Willie Best
Born in Sunflower, Mississippi, USA — May 27 1913• Died Nov 27 1962
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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, an unusual feat for an African-American bit player. Willie…
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Willie Best's Credits
Browse acting and crew credits across movies and TV — filter and sort to find specific roles.
Racket Squad
My Little Margie
Waterfront
Billy Slocum
The Stu Erwin Show
Willie
Vivacious Lady
Porter
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Soldier in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
Night Waitress
Black Pedestrian
The Ghost Breakers
Alex
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
Launch Pilot
Half Past Midnight
Andy Jones
Money and the Woman
George Washington Jones
Little Miss Marker
Dizzy Memphis (uncredited)
The Kansan
Bones
Blondie
Porter
At the Circus
Redcap (uncredited)
Everybody's Doing It
Jasper - Elevator Operator
Flight from Destiny
George
Ellis in Freedomland
Male Model
The Body Disappears
Willie
The Hidden Hand
Eustis, the chauffeur
High Sierra
Algernon
Blondie on a Budget
Newsboy (uncredited)
The Adventures of Mark Twain
Butler
The Bride Walks Out
Smokie
Blondie Brings Up Baby
Hotel Janitor (uncredited)
Dangerous Money
Chattanooga Brown
A-Haunting We Will Go
Waiter
The Arizonian
Pompey
Murder on a Bridle Path
'High-Pockets'
The Lady from Cheyenne
George
The Smiling Ghost
Clarence
Way Down South
Chimney Sweep
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
Private Detective
Norton's Valet
Saturday's Heroes
Sam
The Covered Trailer
Baltimore
Ladies of Leisure
George (uncredited)
Spring Madness
Porter on Train
The Mark of the Whistler
Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)
Hot Tip
Apollo
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Girl Who Dared
Woodrow
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
The Face of Marble
Shadrach
Up Pops the Devil
Laundryman
Muss 'em Up
Janitor at Spivali's Bar (uncredited)
Horse Heir
Merrily We Live
George
Highway West
Bub Wellington
Slightly Honorable
Art, Elevator Operator
Music for Millions
Red Cap (uncredited)
Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
Driver (uncredited)
Dixie
Steward (uncredited)
Goodbye Broadway
Jughead
Nothing but the Truth
Samuel
You Can't Buy Luck
Airline Porter (uncredited)
Home in Indiana
Mo' Rum (uncredited)
Straight, Place and Show
Hannibal
Gold Is Where You Find It
Joshua
Thank You, Jeeves!
Drowsy
The Monster and the Ape
Flash
Pillow to Post
Lucille, Colonial Auto Court Porter
Juke Girl
Jo-Mo
Maisie Gets Her Man
Sam (Uncredited)
Feet First
Janitor
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
Andrew
Blackmail
Bunny - the Janitor (uncredited)
The Nitwits
Sleepy
Murder on a Honeymoon
Willie (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
Super-Sleuth
Warts, Martin's manservant
I'm from the City
Train Porter
Jalna
Sam
Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
Apollo Johnson
Racing Lady
Brass
General Spanky
Henry
The Red Dragon
Chattanooga Brown
To Beat the Band
Elevator Operator
Two in Revolt
Eph
The Saint Strikes Back
Algernon, Simon's Butler (Uncredited)
Kisses for Breakfast
Arnold
Youth Takes a Fling
George
The Bride Wore Boots
Joe
Hit and Rum
Shoe Shine Man (uncredited)
Busses Roar
Sunshine
Road Show
Willie
The Shanghai Chest
Willie Best
The Green Pastures
Henry - the Angel (uncredited)
Mummy's Boys
Catfish
Hold That Blonde!
Willie Shelley
The Guilty Generation
Club Merlin Doorman (uncredited)
Down the Stretch
Noah
Deep South
Kentucky Kernels
Buckshot (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
Silly Billies
Excitement
Suddenly It's Spring
Porter on Train
Cabin in the Sky
Second Idea Man
The Monster Walks
Exodus (as Sleep n' Eat)
Virtuous Husband
Luftus
The Lady Fights Back
McTavish
Minstrel Days
Singer
The Littlest Rebel
James Henry
The Powers Girl
Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)
South of Caliente
Willie, Stable Boy
Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy
Charlie (archive footage)
Whispering Ghosts
Euclid White Brown
She Wouldn't Say Yes
Porter (uncredited)
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company "B"
Hot-Breath Harry (voice) (uncredited)
We Who Are About to Die
Airport Porter (uncredited)
Scattergood Baines
Hipp
The Red Stallion
Jackson
I Take This Woman
Sambo
West of the Pecos
Jonah (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
Meet the Missus
Bootblack
Crashing Hollywood
Train Porter (uncredited)
Scattergood Survives a Murder
Hipp
Breezing Home
Speed
Cinderella Swings It
Hipp
Raised and Called
Mississippi Moods
Meet the O'Briens
Willie
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)