--- name: "James Best" canonical: "https://film.one/person/james-best" roles: ["Actor"] born: "26 July 1926" died: "6 April 2015" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_fi1m_score: 80 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-09-20T05:45:51.164594+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # James Best Actor. Born 26 July 1926 in Powderly, Kentucky, USA. Died 6 April 2015. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 26 July 1926, Powderly, Kentucky, USA - **Died:** 6 April 2015 - **Active:** 1954–1972 - **Also known as:** Jewel Franklin Guy, James K. Best, Jimmy Best, Jim Best - **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 2 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 76 (1), 1970s 83 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Best, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q268084, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0078940/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/40185 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Sounder*](https://film.one/film/sounder.md) (83) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography James Best (born Jewel Franklin Guy) was an American film, television and stage actor whose career spanned more than six decades. He appeared in numerous Westerns and guest roles on series including *The Twilight Zone*, *Bonanza* and *The Andy Griffith Show*, as well as films such as *Winchester '73* (1950), *The Caine Mutiny* (1954) and *Forbidden Planet* (1956). Best is best known for playing the bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the CBS series *The Dukes of Hazzard* (1979–1985) and its television films. He also played Sheriff Charlie Young in the 1972 drama *Sounder*. He worked as an acting coach, director, writer and college professor, and appeared in more than 600 television episodes and around 85 films. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, nytimes.com.* ## On Fi1m (2) - *Sounder* (1972), Fi1m 83, as Sheriff Charlie Young — [page](https://film.one/film/sounder.md) - *The Caine Mutiny* (1954), Fi1m 76, as Lt. JG Jorgensen — [page](https://film.one/film/the-caine-mutiny.md) ## Complete filmography (152) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Sweeter Side of Life* (2013), as Paddy Kerrigan - *Return of the Killer Shrews* (2012), as Thorne Sherman · Writer - *Moondance Alexander* (2007), as McClancy - *Hot Tamale* (2006), as Hank Larson - *CMT: Inside Fame* (2005), series, Actor - *The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller* (2002), as Sgt. David Brent (archive footage) (uncredited) - *The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood* (2000), as Rosco P. Coltrane - *The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!* (1997), as Boss / Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane - *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor - *Death Mask* (1995), as Wilbur Johnson · Writer - *B.L. Stryker* (1989), series, Actor - *In the Heat of the Night* (1988), series, Actor - *The Dukes* (1983), series, as Rosco Coltrane (voice) - *Enos* (1980), series, Actor - *The Dukes of Hazzard* (1979), series, as Rosco P. Coltrane · Director - *Centennial* (1978), series, Actor - *Hooper* (1978), as Cully · Co-Writer - *The End* (1978), as Pacemaker Patient · Associate Producer - *Rolling Thunder* (1977), as Texan - *The Savage Bees* (1977), as Pellegrino - *Nickelodeon* (1976), as Jim - *Gator* (1976), Production Assistant - *Ode to Billy Joe* (1976), as Dewey Barksdale - *The Runaway Barge* (1975), as Bingo Washington - *Savages* (1974), as Sheriff Bert Hamilton - *The Manhunter* (1974), series, Actor - *Hawkins* (1973), series, as Sheriff John Early - *Sounder* (1972), as Sheriff Charlie Young — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/sounder.md) - *The Brain Machine* (1972), as Rev. Emory Neill - *Run, Simon, Run* (1970), as Henry Burroughs - *The Mod Squad* (1968), series, as Clay Lynch - *Lancer* (1968), series, Actor - *Firecreek* (1968), as Drew - *The Guns of Will Sonnett* (1967), series, Actor - *First to Fight* (1967), as Sergeant Carnavan - *Felony Squad* (1966), series, Actor - *The Green Hornet* (1966), series, as Yale Barton - *Hawk* (1966), series, Actor - *Three on a Couch* (1966), as Dr. Ben Mizer - *Honey West* (1965), series, as Vince Zale - *Shenandoah* (1965), as Carter, Rebel Soldier - *Black Spurs* (1965), as Ralph Elkins - *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Jethro Wyatt - *Flipper* (1964), series, Actor - *The Quick Gun* (1964), as Scotty Wade - *Shock Corridor* (1963), as Stuart - *Redigo* (1963), series, Actor - *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Tucson, 'The Cowboy' - *Temple Houston* (1963), series, as Gotch - *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as Dan Murray — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md) - *The Gallant Men* (1962), series, Actor - *Combat!* (1962), series, as Trenton - *General Electric True* (1962), series, Actor - *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, as Tom Carmody - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Curt Westley - *Black Gold* (1962), as Jericho Larkin - *Ben Casey* (1961), series, Actor - *Whispering Smith* (1961), series, Actor - *Surfside 6* (1960), series, Actor - *Stagecoach West* (1960), series, Actor - *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960), series, as Jim Lindsey - *Michael Shayne* (1960), series, Actor - *The Barbara Stanwyck Show* (1960), series, as Joe - *The Mountain Road* (1960), as Niergaard - *Aftermath* (1960), as Hardy Coulter - *Pony Express* (1960), series, as Bart Gentry - *Overland Trail* (1960), series, Actor - *Hawaiian Eye* (1959), series, Actor - *Startime* (1959), series, as Duke - *The Rebel* (1959), series, as Ted Evans, Abel Waares - *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as Jeff Myrtlebank, Billy-Ben Turner — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md) - *Men Into Space* (1959), series, Actor - *Lock-Up* (1959), series, Actor - *The DuPont Show with June Allyson* (1959), series, as Jovan Wilanskov - *Laramie* (1959), series, Actor - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Sheriff Vern Schaler - *The Man and the Challenge* (1959), series, Actor - *Cast a Long Shadow* (1959), as Sam Mullen - *The Killer Shrews* (1959), as Thorne Sherman - *The David Niven Show* (1959), series, as Boland - *Verboten!* (1959), as Sgt. David Brent - *Ride Lonesome* (1959), as Billy John - *Black Saddle* (1959), series, as Ben Travers - *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Willie Cain, Brock Quade - *77 Sunset Strip* (1958), series, Actor - *Bat Masterson* (1958), series, as Joe Best, Danny Dakota - *Behind Closed Doors* (1958), series, as Webb - *The Rifleman* (1958), series, Actor - *The Texan* (1958), series, Actor - *Bronco* (1958), series, Actor - *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958), series, as Stoner, Luke Perry - *The Naked and the Dead* (1958), as Rhidges - *The Left Handed Gun* (1958), as Tom Folliard - *Cole Younger, Gunfighter* (1958), as Kit Caswell - *Man on the Prowl* (1957), as Doug Gerhardt - *Tombstone Territory* (1957), series, Actor - *Trackdown* (1957), series, Actor - *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Allan Winford, Martin Potter - *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, Actor - *Richard Diamond, Private Detective* (1957), series, as Jack Milhoan - *Last of the Badmen* (1957), as Ted Hamilton - *Hot Summer Night* (1957), as Kermit - *The Rack* (1956), as Millard Chilson Cassidy - *West Point* (1956), series, Actor - *Calling Homicide* (1956), as Det. Arnie Arnhoff - *Gaby* (1956), as Jim - *Forbidden Planet* (1956), as Crewman (uncredited) - *Come Next Spring* (1956), as Bill Jackson - *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Norman Frayne, Hennessy, Bish Darby - *Frontier* (1955), series, Actor - *Cheyenne* (1955), series, Actor - *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Beal, Charlie Noon - *Top of the World* (1955), as Col. French's Orderly (uncredited) - *Seven Angry Men* (1955), as Jason Brown - *Buffalo Bill Jr.* (1955), series, Actor - *The Millionaire* (1955), series, as Fred Morgan - *They Rode West* (1954), as Lt. Finlay (uncredited) - *Climax!* (1954), series, as Shag - *The Lineup* (1954), series, Actor - *The Raid* (1954), as Lt. Robinson - *Return from the Sea* (1954), as Barr - *The Caine Mutiny* (1954), as Lt. JG Jorgensen — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/the-caine-mutiny.md) - *The Yellow Tomahawk* (1954), as Private Bliss - *Stories of the Century* (1954), series, Actor - *Riders to the Stars* (1954), as Dr. Sidney K. Fuller - *Skip Taylor* (1953), Actor - *City of Bad Men* (1953), as Deputy Gig (uncredited) - *Column South* (1953), as Primrose - *Seminole* (1953), as Corp. Gerad - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Hardy Coulter - *Flat Top* (1952), as Radio Operator - *Cavalcade of America* (1952), series, as Harry, Slate Morley - *Hopalong Cassidy* (1952), series, Actor - *Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair* (1952), as Marvin Johnson - *Francis Goes to West Point* (1952), as Corporal Ransom - *The Battle at Apache Pass* (1952), as Cpl. Hassett - *Steel Town* (1952), as Joe Rakich - *The Cimarron Kid* (1952), as Bitter Creek Dalton - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, Actor - *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Actor - *The Adventures of Kit Carson* (1951), series, Actor - *Apache Drums* (1951), as Bert Keon - *Air Cadet* (1951), as Jerry Connell - *Target Unknown* (1951), as Sgt. Ralph Phelps - *Kansas Raiders* (1950), as Cole Younger - *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Clem Wallace - *The Gene Autry Show* (1950), series, Actor - *Winchester '73* (1950), as Crater - *Peggy* (1950), as Frank Addison - *I Was a Shoplifter* (1950), Actor - *Comanche Territory* (1950), as Sam - *One Way Street* (1950), as Driver (uncredited) ## Gallery - ![Photo of James Best from the Death Valley Days episode "67 Miles of Gold".](https://film.one/media/person/1237953/gallery-86c44edfde22.jpg) Photo of James Best from the Death Valley Days episode "67 Miles of Gold". — Death Valley Days, Los Angeles, California. The program apparently did its own public relations., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/James_Best_Death_Valley_Days_1964.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![James Best](https://film.one/media/person/1237953/gallery-14a58c91e466.jpg) James Best — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/James_Best_Frontier_Return_of_Jubal_Dolan.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![James Best](https://film.one/media/person/1237953/gallery-7d9206c05304.jpg) James Best — Image via TMDB - ![James Best](https://film.one/media/person/1237953/gallery-617cfa9eb825.jpg) James Best — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/james-best