Matinee Classics - James Best Biography & Filmography

James Best ACTOR

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JAMES BEST BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

James Best was born on July 26th, 1926 in Powderly, Kentucky with the birth name Jewel Franklin Guy, born the sixth of seven children. At the age of three, his mother passed away and he became an orphan and he was adopted by Armen and Essa Best. He was then re-named, James K. Best and raised in Corydon, Indiana.

After he earned his high school diploma, Best went on to first find work as a metalworker and then decided during World War II to join the United States Army and worked as a military policeman. Upon completing his military service he began to pursue a career in acting, first by joining stock companies and touring on the road.

During a production, a talent scout from Universal Pictures took notice of him and he was signed to a contract. Soon he was appearing in a number of western films and he is most well known for his role as Sheriff Roscoe Coltrane from the television series, "The Dukes of Hazard" (1979-1985).

He began working in films in 1950 with an un-credited role in, "One Way Street" (1950). Soon he began adding other film credits to his resume such as, "Winchester '73" (1950) starring James Stewart, Stephen McNally, Shelley Winters and Dan Duryea, "Seven Angry Men" (1955), "Cole Younger, Gunfighter" (1958), "The Naked and the Dead" (1958), "The Left Handed Gun" (1958) starring Paul Newman, "Ride Lonesome" (1959) starring Randolph Scott, Lee Van Cleef and Pernell Roberts, "Three on a Couch" (1966), "Ode to Billy Joe" (1976) and "Firecreek" (1968) starring Henry Fonda and James Stewart.

In addition to his numerous film roles he also appeared on such television series as, "The Dupont Show with June Allyson", "Wagon Train", "The Adventures of Kit Carson", "Sheriff of Cochise", "Pony Express", "Bonanza", "Gunsmoke", "Overland Trail", "Perry Mason", "The Fugitive" and "Stagecoach West" among many others.

Towards the end of his career, he began to suffer from a number of ailments and therefore did not perform so much, however he remained working in the industry establishing a well known acting workshop in Los Angeles, California, that taught actors Motion Picture Technique. In addition, he worked as a teacher at the University of Mississippi and also relocated to Florida in 1987 and taught in at the University of Central Florida.

He is for the most part now retired from the industry, but on occasion will make an appearance and is also a talented artist. James has a number of paintings that he chooses to have displayed at various exhibits.

James Best has married a total of three times. He and his second wife Jobee Ayers have two daughters together and were married from 1959 through 1977. He also has one son, Gary, from a previous marriage. He is currently married to his third wife, Dorothy Vest whom he wed in 1986. He and his wife own their own production company along with Kevin Lang called, "Best Friend Films" and currently reside in North Carolina.

Filmography

2013 Confections of a Discarded Woman

2012 Return of the Killer Shrews

2007 Moondance Alexander

2006 Once Not Far from Home

2006 Hot Tamale

2004 The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee

2004 House of Forever

2000 The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood

1999 The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home

1998 Finders Keepers

1998 Death Mask

1997 Raney

1997 The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!

1991 In the Heat of the Night

1990 B.L. Stryker

1979-1985 The Dukes of Hazzard

1983 The Dukes