sleuth · 1937
Super-Sleuth
5.61937
MovieMysteryComedy
A movie actor playing a detective gets carried away with his role and starts trying to solve real-life crimes.
Thank You, Jeeves!Thank You, Jeeves! · 1936
Thank You, Jeeves!
6.41936
MovieComedy
Jeeves tries to keep his young master out of trouble.
Mummy's BoysMummy's Boys · 1936
Mummy's Boys
5.01936
MovieComedy
Wheeler & Woolsey comedy about two moronic ditch diggers, recruited for an archaeology expedition, getting mixed up with jewel thieves and an ancient Egyptian "curse."
Little Miss MarkerLittle Miss Marker · 1934
Little Miss Marker
6.51934
MovieComedyFamily
Big Steve Halloway, gambler and proprietor of New York's Horseshoe Cabaret, is in desperate need of money. He arranges for his fellow bookies, especially Sorrowful Jones, to each pay him $1,000 for his racehorse, Dream Prince, to lose. With all bets being placed at the window, Sorrowful encounters a gambler, having lost $500, wanting to place his bet but unable to come up with $20. Instead, he places his little girl, Marthy Jane, as security, or in bookie's terms a "marker". "Marky", as she comes to be known, winds up under the care of Sorrowful Jones and his lady friend, singer Bangles Carson.
Hold That Blonde!Hold That Blonde! · 1945
Hold That Blonde!
6.21945
MovieComedy
Ogden Spencer Trulow III is a wealthy kleptomaniac who turned to stealing when he was spurned by a girl. His psychoanalyst advises him to find another girl for a cure. He fastens his interest upon Sally Martin, who happens to be engaged in helping some crooks steal a valuable necklace.
Virtuous HusbandVirtuous Husband · 1931
Virtuous Husband
8.01931
MovieComedyRomance
When a rich young man marries, he lets the books and letters left him by his dead mother guide his life.
Ellis in FreedomlandEllis in Freedomland · 1952
Ellis in Freedomland
1952
Movie
Westinghouse claims its electric appliances "freed women from the drudgery of housework." The first half involves a dream salesman at work; the second half is focused on the "Spring Sales Event," called "Freedomland."
Merrily We LiveMerrily We Live · 1938
Merrily We Live
6.91938
MovieComedyRomance
Society matron Emily Kilbourne has a habit of hiring ex-cons and hobos as servants. Her latest find is a handsome tramp who shows up at her doorstep and ends up in a chauffeur's uniform. He also catches the eye of Geraldine.
The Girl Who DaredThe Girl Who Dared · 1944
The Girl Who Dared
6.11944
MovieThrillerMystery
A group of people are invited to a party at a creepy mansion where legend has it a ghost appears once a year.
The Powers GirlThe Powers Girl · 1943
The Powers Girl
7.01943
MovieComedyMusic
Two small-town sisters who've come to New York City for very different reasons find themselves competing for the affections of a brash magazine photographer. Comedy.
Meet the O'BriensMeet the O'Briens · 1954
Meet the O'Briens
1954
MovieComedy
An unsold pilot about a clumsy, unemployed dopey guy with a wife living with his in-laws.
The Red StallionThe Red Stallion · 1947
The Red Stallion
10.01947
MovieWestern
Family film about an elderly rancher, her young grandson, and the horse that the child raises from a colt.
Up Pops the DevilUp Pops the Devil · 1931
Up Pops the Devil
5.01931
MovieComedy
The marriage of an advertising man is jeopardized when he gets a chance to sell a novel he's been working on and quits his job to concentrate on writing. In order to support the family, the wife is forced to take a job as a dancer in a Broadway show. As the marriage begins to fall apart, complications ensue when she discovers that she's pregnant.

TV Shows

WaterfrontWaterfront · 1954
Waterfront
7.51954
SeriesDrama
Waterfront is an 1954-1955 American series following the adventures of tugboat captain John Herrick, played by Preston Foster.
Racket SquadRacket Squad · 1951
Racket Squad
6.51951
SeriesDrama
Racket Squad is an American TV crime drama series starring Reed Hadley as Captain John Braddock, a fictional detective working for the San Francisco, California Police Department. The show aired in syndication for a season before being picked up by CBS for three seasons. The series was filmed at Hal Roach Studios in Culver City, California, and was sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris, hence there was a pack of the sponsor's brand on Braddock's desk at the beginning and end of the episode, as well as occasional scenes of him or other characters "lighting up".
The Stu Erwin ShowThe Stu Erwin Show · 1950
The Stu Erwin Show
7.71950
SeriesComedy
My Little MargieMy Little Margie · 1952
My Little Margie
5.01952
SeriesComedy
My Little Margie is an American situation comedy starring Gale Storm and Charles Farrell that alternated between CBS and NBC from 1952 to 1955.