Willie Best
Acting Born May 27, 1913 Died Nov 27, 1962 Sunflower, Mississippi, USA 122 credits
Biography
Willie Best works in acting. Born May 27, 1913 in Sunflower, Mississippi, USA. Died November 27, 1962. Archytele tracks 122 screen credits across canonical film and television databases.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy
WaterfrontMeet the O'Briens
My Little MargieEllis in Freedomland
Racket SquadSouth of Caliente
The Stu Erwin Show
The Shanghai ChestHalf Past Midnight
The Red StallionSuddenly It's Spring
The Bride Wore BootsThe Face of MarbleDangerous Money
Hold That Blonde!The Monster and the ApeShe Wouldn't Say YesThe Red DragonPillow to Post
The Adventures of Mark TwainThe Girl Who DaredMusic for MillionsThe Mark of the WhistlerHome in Indiana
DixieThe KansanThank Your Lucky StarsCabin in the SkyCinderella Swings It
Juke GirlA-Haunting We Will GoThe Hidden HandScattergood Survives a MurderBusses Roar
High SierraBreakdowns of 1941Nothing but the TruthFlight from DestinyThe Lady from Cheyenne
The Ghost BreakersMoney and the WomanI Take This WomanBlondie on a BudgetWho Killed Aunt Maggie?
At the CircusMr. Moto Takes a VacationWay Down SouthSlightly HonorableMr. Moto in Danger Island
Vivacious LadyBlondieMerrily We LiveGold Is Where You Find ItEverybody's Doing It
Racing LadySuper-SleuthYou Can't Buy LuckWe Who Are About to DieDeep South
Night WaitressThank You, Jeeves!Murder on a Bridle PathThe Bride Walks OutMummy's Boys
Hot TipThe Littlest RebelThe ArizonianHorse HeirMurder on a Honeymoon
Little Miss MarkerWest of the PecosKentucky Kernels
The Monster Walks
Virtuous HusbandUp Pops the DevilThe Guilty Generation
Ladies of LeisureFeet First
Full Filmography
122 titles- TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel (2001) as Self (archive footage)
- Bob Hope's World of Comedy (1976) as Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) as Self (archive footage)
- Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy (1962) as Charlie (archive footage)
- Waterfront (1954) as Billy Slocum
- Meet the O'Briens (1954) as Willie
- My Little Margie (1952)
- Ellis in Freedomland (1952) as Male Model
- Racket Squad (1951)
- South of Caliente (1951) as Willie, Stable Boy
- The Stu Erwin Show (1950) as Willie
- The Shanghai Chest (1948) as Willie Best
- Half Past Midnight (1948) as Andy Jones
- The Red Stallion (1947) as Jackson
- Suddenly It's Spring (1947) as Porter on Train
- The Bride Wore Boots (1946) as Joe
- The Face of Marble (1946) as Shadrach
- Dangerous Money (1946) as Chattanooga Brown
- Hold That Blonde! (1945) as Willie Shelley
- The Monster and the Ape (1945) as Flash
- She Wouldn't Say Yes (1945) as Porter (uncredited)
- The Red Dragon (1945) as Chattanooga Brown
- Pillow to Post (1945) as Lucille, Colonial Auto Court Porter
- The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944) as Butler
- The Girl Who Dared (1944) as Woodrow
- Music for Millions (1944) as Red Cap (uncredited)
- The Mark of the Whistler (1944) as Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)
- Home in Indiana (1944) as Mo' Rum (uncredited)
- Dixie (1943) as Steward (uncredited)
- The Kansan (1943) as Bones
- Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) as Soldier in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
- Cabin in the Sky (1943) as Second Idea Man
- Cinderella Swings It (1943) as Hipp
- The Powers Girl (1943) as Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)
- Juke Girl (1942) as Jo-Mo
- A-Haunting We Will Go (1942) as Waiter
- The Hidden Hand (1942) as Eustis, the chauffeur
- Scattergood Survives a Murder (1942) as Hipp
- Busses Roar (1942) as Sunshine
- Maisie Gets Her Man (1942) as Sam (Uncredited)
- Whispering Ghosts (1942) as Euclid White Brown
- High Sierra (1941) as Algernon
- Breakdowns of 1941 (1941) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Nothing but the Truth (1941) as Samuel
- Flight from Destiny (1941) as George
- The Lady from Cheyenne (1941) as George
- Kisses for Breakfast (1941) as Arnold
- Road Show (1941) as Willie
- Highway West (1941) as Bub Wellington
- The Smiling Ghost (1941) as Clarence
- The Body Disappears (1941) as Willie
- Scattergood Baines (1941) as Hipp
- Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company "B" (1941) as Hot-Breath Harry (voice) (uncredited)
- Minstrel Days (1941) as Singer
- The Ghost Breakers (1940) as Alex
- Money and the Woman (1940) as George Washington Jones
- I Take This Woman (1940) as Sambo
- Blondie on a Budget (1940) as Newsboy (uncredited)
- Who Killed Aunt Maggie? (1940) as Andrew
- At the Circus (1939) as Redcap (uncredited)
- Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation (1939) as Driver (uncredited)
- Way Down South (1939) as Chimney Sweep
- Slightly Honorable (1939) as Art, Elevator Operator
- Mr. Moto in Danger Island (1939) as Launch Pilot
- Private Detective (1939) as Norton's Valet
- Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter (1939) as Apollo Johnson
- The Saint Strikes Back (1939) as Algernon, Simon's Butler (Uncredited)
- Blackmail (1939) as Bunny - the Janitor (uncredited)
- Blondie Brings Up Baby (1939) as Hotel Janitor (uncredited)
- The Covered Trailer (1939) as Baltimore
- Vivacious Lady (1938) as Porter
- Blondie (1938) as Porter
- Merrily We Live (1938) as George
- Gold Is Where You Find It (1938) as Joshua
- Everybody's Doing It (1938) as Jasper - Elevator Operator
- Crashing Hollywood (1938) as Train Porter (uncredited)
- Goodbye Broadway (1938) as Jughead
- Spring Madness (1938) as Porter on Train
- Straight, Place and Show (1938) as Hannibal
- Youth Takes a Fling (1938) as George
- I'm from the City (1938) as Train Porter
- Racing Lady (1937) as Brass
- Super-Sleuth (1937) as Warts, Martin's manservant
- You Can't Buy Luck (1937) as Airline Porter (uncredited)
- We Who Are About to Die (1937) as Airport Porter (uncredited)
- Deep South (1937)
- Mississippi Moods (1937)
- Saturday's Heroes (1937) as Sam
- Breezing Home (1937) as Speed
- Meet the Missus (1937) as Bootblack
- The Lady Fights Back (1937) as McTavish
- Night Waitress (1936) as Black Pedestrian
- Thank You, Jeeves! (1936) as Drowsy
- Murder on a Bridle Path (1936) as 'High-Pockets'
- The Bride Walks Out (1936) as Smokie
- Mummy's Boys (1936) as Catfish
- General Spanky (1936) as Henry
- The Green Pastures (1936) as Henry - the Angel (uncredited)
- Down the Stretch (1936) as Noah
- Silly Billies (1936) as Excitement
- Muss 'em Up (1936) as Janitor at Spivali's Bar (uncredited)
- Two in Revolt (1936) as Eph
- Hot Tip (1935) as Apollo
- The Littlest Rebel (1935) as James Henry
- The Arizonian (1935) as Pompey
- Horse Heir (1935)
- Murder on a Honeymoon (1935) as Willie (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
- The Nitwits (1935) as Sleepy
- Jalna (1935) as Sam
- To Beat the Band (1935) as Elevator Operator
- Hit and Rum (1935) as Shoe Shine Man (uncredited)
- Raised and Called (1935)
- Little Miss Marker (1934) as Dizzy Memphis (uncredited)
- West of the Pecos (1934) as Jonah (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
- Kentucky Kernels (1934) as Buckshot (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
- The Monster Walks (1932) as Exodus (as Sleep n' Eat)
- Virtuous Husband (1931) as Luftus
- Up Pops the Devil (1931) as Laundryman
- The Guilty Generation (1931) as Club Merlin Doorman (uncredited)
- Ladies of Leisure (1930) as George (uncredited)
- Feet First (1930) as Janitor
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Willie Best best known for?
Willie Best is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004), From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter (2000), Racket Squad (1951), The Stu Erwin Show (1950).
When and where was Willie Best born?
Willie Best was born on May 27, 1913 in Sunflower, Mississippi, USA. They passed away on November 27, 1962.
How many credits does Willie Best have?
Willie Best has accumulated over 122 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1930 to 2004.
What is Willie Best's background in cinema and television?
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 w...
Willie Best by the numbers
122credits
118films
4TV series
1930–2004active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Stu Erwin Show (1950) as Willie — aged about 37
- Waterfront (1954) as Billy Slocum — aged about 41
- High Sierra (1941) as Algernon — aged about 28
- Racket Squad (1951) — aged about 38
- The Saint Strikes Back (1939) as Algernon, Simon's Butler (Uncredited) — aged about 26
- TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004) as Self (archive footage) — aged about 91
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