Best, James

1926-

Also known as Jules Guy
American actor

Best was born Jules Guy in Powderly, Kentucky, to a poor coal mining family with six children. When he was three poverty forced the family to place him in an orphanage, but he was adopted two years later by a lumber mill worker's family.

After high school and the Army Air Corps during World War II he became and actor and model. He has over 600 television shows to his credit and at least 83 films, but he is best known for his role as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the CBS series The Dukes of Hazzard. He has also taught acting at the University of Mississippi and helped found the Mississippi state film commission.

References

Gritten, David. "What's Arresting about James Best, the Underdog of the Dukes of Hazzard? His Opinions," People Magazine, 22 June 1981. Also available at: http://www.hazzardnet.com/cousins/MaryAnne/best1981.htm
James Best Entertainment Inc. "Messages from James Best." [Includes portrait]. Available at: http://www.jamesbest.com/messages.htm
James Best Entertainment Inc. "Movies & TV." [Includes portrait]. Available at: http://www.jamesbest.com/movies_tv.htm
Splash Celebrity Promotions. "James Best." [Includes portraits]. Available at: http://www.splashcelebritypromo.com/jamesbest.htm