
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
1937
Horse Heir
1935

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company "B"
1941
Mississippi Moods
1937

Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy
1962

The Smiling Ghost
1941

Down the Stretch
1936

Breakdowns of 1941
1941
Hit and Rum
1935

The Hidden Hand
1942
The Lady Fights Back
1937

Two in Revolt
1936
Minstrel Days
1941

The Red Dragon
1945

The Face of Marble
1946

Whispering Ghosts
1942

The Monster and the Ape
1945

West of the Pecos
1934
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel
2001

The Ghost Breakers
1940

Dangerous Money
1946

Nothing but the Truth
1941

The Girl Who Dared
1944
Raised and Called
1935

The Red Stallion
1947

Mummy's Boys
1936

The Bride Walks Out
1936

Hot Tip
1935

Scattergood Baines
1941

Meet the O'Briens
1954

The Littlest Rebel
1935

The Bride Wore Boots
1946

Goodbye Broadway
1938

Saturday's Heroes
1937

Kentucky Kernels
1934

Racing Lady
1937

The Monster Walks
1932

Breezing Home
1937

Highway West
1941

Murder on a Honeymoon
1935

Maisie Gets Her Man
1942

The Lady from Cheyenne
1941

South of Caliente
1951

The Mark of the Whistler
1944

The Arizonian
1935

Virtuous Husband
1931

The Body Disappears
1941

Cinderella Swings It
1943

Feet First
1930

Busses Roar
1942

Super-Sleuth
1937

Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
1940

Home in Indiana
1944

Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
1939

Murder on a Bridle Path
1936

Cabin in the Sky
1943

Pillow to Post
1945

The Nitwits
1935

Blackmail
1939

Thank You, Jeeves!
1936

The Shanghai Chest
1948

She Wouldn't Say Yes
1945

Kisses for Breakfast
1941

Gold Is Where You Find It
1938

Ladies of Leisure
1930

Suddenly It's Spring
1947

I'm from the City
1938

Silly Billies
1936

The Kansan
1943

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004

Blondie
1938

Scattergood Survives a Murder
1942

High Sierra
1941

Juke Girl
1942

Road Show
1941

Merrily We Live
1938

Meet the Missus
1937

To Beat the Band
1935

Way Down South
1939

Night Waitress
1936

General Spanky
1936

Vivacious Lady
1938

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975

The Adventures of Mark Twain
1944

Ellis in Freedomland
1952

Hold That Blonde!
1945

Everybody's Doing It
1938

You Can't Buy Luck
1937

Crashing Hollywood
1938

Blondie on a Budget
1940

I Take This Woman
1940

The Powers Girl
1943

Dixie
1943

At the Circus
1939

The Saint Strikes Back
1939

Jalna
1935

Half Past Midnight
1948

The Guilty Generation
1931

The Covered Trailer
1939

A-Haunting We Will Go
1942

Money and the Woman
1940

Youth Takes a Fling
1938

Up Pops the Devil
1931

Private Detective
1939

Little Miss Marker
1934

Mr. Moto in Danger Island
1939

Blondie Brings Up Baby
1939

Flight from Destiny
1941

Spring Madness
1938

Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
1939

Music for Millions
1944

The Green Pastures
1936

Muss 'em Up
1936

Slightly Honorable
1939

We Who Are About to Die
1937
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976

Straight, Place and Show
1938

Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943

My Little Margie
1952

Racket Squad
1951

The Stu Erwin Show
1950

Waterfront
1954