Willie Best

Born: 27 May 1916, Sunflower, Mississippi, USA

Died: 27 February 1962, Hollywood, California, USA

 

Willie Best was an unusual bit part player in over 100 films. He was unusual because he was often credited for his parts in films and therefore became well known to the movie going public. His performances were usually comedic in stereotypical roles for a black actor of the 1930s and 1940s. He was revered by his contemporaries like comedian Bob Hope and producer Hal Roach and is remembered in the same way as Mantan Moreland for bringing a unique comic twist to a sometimes ordinary film. After his film career ended, Willie turned to television and was a success in series like ABC TV's 'The Trouble with Father' and CBS's 'My Little Margie'. 

 

Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter (1939) as Apollo Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slightly Honorable (1939) as Art, the elevator operator

 

Willie Best is on the right, with Pat O'Brien and Ruth Terry.

Best's dancing in the hallway was funny.


















Busses Roar (1942) as Sunshine