James Best, born Jewel Franklin Guy in 1926, was a prolific Hollywood actor whose seven-decade career spanned television, film, and stage. From his early days at Universal in the late 1940s, Best appeared in Westerns opposite the likes of Audie Murphy and Randolph Scott, later gaining cult status for "The Killer Shrews." However, it was his enduring role as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in "The Dukes of Hazzard" that cemented his legacy, reimagining the character in two later sequels. Beyond acting, Best taught, wrote, directed, and even dabbled in music and art, showcasing a versatile and enduring presence in entertainment.
The roles that explain the career.
68 credits across 4 departments.
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Sweeter Side of Life | Paddy Kerrigan | Film |
| 2013 | Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 2012 | Return of the Killer Shrews | Thorne Sherman | Film |
| 2012 | Return of the Killer Shrews | Writer | Film |
| 2007 | Moondance Alexander | McClancy | Film |
| 2006 | Hot Tamale | Hank Larson | Film |
| 2002 | The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller | Sgt. David Brent (archive footage) (uncredited) | Film |
| 2000 | The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood | Rosco P. Coltrane | Film |
| 1997 | The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! | Boss / Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane | Film |
| 1995 | Death Mask | Wilbur Johnson | Film |
| 1995 | Death Mask | Writer | Film |
| 1983 | The Dukes | Rosco Coltrane (voice) | TV |
| 1979 | The Dukes of Hazzard | Rosco P. Coltrane | TV |
| 1978 | Hooper | Cully | Film |
| 1978 | The End | Pacemaker Patient | Film |
| 1978 | The End | Associate Producer | Film |
| 1977 | Rolling Thunder | Texan | Film |
| 1976 | Ode to Billy Joe | Dewey Barksdale | Film |
| 1976 | The Savage Bees | Pellegrino | Film |
| 1976 | Gator | Production Assistant | Film |
| 1974 | Savages | Sheriff Bert Hamilton | Film |
| 1972 | Sounder | Sheriff Charlie Young | Film |
| 1972 | The Brain Machine | Rev. Emory Neill | Film |
| 1970 | Run, Simon, Run | Henry Burroughs | Film |
| 1968 | Firecreek | Drew | Film |
| 1966 | Three on a Couch | Dr. Ben Mizer | Film |
| 1965 | Shenandoah | Carter, Rebel Soldier | Film |
| 1965 | Black Spurs | Ralph Elkins | Film |
| 1964 | The Quick Gun | Scotty Wade | Film |
| 1963 | Shock Corridor | Stuart | Film |
| 1960 | The Mountain Road | Niergaard | Film |
| 1959 | The Killer Shrews | Thorne Sherman | Film |
| 1959 | Cast a Long Shadow | Sam Mullen | Film |
| 1959 | Verboten! | Sgt. David Brent | Film |
| 1959 | Ride Lonesome | Billy John | Film |
| 1958 | The Left Handed Gun | Tom Folliard | Film |
| 1958 | The Naked and the Dead | Rhidges | Film |
| 1958 | Cole Younger, Gunfighter | Kit Caswell | Film |
| 1957 | Man on the Prowl | Doug Gerhardt | Film |
| 1957 | Last of the Badmen | Ted Hamilton | Film |
| 1957 | Hot Summer Night | Kermit | Film |
| 1956 | The Rack | Millard Chilson Cassidy | Film |
| 1956 | Come Next Spring | Bill Jackson | Film |
| 1956 | Calling Homicide | Det. Arnie Arnhoff | Film |
| 1956 | Gaby | Jim | Film |
| 1956 | Forbidden Planet | Crewman (uncredited) | Film |
| 1955 | Seven Angry Men | Jason Brown | Film |
| 1955 | Top of the World | Col. French's Orderly (uncredited) | Film |
| 1954 | The Raid | Lt. Robinson | Film |
| 1954 | Return from the Sea | Barr | Film |
| 1954 | Riders to the Stars | Dr. Sidney K. Fuller | Film |
| 1954 | They Rode West | Lt. Finlay (uncredited) | Film |
| 1954 | The Yellow Tomahawk | Private Bliss | Film |
| 1954 | The Caine Mutiny | Lt. JG Jorgensen | Film |
| 1953 | Seminole | Corp. Gerad | Film |
| 1953 | Column South | Primrose | Film |
| 1952 | Francis Goes to West Point | Corporal Ransom | Film |
| 1952 | The Cimarron Kid | Bitter Creek Dalton | Film |
| 1952 | The Battle at Apache Pass | Cpl. Hassett | Film |
| 1952 | Flat Top | Radio Operator | Film |
| 1952 | Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair | Marvin Johnson | Film |
| 1951 | Apache Drums | Bert Keon | Film |
| 1951 | Air Cadet | Jerry Connell | Film |
| 1950 | Comanche Territory | Sam | Film |
| 1950 | I Was a Shoplifter | Film | |
| 1950 | One Way Street | Driver (uncredited) | Film |
| 1950 | Winchester '73 | Crater | Film |
| 1950 | Kansas Raiders | Cole Younger | Film |
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