Willie Best

Rank actors

Popular films

High Sierra1941
At the Circus1939
The Ghost Breakers1940
Vivacious Lady1938

About Willie Best

Known for: Acting
Born: May 27, 1913
Died: November 27, 1962 (age 49)
Birthplace: Sunflower, Mississippi, USA

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…

Also credited as

Sleep 'n' Eat, Sleep 'n Eat, Sleep n' Eat

IMDb ↗

Filmography

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years2004as Self (archive footage)

Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel2001as Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?1975as Self (archive footage)
Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy1962as Charlie (archive footage)
Meet the O'Briens1954as Willie
Ellis in Freedomland1952as Male Model
South of Caliente1951as Willie, Stable Boy
The Shanghai Chest1948as Willie Best
Half Past Midnight1948as Andy Jones
The Red Stallion1947as Jackson
Suddenly It's Spring1947as Porter on Train
Dangerous Money1946as Chattanooga Brown
The Bride Wore Boots1946as Joe
The Face of Marble1946as Shadrach
She Wouldn't Say Yes1945as Porter (uncredited)
Hold That Blonde!1945as Willie Shelley
The Red Dragon1945as Chattanooga Brown
Pillow to Post1945as Lucille, Colonial Auto Court Porter
The Monster and the Ape1945as Flash
Music for Millions1944as Red Cap (uncredited)
The Mark of the Whistler1944as Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)
The Girl Who Dared1944as Woodrow
The Adventures of Mark Twain1944as Butler
Home in Indiana1944as Mo' Rum (uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars1943as Soldier in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
The Kansan1943as Bones
Dixie1943as Steward (uncredited)
Cabin in the Sky1943as Second Idea Man
Cinderella Swings It1943as Hipp
The Powers Girl1943as Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)
The Hidden Hand1942as Eustis, the chauffeur
Scattergood Survives a Murder1942as Hipp
Busses Roar1942as Sunshine
A-Haunting We Will Go1942as Waiter
Maisie Gets Her Man1942as Sam (Uncredited)
Juke Girl1942as Jo-Mo
Whispering Ghosts1942as Euclid White Brown
The Body Disappears1941as Willie
Breakdowns of 19411941as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Nothing but the Truth1941as Samuel
Minstrel Days1941as Singer
The Smiling Ghost1941as Clarence
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company "B"1941as Hot-Breath Harry (voice) (uncredited)
Highway West1941as Bub Wellington
Kisses for Breakfast1941as Arnold
The Lady from Cheyenne1941as George
Scattergood Baines1941as Hipp
Road Show1941as Willie
Flight from Destiny1941as George
High Sierra1941as Algernon
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?1940as Andrew
Money and the Woman1940as George Washington Jones
The Ghost Breakers1940as Alex
Blondie on a Budget1940as Newsboy (uncredited)
I Take This Woman1940as Sambo
Slightly Honorable1939as Art, Elevator Operator
Private Detective1939as Norton's Valet
The Covered Trailer1939as Baltimore
Blondie Brings Up Baby1939as Hotel Janitor (uncredited)
At the Circus1939as Redcap (uncredited)
Blackmail1939as Bunny - the Janitor (uncredited)
Way Down South1939as Chimney Sweep
Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation1939as Driver (uncredited)
Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter1939as Apollo Johnson
Mr. Moto in Danger Island1939as Launch Pilot
The Saint Strikes Back1939as Algernon, Simon's Butler (Uncredited)
Blondie1938as Porter
Spring Madness1938as Porter on Train
Straight, Place and Show1938as Hannibal
Youth Takes a Fling1938as George
I'm from the City1938as Train Porter
Vivacious Lady1938as Porter
Goodbye Broadway1938as Jughead
Merrily We Live1938as George
Gold Is Where You Find It1938as Joshua
Everybody's Doing It1938as Jasper - Elevator Operator
Crashing Hollywood1938as Train Porter (uncredited)
Saturday's Heroes1937as Sam
The Lady Fights Back1937as McTavish
Mississippi Moods1937
Super-Sleuth1937as Warts, Martin's manservant
Meet the Missus1937as Bootblack
You Can't Buy Luck1937as Airline Porter (uncredited)
Breezing Home1937as Speed
Racing Lady1937as Brass
We Who Are About to Die1937as Airport Porter (uncredited)
Deep South1937
Night Waitress1936as Black Pedestrian
General Spanky1936as Henry
Thank You, Jeeves!1936as Drowsy
Mummy's Boys1936as Catfish
Down the Stretch1936as Noah
The Green Pastures1936as Henry - the Angel (uncredited)
The Bride Walks Out1936as Smokie
Murder on a Bridle Path1936as 'High-Pockets'
Two in Revolt1936as Eph
Silly Billies1936as Excitement
Muss 'em Up1936as Janitor at Spivali's Bar (uncredited)
The Littlest Rebel1935as James Henry
To Beat the Band1935as Elevator Operator
Hot Tip1935as Apollo
Jalna1935as Sam
The Arizonian1935as Pompey
The Nitwits1935as Sleepy
Hit and Rum1935as Shoe Shine Man (uncredited)
Raised and Called1935
Murder on a Honeymoon1935as Willie (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
Horse Heir1935
West of the Pecos1934as Jonah (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
Kentucky Kernels1934as Buckshot (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
Little Miss Marker1934as Dizzy Memphis (uncredited)
The Monster Walks1932as Exodus (as Sleep n' Eat)
The Guilty Generation1931as Club Merlin Doorman (uncredited)
Up Pops the Devil1931as Laundryman
Virtuous Husband1931as Luftus
Feet First1930as Janitor
Ladies of Leisure1930as George (uncredited)

Popular films

Filmography

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