Willie Best
Willie Best
Person

Willie Best

Actor 1913-05-27 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 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 ...

Known for

FILMOGRAPHY
Data from TMDB
High Sierra

High Sierra

1941 · Algernon

At the Circus

At the Circus

1939 · Redcap (uncredited)

The Ghost Breakers

The Ghost Breakers

1940 · Alex

Vivacious Lady

Vivacious Lady

1938 · Porter

Cabin in the Sky

Cabin in the Sky

1943 · Second Idea Man

Merrily We Live

Merrily We Live

1938 · George

A-Haunting We Will Go

A-Haunting We Will Go

1942 · Waiter

Thank Your Lucky Stars

Thank Your Lucky Stars

1943 · Soldier in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)

The Littlest Rebel

The Littlest Rebel

1935 · James Henry

Ladies of Leisure

Ladies of Leisure

1930 · George (uncredited)

Dangerous Money

Dangerous Money

1946 · Chattanooga Brown

Little Miss Marker

Little Miss Marker

1934 · Dizzy Memphis (uncredited)

Feet First

Feet First

1930 · Janitor

The Monster Walks

The Monster Walks

1932 · Exodus (as Sleep n' Eat)

Mr. Moto in Danger Island

Mr. Moto in Danger Island

1939 · Launch Pilot

The Saint Strikes Back

The Saint Strikes Back

1939 · Algernon, Simon's Butler (Uncredited)

Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation

Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation

1939 · Driver (uncredited)

The Mark of the Whistler

The Mark of the Whistler

1944 · Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)

Nothing but the Truth

Nothing but the Truth

1941 · Samuel

The Green Pastures

The Green Pastures

1936 · Henry - the Angel (uncredited)