Posted on 04/08/2015 8:15:32 AM PDT by grundle
James Best, best known as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on The Dukes of Hazzard, has died, at age 88.
Best was a wonderfully versatile actor within a self-imposed narrow range—a Southerner who could be wily or stupid, sometimes both and a bit more. He was a gifted musician and acting teacher as well as an actor. Born Jewel Franklin Guy in Powderly, Kentucky, Best came by his show business career naturally–his mother was the sister of Ike Everly, the father of the Everly Brothers.
Most people know him as Roscoe P. Coltrane, a bumbler who was the butt of jokes and pranks by Bo and Luke Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-85).
Best wrote hundreds of songs; wrote, directed and starred in numerous stage plays; and ran an acting class starting in the 1970s whose students included Farrah Fawcett, Burt Reynolds, and Quentin Tarantino. Always underestimated and under-appreciated, Best was a consistently charming character actor and man, both on-screen and off.
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That explains a lot!
Best acted in a million tv and movie westerns...not quite that many, but it seems that way. I’ve watched quite a few old westerns since retirement, and it’s amazing how many Best was in. Usually as a villain.
Best ran the acting classes even late 2 years ago here in Hollywood on some occasions. Most acting classes are run by arrogant prick has-been, wanna be’s but once you get to his door, he’s the one who greets you, not some receptionist. I know some of his grads from even 10 years ago are either casting directors or working in movies.
Clint Eastwood also spent time in his school.
Accidentally on purpose.
Just another wealth redistribution stealth scam.
I remember one such film. It was “The Grave” from “The Twilight Zone” series. Which also had Lee Marvin, Lee Van Cleef, Strother Martin, and Stafford Repp in it.
Wow...all those characters. I’ll have to check that one out. I watch many old movie and tv shows just for the character actors. Many old flicks are not very good, but the right character actors make them worth watching...uh...sometimes.
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