Willie Best
Acting
Born: 1913-05-27 · Sunflower, Mississippi, USA
Died: 1962-11-27
Biography
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,
🎬 Movies (30)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976
Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
Self (archive footage)
Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy
1962
Charlie (archive footage)
Meet the O'Briens
1954
Willie
Ellis in Freedomland
1952
Male Model
South of Caliente
1951
Willie, Stable Boy
The Shanghai Chest
1948
Willie Best
Half Past Midnight
1948
Andy Jones
The Red Stallion
1947
Jackson
Suddenly It's Spring
1947
Porter on Train
Dangerous Money
1946
Chattanooga Brown
The Face of Marble
1946
Shadrach
The Bride Wore Boots
1946
Joe
The Red Dragon
1945
Chattanooga Brown
She Wouldn't Say Yes
1945
Porter (uncredited)
Pillow to Post
1945
Lucille, Colonial Auto Court Porter
The Monster and the Ape
1945
Flash
Hold That Blonde!
1945
Willie Shelley
The Girl Who Dared
1944
Woodrow
Home in Indiana
1944
Mo' Rum (uncredited)
Music for Millions
1944
Red Cap (uncredited)
The Mark of the Whistler
1944
Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)
The Adventures of Mark Twain
1944
Butler
Cinderella Swings It
1943
Hipp
Cabin in the Sky
1943
Second Idea Man
The Powers Girl
1943
Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)
Dixie
1943
Steward (uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943
Soldier in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
The Kansan
1943
Bones
