Willie Best
Acting • AGE 49
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 comed...
Acting
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
2004
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
1975
Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy
Charlie (archive footage)
1962
Waterfront
Billy Slocum
1954
Meet the O'Briens
Willie
1954
My Little Margie
1952
Ellis in Freedomland
Male Model
1952
South of Caliente
Willie, Stable Boy
1951
Racket Squad
1951
The Stu Erwin Show
Willie
1950
The Shanghai Chest
Willie Best
1948
Half Past Midnight
Andy Jones
1948
The Red Stallion
Jackson
1947
Suddenly It's Spring
Porter on Train
1947
Dangerous Money
Chattanooga Brown
1946
The Bride Wore Boots
Joe
1946
The Face of Marble
Shadrach
1946
She Wouldn't Say Yes
Porter (uncredited)
1945
Hold That Blonde!
Willie Shelley
1945
The Red Dragon
Chattanooga Brown
1945
Pillow to Post
Lucille, Colonial Auto Court Porter
1945
The Monster and the Ape
Flash
1945
Music for Millions
Red Cap (uncredited)
1944
The Mark of the Whistler
Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)
1944
The Girl Who Dared
Woodrow
1944
The Adventures of Mark Twain
Butler
1944
Home in Indiana
Mo' Rum (uncredited)
1944
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Soldier in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
1943
The Kansan
Bones
1943
Dixie
Steward (uncredited)
1943
Cabin in the Sky
Second Idea Man
1943
Cinderella Swings It
Hipp
1943
The Powers Girl
Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)
1943
The Hidden Hand
Eustis, the chauffeur
1942
Scattergood Survives a Murder
Hipp
1942
Busses Roar
Sunshine
1942
A-Haunting We Will Go
Waiter
1942
Maisie Gets Her Man
Sam (Uncredited)
1942
Juke Girl
Jo-Mo
1942
Whispering Ghosts
Euclid White Brown
1942
The Body Disappears
Willie
1941
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1941
Nothing but the Truth
Samuel
1941
The Smiling Ghost
Clarence
1941
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company "B"
Hot-Breath Harry (voice) (uncredited)
1941
Highway West
Bub Wellington
1941
Kisses for Breakfast
Arnold
1941
The Lady from Cheyenne
George
1941
Scattergood Baines
Hipp
1941
Road Show
Willie
1941
Flight from Destiny
George
1941
High Sierra
Algernon
1941
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
Andrew
1940
Money and the Woman
George Washington Jones
1940
The Ghost Breakers
Alex
1940
Blondie on a Budget
Newsboy (uncredited)
1940
I Take This Woman
Sambo
1940
Slightly Honorable
Art, Elevator Operator
1939
Private Detective
Norton's Valet
1939
The Covered Trailer
Baltimore
1939
Blondie Brings Up Baby
Hotel Janitor (uncredited)
1939
At the Circus
Redcap (uncredited)
1939
Blackmail
Bunny - the Janitor (uncredited)
1939
Way Down South
Chimney Sweep
1939
Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
Driver (uncredited)
1939
Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
Apollo Johnson
1939
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
Launch Pilot
1939
The Saint Strikes Back
Algernon, Simon's Butler (Uncredited)
1939
Blondie
Porter
1938
Spring Madness
Porter on Train
1938
Straight, Place and Show
Hannibal
1938
Youth Takes a Fling
George
1938
I'm from the City
Train Porter
1938
Vivacious Lady
Porter
1938
Goodbye Broadway
Jughead
1938
Merrily We Live
George
1938
Gold Is Where You Find It
Joshua
1938
Everybody's Doing It
Jasper - Elevator Operator
1938
Crashing Hollywood
Train Porter (uncredited)
1938
Saturday's Heroes
Sam
1937
Super-Sleuth
Warts, Martin's manservant
1937
Meet the Missus
Bootblack
1937
You Can't Buy Luck
Airline Porter (uncredited)
1937
Breezing Home
Speed
1937
Racing Lady
Brass
1937
We Who Are About to Die
Airport Porter (uncredited)
1937
Deep South
1937
Night Waitress
Black Pedestrian
1936
General Spanky
Henry
1936
Thank You, Jeeves!
Drowsy
1936
Mummy's Boys
Catfish
1936
Down the Stretch
Noah
1936
The Green Pastures
Henry - the Angel (uncredited)
1936
The Bride Walks Out
Smokie
1936
Murder on a Bridle Path
'High-Pockets'
1936
Two in Revolt
Eph
1936
Silly Billies
Excitement
1936
Muss 'em Up
Janitor at Spivali's Bar (uncredited)
1936
The Littlest Rebel
James Henry
1935
To Beat the Band
Elevator Operator
1935
Hot Tip
Apollo
1935
Jalna
Sam
1935
The Arizonian
Pompey
1935
The Nitwits
Sleepy
1935
Murder on a Honeymoon
Willie (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
1935
West of the Pecos
Jonah (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
1934
Kentucky Kernels
Buckshot (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
1934
Little Miss Marker
Dizzy Memphis (uncredited)
1934
The Monster Walks
Exodus (as Sleep n' Eat)
1932
The Guilty Generation
Club Merlin Doorman (uncredited)
1931
Up Pops the Devil
Laundryman
1931
Virtuous Husband
Luftus
1931
Feet First
Janitor
1930
Ladies of Leisure
George (uncredited)
1930