Willie Best

Willie Best

Known for: Acting

Born: May 27, 1913

Died: November 27, 1962

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-minded characters in films. Of the 124 films he appeared in, he received screen credit in at least 77,…

Known for

Deep South
Deep South
1937
Horse Heir
1935
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company "B"
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company "B"
1941
Mississippi Moods
1937
Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy
Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy
1962
The Smiling Ghost
The Smiling Ghost
1941
Down the Stretch
Down the Stretch
1936
Breakdowns of 1941
Breakdowns of 1941
1941
Hit and Rum
1935
The Hidden Hand
The Hidden Hand
1942
The Lady Fights Back
1937
Two in Revolt
Two in Revolt
1936
Minstrel Days
1941
The Red Dragon
The Red Dragon
1945
The Face of Marble
The Face of Marble
1946
Whispering Ghosts
Whispering Ghosts
1942
The Monster and the Ape
The Monster and the Ape
1945
West of the Pecos
West of the Pecos
1934
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel
2001
The Ghost Breakers
The Ghost Breakers
1940
Dangerous Money
Dangerous Money
1946
Nothing but the Truth
Nothing but the Truth
1941
The Girl Who Dared
The Girl Who Dared
1944
Raised and Called
1935
The Red Stallion
The Red Stallion
1947
Mummy's Boys
Mummy's Boys
1936
The Bride Walks Out
The Bride Walks Out
1936
Hot Tip
Hot Tip
1935
Scattergood Baines
Scattergood Baines
1941
Meet the O'Briens
Meet the O'Briens
1954
The Littlest Rebel
The Littlest Rebel
1935
The Bride Wore Boots
The Bride Wore Boots
1946
Goodbye Broadway
Goodbye Broadway
1938
Saturday's Heroes
Saturday's Heroes
1937
Kentucky Kernels
Kentucky Kernels
1934
Racing Lady
Racing Lady
1937
The Monster Walks
The Monster Walks
1932
Breezing Home
Breezing Home
1937
Highway West
Highway West
1941
Murder on a Honeymoon
Murder on a Honeymoon
1935
Maisie Gets Her Man
Maisie Gets Her Man
1942
The Lady from Cheyenne
The Lady from Cheyenne
1941
South of Caliente
South of Caliente
1951
The Mark of the Whistler
The Mark of the Whistler
1944
The Arizonian
The Arizonian
1935
Virtuous Husband
Virtuous Husband
1931
The Body Disappears
The Body Disappears
1941
Cinderella Swings It
Cinderella Swings It
1943
Feet First
Feet First
1930
Busses Roar
Busses Roar
1942
Super-Sleuth
Super-Sleuth
1937
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
1940
Home in Indiana
Home in Indiana
1944
Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
1939
Murder on a Bridle Path
Murder on a Bridle Path
1936
Cabin in the Sky
Cabin in the Sky
1943
Pillow to Post
Pillow to Post
1945
The Nitwits
The Nitwits
1935
Blackmail
Blackmail
1939
Thank You, Jeeves!
Thank You, Jeeves!
1936
The Shanghai Chest
The Shanghai Chest
1948
She Wouldn't Say Yes
She Wouldn't Say Yes
1945
Kisses for Breakfast
Kisses for Breakfast
1941
Gold Is Where You Find It
Gold Is Where You Find It
1938
Ladies of Leisure
Ladies of Leisure
1930
Suddenly It's Spring
Suddenly It's Spring
1947
I'm from the City
I'm from the City
1938
Silly Billies
Silly Billies
1936
The Kansan
The Kansan
1943
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
Blondie
Blondie
1938
Scattergood Survives a Murder
Scattergood Survives a Murder
1942
High Sierra
High Sierra
1941
Juke Girl
Juke Girl
1942
Road Show
Road Show
1941
Merrily We Live
Merrily We Live
1938
Meet the Missus
Meet the Missus
1937
To Beat the Band
To Beat the Band
1935
Way Down South
Way Down South
1939
Night Waitress
Night Waitress
1936
General Spanky
General Spanky
1936
Vivacious Lady
Vivacious Lady
1938
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
The Adventures of Mark Twain
The Adventures of Mark Twain
1944
Ellis in Freedomland
Ellis in Freedomland
1952
Hold That Blonde!
Hold That Blonde!
1945
Everybody's Doing It
Everybody's Doing It
1938
You Can't Buy Luck
You Can't Buy Luck
1937
Crashing Hollywood
Crashing Hollywood
1938
Blondie on a Budget
Blondie on a Budget
1940
I Take This Woman
I Take This Woman
1940
The Powers Girl
The Powers Girl
1943
Dixie
Dixie
1943
At the Circus
At the Circus
1939
The Saint Strikes Back
The Saint Strikes Back
1939
Jalna
Jalna
1935
Half Past Midnight
Half Past Midnight
1948
The Guilty Generation
The Guilty Generation
1931
The Covered Trailer
The Covered Trailer
1939
A-Haunting We Will Go
A-Haunting We Will Go
1942
Money and the Woman
Money and the Woman
1940
Youth Takes a Fling
Youth Takes a Fling
1938
Up Pops the Devil
Up Pops the Devil
1931
Private Detective
Private Detective
1939
Little Miss Marker
Little Miss Marker
1934
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
1939
Blondie Brings Up Baby
Blondie Brings Up Baby
1939
Flight from Destiny
Flight from Destiny
1941
Spring Madness
Spring Madness
1938
Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
1939
Music for Millions
Music for Millions
1944
The Green Pastures
The Green Pastures
1936
Muss 'em Up
Muss 'em Up
1936
Slightly Honorable
Slightly Honorable
1939
We Who Are About to Die
We Who Are About to Die
1937
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976
Straight, Place and Show
Straight, Place and Show
1938
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943
My Little Margie
My Little Margie
1952
Racket Squad
Racket Squad
1951
The Stu Erwin Show
The Stu Erwin Show
1950
Waterfront
Waterfront
1954