William Best (May 27, 1916 â€" 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.A
native of Sunflower, Mississippi, Best reached Hollywood as a
chauffeur for a vacationing couple. He decided to stay in the region
and began his performing career with a traveling show in southern
California. He was regularly hired as a character actor in Hollywood
films after a talent scout discovered him on stage.Willie Best
appeared in more than one hundred films of the 1930s and 1940s.
Although several sources state that for years he was billed only as
"Sleep n' Eat", Best received credit under this moniker instead of his
real name in only six movies: his first film as a bit player (Harold
Lloyd's Feet First) and in Up Pops the Devil (1931), The Monster Walks
(1932), Kentucky Kernels and West of the Pecos (both 1934), and Murder
on a Honeymoon (1935). He thereafter usually received credit as
"Willie Best" or "William Best".
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.A
native of Sunflower, Mississippi, Best reached Hollywood as a
chauffeur for a vacationing couple. He decided to stay in the region
and began his performing career with a traveling show in southern
California. He was regularly hired as a character actor in Hollywood
films after a talent scout discovered him on stage.Willie Best
appeared in more than one hundred films of the 1930s and 1940s.
Although several sources state that for years he was billed only as
"Sleep n' Eat", Best received credit under this moniker instead of his
real name in only six movies: his first film as a bit player (Harold
Lloyd's Feet First) and in Up Pops the Devil (1931), The Monster Walks
(1932), Kentucky Kernels and West of the Pecos (both 1934), and Murder
on a Honeymoon (1935). He thereafter usually received credit as
"Willie Best" or "William Best".
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