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

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.
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.
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.
Gold Is Where You Find ItGold Is Where You Find It · 1938
Gold Is Where You Find It
7.01938
MovieDramaRomance
Colonel Ferris, a wealthy farmer in northern California, is strongly opposed to hydraulic mining, a new method developed during the gold rush of the 1870's, which is flooding the area's prosperous farmlands. Despite Ferris' political stance, Jared Whitney, a mining engineer from the East, becomes friends with the colonel's son Lance and falls in love with his daughter Serena. Family tensions deepen when the colonel's brother Ralph gives up farming to go to San Francisco to work for his wife Rosanna's father, Harrison McCooey, a leader in the mining venture. When Lance follows Ralph, the colonel, focusing his anger on Jared, forbids him to see Serena.
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.
At the CircusAt the Circus · 1939
At the Circus
6.41939
MovieComedyMusic
Jeff Wilson, the owner of a small circus, owes his partner Carter $10,000. Before Jeff can pay, Carter's accomplices steal the money so he can take over the circus. Antonio Pirelli and Punchy, who work at the circus, together with lawyer Loophole try to find the thief and get the money back.
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.

Filmography

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