

Acting
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 an African-American bit player. Willie Best appeared in more than one hundred...
Highest rated appearances
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)

The Shanghai Chest
as Willie Best

Half Past Midnight
as Andy Jones

The Red Stallion
as Jackson

Suddenly It's Spring
as Porter on Train

Dangerous Money
as Chattanooga Brown

The Bride Wore Boots
as Joe

The Face of Marble
as Shadrach

She Wouldn't Say Yes
as Porter (uncredited)

Hold That Blonde!
as Willie Shelley

The Red Dragon
as Chattanooga Brown

Pillow to Post
as Lucille, Colonial Auto Court Porter

The Monster and the Ape
as Flash

Music for Millions
as Red Cap (uncredited)

The Mark of the Whistler
as Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)

The Girl Who Dared
as Woodrow

The Adventures of Mark Twain
as Butler

Home in Indiana
as Mo' Rum (uncredited)

Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Soldier in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)

The Kansan
as Bones

Dixie
as Steward (uncredited)

Cabin in the Sky
as Second Idea Man

Cinderella Swings It
as Hipp

The Powers Girl
as Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)

The Hidden Hand
as Eustis, the chauffeur

Scattergood Survives a Murder
as Hipp

Busses Roar
as Sunshine

A-Haunting We Will Go
as Waiter

Maisie Gets Her Man
as Sam (Uncredited)

Juke Girl
as Jo-Mo

Whispering Ghosts
as Euclid White Brown

The Body Disappears
as Willie

Breakdowns of 1941
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Nothing but the Truth
as Samuel

The Smiling Ghost
as Clarence
Minstrel Days
as Singer

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company "B"
as Hot-Breath Harry (voice) (uncredited)

Highway West
as Bub Wellington

Kisses for Breakfast
as Arnold

The Lady from Cheyenne
as George

Scattergood Baines
as Hipp

Road Show
as Willie

Flight from Destiny
as George

High Sierra
as Algernon

Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
as Andrew

Money and the Woman
as George Washington Jones

The Ghost Breakers
as Alex

Blondie on a Budget
as Newsboy (uncredited)

I Take This Woman
as Sambo

Slightly Honorable
as Art, Elevator Operator

Private Detective
as Norton's Valet

The Covered Trailer
as Baltimore

Blondie Brings Up Baby
as Hotel Janitor (uncredited)

At the Circus
as Redcap (uncredited)

Blackmail
as Bunny - the Janitor (uncredited)

Way Down South
as Chimney Sweep

Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
as Driver (uncredited)

Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
as Apollo Johnson

Mr. Moto in Danger Island
as Launch Pilot

The Saint Strikes Back
as Algernon, Simon's Butler (Uncredited)

Blondie
as Porter

Spring Madness
as Porter on Train

Straight, Place and Show
as Hannibal

Youth Takes a Fling
as George

I'm from the City
as Train Porter

Vivacious Lady
as Porter

Goodbye Broadway
as Jughead

Merrily We Live
as George

Gold Is Where You Find It
as Joshua

Everybody's Doing It
as Jasper - Elevator Operator

Crashing Hollywood
as Train Porter (uncredited)

Saturday's Heroes
as Sam
The Lady Fights Back
as McTavish
Mississippi Moods

Super-Sleuth
as Warts, Martin's manservant

Meet the Missus
as Bootblack

You Can't Buy Luck
as Airline Porter (uncredited)

Breezing Home
as Speed

Racing Lady
as Brass

We Who Are About to Die
as Airport Porter (uncredited)

Deep South

Night Waitress
as Black Pedestrian

General Spanky
as Henry

Thank You, Jeeves!
as Drowsy

Mummy's Boys
as Catfish

Down the Stretch
as Noah

The Green Pastures
as Henry - the Angel (uncredited)

The Bride Walks Out
as Smokie

Murder on a Bridle Path
as 'High-Pockets'

Two in Revolt
as Eph

Silly Billies
as Excitement

Muss 'em Up
as Janitor at Spivali's Bar (uncredited)

The Littlest Rebel
as James Henry

To Beat the Band
as Elevator Operator

Hot Tip
as Apollo

Jalna
as Sam

The Arizonian
as Pompey

The Nitwits
as Sleepy
Hit and Rum
as Shoe Shine Man (uncredited)
Raised and Called

Murder on a Honeymoon
as Willie (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
Horse Heir

West of the Pecos
as Jonah (as Sleep 'n' Eat)

Kentucky Kernels
as Buckshot (as Sleep 'n' Eat)

Little Miss Marker
as Dizzy Memphis (uncredited)

The Monster Walks
as Exodus (as Sleep n' Eat)

The Guilty Generation
as Club Merlin Doorman (uncredited)

Up Pops the Devil
as Laundryman

Virtuous Husband
as Luftus

Feet First
as Janitor

Ladies of Leisure
as George (uncredited)