Willie Best

actor • soundtrack • music_department

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 ...

Born: May 27, 1913 in Sunflower, Mississippi, USA

Died: November 27, 1962 (age 49)

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Known For

6.6

Vivacious Lady

Movies & TV Credits

119 total credits across film and television

Title	Rating	Job	Role(s)	Year
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years Movie	7.0	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2004
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Movie	6.9	Actor	Self (archive footage)	1975
Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy Movie	6.8	Actor	Charlie (archive footage)	1962
Waterfront TV Show	7.4	Actor	Billy Slocum(81 Episodes)	1954
Ellis in Freedomland Movie	6.8	Actor	Male Model	1952
My Little Margie TV Show	7.5	Actor	—(1 Episode)	1952
South of Caliente Movie	6.4	Actor	Willie, Stable Boy	1951
The Stu Erwin Show TV Show	6.6	Actor	Willie(129 Episodes)	1950
Racket Squad TV Show	7.2	Actor	—(1 Episode)	1950
The Shanghai Chest Movie	5.8	Actor	Willie Best	1948
Half Past Midnight Movie	6.2	Actor	Andy Jones	1948
The Red Stallion Movie	5.5	Actor	Jackson	1947
Suddenly It's Spring Movie	6.1	Actor	Porter on Train	1947
Dangerous Money Movie	6.5	Actor	Chattanooga Brown	1946
The Face of Marble Movie	4.7	Actor	Shadrach	1946
The Bride Wore Boots Movie	5.7	Actor	Joe	1946
The Red Dragon Movie	6.1	Actor	Chattanooga Brown	1945
The Monster and the Ape Movie	5.3	Actor	Flash	1945
She Wouldn't Say Yes Movie	6.0	Actor	Porter (uncredited)	1945
Pillow to Post Movie	6.4	Actor	Lucille, Colonial Auto Court Porter	1945
Hold That Blonde! Movie	5.9	Actor	Willie Shelley	1945
The Mark of the Whistler Movie	6.3	Actor	Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)	1944
The Adventures of Mark Twain Movie	6.9	Actor	Butler	1944
Home in Indiana Movie	6.3	Actor	Mo' Rum (uncredited)	1944
The Girl Who Dared Movie	5.8	Actor	Woodrow	1944
Music for Millions Movie	6.4	Actor	Red Cap (uncredited)	1944
Dixie Movie	5.8	Actor	Steward (uncredited)	1943
The Powers Girl Movie	6.3	Actor	Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)	1943
Cabin in the Sky Movie	7.2	Actor	Second Idea Man	1943
The Kansan Movie	5.4	Actor	Bones	1943
Cinderella Swings It Movie	6.7	Actor	Hipp	1943
Thank Your Lucky Stars Movie	6.5	Actor	Soldier in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)	1943
Juke Girl Movie	6.1	Actor	Jo-Mo	1942
A-Haunting We Will Go Movie	6.3	Actor	Waiter	1942
Whispering Ghosts Movie	5.7	Actor	Euclid White Brown	1942
Maisie Gets Her Man Movie	6.0	Actor	Sam (Uncredited)	1942
Busses Roar Movie	5.7	Actor	Sunshine	1942
The Hidden Hand Movie	5.9	Actor	Eustis, the chauffeur	1942
Scattergood Survives a Murder Movie	6.5	Actor	Hipp	1942
Highway West Movie	6.0	Actor	Bub Wellington	1941
The Lady from Cheyenne Movie	5.9	Actor	George	1941
Nothing But the Truth Movie	6.9	Actor	Samuel	1941
The Smiling Ghost Movie	6.2	Actor	Clarence	1941
Scattergood Baines Movie	7.0	Actor	Hipp	1941
Kisses for Breakfast Movie	5.5	Actor	Arnold	1941
Road Show Movie	5.8	Actor	Willie	1941
High Sierra Movie	7.4	Actor	Algernon	1941
Flight from Destiny Movie	6.2	Actor	George	1941
The Body Disappears Movie	6.0	Actor	Willie	1941
Minstrel Days Short Film	6.4	Actor	Singer	1941
Breakdowns of 1941 Short Film	7.0	Actor	Self (archive footage) (uncredited)	1941
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company 'B' Short Film	5.5	Actor	Hot-Breath Harry (voice) (uncredited)	1941
Blondie on a Budget Movie	6.3	Actor	Newsboy (uncredited)	1940
The Ghost Breakers Movie	6.9	Actor	Alex	1940
Who Killed Aunt Maggie? Movie	6.9	Actor	Andrew	1940
I Take This Woman Movie	6.1	Actor	Sambo	1940
Money and the Woman Movie	6.5	Actor	George Washington Jones	1940
At the Circus Movie	6.6	Actor	Redcap (uncredited)	1939
Slightly Honorable Movie	5.8	Actor	Art, Elevator Operator	1939
Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter Movie	6.4	Actor	Apollo Johnson	1939
Blackmail Movie	6.5	Actor	Bunny - the Janitor (uncredited)	1939
Mr. Moto in Danger Island Movie	6.5	Actor	Launch Pilot	1939
Way Down South Movie	5.2	Actor	Chimney Sweep	1939
The Saint Strikes Back Movie	6.4	Actor	Algernon, Simon's Butler (Uncredited)	1939
Private Detective Movie	5.8	Actor	Norton's Valet	1939
Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation Movie	6.3	Actor	Driver (uncredited)	1939
Blondie Brings Up Baby Movie	6.6	Actor	Hotel Janitor (uncredited)	1939
The Covered Trailer Movie	5.8	Actor	Baltimore	1939
Youth Takes a Fling Movie	6.2	Actor	George	1938
Straight, Place and Show Movie	5.5	Actor	Hannibal	1938
Goodbye Broadway Movie	—	Actor	Jughead	1938
Gold Is Where You Find It Movie	6.0	Actor	Joshua	1938
Blondie Movie	7.0	Actor	Porter	1938
Merrily We Live Movie	7.1	Actor	George	1938
Vivacious Lady Movie	7.3	Actor	Porter	1938
Everybody's Doing It Movie	4.8	Actor	Jasper - Elevator Operator	1938
Crashing Hollywood Movie	5.9	Actor	Train Porter (uncredited)	1938
Spring Madness Movie	4.9	Actor	Porter on Train	1938
I'm from the City Movie	5.1	Actor	Train Porter	1938
The Lady Fights Back Movie	6.5	Actor	McTavish	1937
Super-Sleuth Movie	5.5	Actor	Warts, Martin's manservant	1937
Saturday's Heroes Movie	5.3	Actor	Sam	1937
Racing Lady Movie	5.4	Actor	Brass	1937
Breezing Home Movie	5.9	Actor	Speed	1937
Meet the Missus Movie	5.8	Actor	Bootblack	1937
You Can't Buy Luck Movie	5.2	Actor	Airline Porter (uncredited)	1937
We Who Are About to Die Movie	6.3	Actor	Airport Porter (uncredited)	1937
Mississippi Moods Movie	—	Actor	—	1937
Deep South Short Film	6.1	Actor	—	1937
Murder on a Bridle Path Movie	6.0	Actor	'High-Pockets'	1936
Night Waitress Movie	5.4	Actor	Black Pedestrian	1936
The Bride Walks Out Movie	5.5	Actor	Smokie	1936
Down the Stretch Movie	5.5	Actor	Noah	1936
Two in Revolt Movie	6.0	Actor	Eph	1936
Mummy's Boys Movie	4.8	Actor	Catfish	1936
Thank You, Jeeves! Movie	6.0	Actor	Drowsy	1936
General Spanky Movie	5.7	Actor	Henry	1936
Silly Billies Movie	6.3	Actor	Excitement	1936
Muss 'em Up Movie	5.7	Actor	Janitor at Spivali's Bar (uncredited)	1936
The Green Pastures Movie	6.8	Actor	Henry - the Angel (uncredited)	1936
The Arizonian Movie	6.6	Actor	Pompey	1935
The Nitwits Movie	5.7	Actor	Sleepy	1935
To Beat the Band Movie	6.5	Actor	Elevator Operator	1935
The Littlest Rebel Movie	6.6	Actor	James Henry	1935
Hot Tip Movie	5.7	Actor	Apollo	1935
Murder on a Honeymoon Movie	6.5	Actor	Willie (as Sleep 'n' Eat)	1935
Jalna Movie	5.9	Actor	Sam	1935
Hit and Rum Short Film	7.4	Actor	Shoe Shine Man (uncredited)	1935
Raised and Called Short Film	4.9	Actor	—	1935
Horse Heir Short Film	5.8	Actor	—	1935
West of the Pecos Movie	7.4	Actor	Jonah (as Sleep 'n' Eat)	1934
Little Miss Marker Movie	6.7	Actor	Dizzy Memphis (uncredited)	1934
Kentucky Kernels Movie	5.8	Actor	Buckshot (as Sleep 'n' Eat)	1934
The Monster Walks Movie	3.9	Actor	Exodus (as Sleep n' Eat)	1932
Up Pops the Devil Movie	5.4	Actor	Laundryman	1931
The Guilty Generation Movie	6.5	Actor	Club Merlin Doorman (uncredited)	1931
Virtuous Husband Movie	6.8	Actor	Luftus	1931
Ladies of Leisure Movie	6.5	Actor	George (uncredited)	1930
Feet First Movie	6.5	Actor	Janitor	1930

Willie Best

Known For

At the Circus

High Sierra

The Ghost Breakers

Vivacious Lady

Movies & TV Credits