James Best: Biography, Facts and Career
Who is James Best? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

Jewel Franklin Guy (July 26, 1926 – April 6, 2015), known professionally as James Best, was an American television, film, stage, and voice actor, as well as a writer, director, acting coach, artist, college professor, and musician. During a career that spanned more than 60 years, Best, who was known for his high-pitched, exasperated voice, performed not only in feature films, but also in scores of television series. His appearances were almost all on Western programs, as well as various country music programs and talk shows. He gained recognition for his starring role as the bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the action comedy series The Dukes of Hazzard, which originally aired on CBS from 1979 to 1985. He reprised the role in 1997 and 2000 for the made-for-television movies The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! and The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood (2000).
Quick facts about James Best
- Full name: James Best
- Born: 1926-07-26
- Nationality: United States
- Known as: Actor
- Wikidata ID: Q268084
Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Who is James Best?
Jewel Franklin Guy (July 26, 1926 – April 6, 2015), known professionally as James Best, was an American television, film, stage, and voice actor, as well as a writer, director, acting coach, artist, college professor, and musician.
What nationality is James Best?
James Best is United States.
When was James Best born?
James Best was born on 1926-07-26.



