Obituary for
JAMES BEST

Beloved in Mayberry as Jim Lindsey and Everywhere as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on “The Dukes of Hazzard”

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HICKORY, N.C., April 6, 2015–James Best, the actor best known for his portrayal of bumbling yet endearing Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane on TV’s “The Dukes of Hazzard,” died Monday night after a brief illness and complications of pneumonia. He was 88.

The youngest of eight brothers and a sister, James was born Jewel Franklin Guy in hardscrabble Powderly, Ky., on July 26, 1926, to parents Lena Mae Everly Guy (sister of Ike Everly, who was father of musical legends Don and Phil) and Larkin Jasper Guy. After spending a short time in an orphanage following his mother’s death in 1929, the young boy was adopted by Essa and Armen Best and moved with them to their home in Corydon, Ind.

When his adoptive parents asked what name he wanted to be called, young Jewel said, “Jimmie,” likely a toddler’s recollection of the name of one of his older brothers. Jimmie’s adoptive father taught him boxing skills, marksmanship with assorted firearms and a lifelong passion for fishing and the outdoors. During his youth, Jimmie also sacked groceries at the local Kroger with a future governor of Indiana (Frank O’Bannon), was a Boy Scout and acted in his first play, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.

Jimmie’s experiences and observations as a boy growing up in the Great Depression would later be inspiration for his writing the play Hell-Bent for Good Times, which he also produced, directed and starred in with leading lady Peggy Stewart to rave reviews from Atlanta to Los Angeles. Jimmie also adapted the play for the screen and had even filmed some sample scenes for his Best Friend Films production company.

While ideas for future creative works percolated, Jimmie, fresh out of high school in 1944, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps with dreams of being a pilot. But the Air Corps at that point needed gunners and radio operators more than pilots, so Jimmie trained for those duties instead. Once most of the enemy’s aircraft were out of commission and there was less need for him to be fighting in the sky, Jimmie was transferred to the military police to help handle dangerous problems on the ground in Germany. Many of Jimmie’s experiences as an MP contending with the Werwolf resistance in Germany during the war were incorporated into Samuel Fuller’s acclaimed 1959 film Verboten! in which Jimmie starred as Sergeant David Brent.

It was during his real wartime on the ground in Germany that Sergeant Best became enlightened about how servicemen who entertained the troops as part of Special Services were given better food and living quarters and, most important, got to travel and socialize with the pretty actresses in those units. And he noticed that the folks in Special Services also generally didn’t have people shooting at them.

Jimmie used his stellar record with the military police as leverage to join the military theatrical company. His first role was playing a drunk in director Arthur Penn’s production in Germany of My Sister Eileen. Jimmie’s show business career was now officially locked and loaded.

After the war, Jimmie had stars in his eyes and headed to New York City with visions of Broadway. He ended up honing his acting skills in winter stock and summer stock productions. He also did some fashion modeling, which got him noticed by an influential Hollywood casting director. That led to Jimmie’s leap to Hollywood as a contract player for Universal Studios, where Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson, Shelley Winters and war hero Audie Murphy were among the group of budding contract players with Jimmie at the time.

Jimmie stayed busy in lots of films, including classic westerns with movie legends who would become friends, such as James Stewart (four films together, including Winchester ’73) and Paul Newman (two films, including The Left-Handed Gun, which was also a nice reunion for Jimmie with director Arthur Penn). Mr. Stewart, as Jimmie always referred to him, was Jimmie’s icon and mentor. They became great friends. Jimmie’s prize possession was the framed sketch that Mr. Stewart drew for him of Harvey the rabbit. Jimmie called it his Oscar. Farther from Oscar, Jimmie also starred in purely popular fare during this period, including a Ma and Pa Kettle film, as well as one with Francis the Talking Mule.

Jimmie himself could be mule-like–that is, hard-kicking, ornery and stubborn. Jimmie’s storied reputation as a renegade eventually led to his essentially being prematurely turned out to pasture at Universal, while also being considered too hot to handle by other studios, with one key exception. Gene Autry gave Jimmie good work when he needed it most. Jimmie was soon back working steadily, first on Autry’s TV show and then for many others. He performed in hundreds of episodes for TV, including iconic roles in multiple installments of hits such as “The Twilight Zone,” “Alfred Hitchcock” and “The Andy Griffith Show.”

Jimmie’s work with Jerry Lewis on a 1965 episode of TV’s “Ben Casey” led to more work with Lewis (including Three on a Couch) and a long friendship filled with laughs, not a little tomfoolery and some fishing. Likewise, Jimmie first worked with Burt Reynolds in a 1963 episode of “Gunsmoke.” Their friendship and appreciation of each other’s work led to later collaboration on film (including Hooper) and theater projects and many legendary adventures.

Jimmie’s natural curiosity and creative energy were qualities that always made him an interesting person to work with and just to be around. He was a prolific and respected painter of oils and watercolors. He was a black belt in karate. He also founded a highly regarded school of motion-picture technique for actors, which he operated in various forms and locations for more than 25 years. (Students included Lindsay Wagner, Roger Miller, Glen Campbell, Quentin Tarantino and Regis Philbin.) His expertise not only in writing, directing and performing in plays and films but also in teaching acting technique led to his being named artist in residence at the University of Mississippi during an “escape” from Hollywood in the early 1970s. He also taught acting and film technique at the University of Central Florida.

He returned to Hollywood in the 1970s to work on camera and behind the scenes on a string of hit films, including Best Picture nominee Sounder, Ode to Billy Joe and three with Burt Reynolds. But what happened next was as unexpected as it was stupendously successful. Lured both by the prospect of filming a TV series in prime fishing country in Georgia and by the chance to work with old pal Denver Pyle, Jimmie agreed to work on a mid-season replacement series for CBS called “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

If there were ever any question that the cool, dashing and sometimes rough-edged actor of dozens of gritty westerns and war films could be believable in a comedy, the answer came in 1979 in the person of Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, which would become the signature role of Jimmie’s long Hollywood career. In many ways, it was an ironic yet natural fit for Jimmie, the fabled Hollywood rebel, to comically portray a character who is a blundering fool at trying to enforce laws and outwit rural rule-benders like “those Duke boys.”

Throughout the decades that followed its seven-season run and two reunion movies, “Dukes” continued to keep Jimmie busy with reunions and personal appearances at festivals and fan gatherings. Through the enormous viewership of “Dukes” reruns, the popularity of the show has now spanned several generations of fans.

Keenly devoted to dogs and an advocate for their humane treatment, Jimmie was always especially thrilled to meet fans who, as homage to Rosco’s beloved basset hound Flash, brought their own basset hounds to meet Jimmie, who kept some “doggie num nums” handy to offer as treats.

Jimmie reveled in the enthusiasm for the show that was displayed by fans of all ages, many of whom were also among the ardent admirers of his paintings, most of which depict the great outdoors and rustic subjects, including, in recent years, some inspired by “Dukes.”

Even while happily satisfying the huge public demand to see and meet Rosco, Jimmie continued with his passion for writing (including songs, poems, plays and screenplays), producing, directing and performing for stage and screen. His skills and taste ranged from solemn to silly and from heartfelt to campy. The common denominators were his passion, talent, true grit, genuine wit and boundless work ethic.

There is perhaps no better example of his persistence than his dream pet project of producing a sequel to The Killer Shrews, the 1959 cult horror classic in which Jimmie starred. Jimmie’s dream came true with the 2012 release of the nightmarish Return of the Killer Shews, with Jimmie not only reprising his original role, but also helping to develop and write the film over a period of years. It is a movie that never would have been made without Jimmie and wife Dorothy’s sheer force of will that it simply must be done. It was just too obvious of a chance for some great fun for everybody involved.

Once again showing his wide range, Jimmie’s last completed film was 2013’s The Sweeter Side of Life, a tender movie for Hallmark that was written and produced by daughter Janeen Damian and her husband, Michael, who also directed. And back on stage, James won a Best Actor award for a 2014 production of On Golden Pond. At the time of his death, he also was scheduled to star in Old Soldiers, a feature film about World War II veterans that was set to begin filming this year. And he was hard at work on co-writing a screenplay about the Civil War.

Jimmie was always totally present in whatever he was doing. He was also always eager to see what interesting experiences he could get into next. He had the perspective and wisdom that comes with a long life lived to the fullest. As he wrote in his 2009 autobiography, Best in Hollywood: The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful, “The only thing that makes me sad about having so little time left is leaving the people I love and those who love me. There are also films and other projects that I want to get done, and there are always fish that need catching.”

Realizing full well that he had lived a charmed life and that he was blessed to have been able to follow his rainbow, Jimmie looked forward to still more opportunities to embrace life with his legendary gusto. As he stated at the end of his autobiography: “God be willing, maybe I will touch my rainbow one more time before He takes my hand and leads me to eternity.”

As full and accomplished as Jimmie’s professional career was, family and friends made his life complete. In 1986, he married actress Dorothy Collier, the love of his life and partner in all things for several years before their marriage and his beloved wife for the next 29 years, until his passing. He is also survived by son Gary Allen Best and wife Angela Best, daughter JoJami Best Tyler and husband Eric Tyler, and daughter Janeen Damian and husband Michael Damian; and by grandchildren Lauren Best, Cameron Tyler and Tessa Tyler.

Private arrangements are pending. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a local chapter of choice of the Humane Society.

The imayberry.com website has created a James Best Memorial Page where friends and fans can leave their comments and memories of Jimmie.

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Statement from Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou on “The Andy Griffith Show’), who appeared with Jimmie at numerous cast reunions and other Mayberry events during the last 25 years:

“Jim was a wonderful actor. Everybody who ever watched him work knew how talented he was. I never worked with Jim on film, but I always admired his work. He was always terrific. He could do drama. He had great comedy sense. And he even painted–gorgeous pictures. He had so much talent. This is a big loss.

“He and Dorothy were so sweet together. A great couple. They’re really adorable people. I’ve loved being around them both. I’ll miss him terribly. My heart goes out to Dorothy and all of the family.”

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Statement from Tanya Jones, Executive Director of the Surry Arts Council in Mount Airy, N.C., host of the annual Mayberry Days festival regularly attended by James Best:

“Mayberry has lost a true friend. James brought so much to us. His ever-present wit raised the bar on humor during Mayberry Days. Fans doubled over with laughter when he was on the stage – I was one of them. We love him and will miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dorothy and all his family.  James – we will keep the flame of Mayberry love and laughter burning for you.”

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Statement from David Browning, the “Mayberry Deputy,” who regularly performed Rosco vs. Mayberry Deputy routines on stage with Jimmie, who along with Dorothy, was also David and wife Patty’s good friend on and off stage:

“I learned a lot from my friend James Best. I learned that humility is the greatest part of being a performer. I learned that if a child wanted to spend time with Rosco, then everyone else should be patient and wait. I learned that meeting your obligation to an audience meant more than any silly ache or pain you might have. And I learned that family above all is the important thing.”

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Statement from Burt Reynolds:

“It’s such a shame to hear of the loss of James Best.  Jimmie really was a great actor, but more than that he was a great teacher of acting.  I was fortunate enough to call him my friend since the day he walked on the set of ‘Gunsmoke’ back in the early 60s. Following that, we worked together on a number of projects both behind the scenes and on camera–two of which need to be mentioned here.

“Without his insight behind the scenes of my directorial debut, Gator, I would’ve been lost–and on Hooper, he was right there beside me–in front of the camera playing a role that came easy to him: my good friend, comrade and rabble-rouser, Culley. Onset or off, behind the scenes, in front of a class or just as a friend, his name was so fitting because he was truly the ‘best’ at whatever he did. My heart is heavy, and I miss him deeply.”

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 Statement from Tom Wopat, costar as Luke Duke on “The Dukes of Hazzard”:

“The work he did with Sorrell Booke (Boss Hogg) probably defined our show as much as the car chases. He was a fine actor, director and mentor, and an even better friend. He will be greatly missed.”

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 Statement from John Schneider, costar as Bo Duke on “The Dukes of Hazzard”:

“Jimmie Best–of course, I laughed. But I learned more about acting in front of a camera from Jimmie Best in an afternoon than from anyone else in a year. When asked to cry on camera, he would say, ‘Sure thing…which eye?’ I’m forever thankful to have cut my teeth in the company of such a fine man.”

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Statement from Sonny Shroyer costar as Enos Strate on “The Dukes of Hazzard”:

“James Best will go down as one of the greatest actors that ever lived–a great friend and the only sheriff I ever really loved. I will always miss him calling me “dipstick.” I know he loved me and I loved him.”

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Statement from Rick Hurst, costar as Cletus Hogg on “The Dukes of Hazzard”:

“Jimmie’s love of creativity and the arts was surpassed only by his love of family–and maybe fishing. He was fiercely loyal to those around him, sometimes using a firebrand element of his nature for the common good. I will always love Jimmie for his kindness to me, remembering him for his sparkling, piercing wit, and envying him for his full head of hair. Here’s to a life well and fully lived.”

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Statement from Ben Jones, costar as Cooter Davenport on “The Dukes of Hazzard”:

“Jimmie Best was the most constantly creative person I have ever known. Every minute of his long life was spent acting, writing, producing, painting, teaching, fishing, or involved in another of his life’s many passions. As an actor, he could play it tough or gentle or hilariously and outrageously funny. He wrote plays and screenplays and poems. His oils and watercolors were wistful and they perfectly captured the rural life in which he had grown up and which he loved. As a teacher, he influenced a generation of actors. He was a world-class fisherman, an extraordinary raconteur, and a devoted friend, husband and father. That creative energy and zest for life were there until the end. He will be greatly missed, but his work will last for generations to come. He was one of a kind, and it was one of the blessings of my life to have worked with him for all these years. Alma and I are thinking of Dorothy and the family right now. Rest in peace, old friend.”–Ben Jones and wife Alma Viator

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Statement from Corey Eubanks, stuntman on “The Dukes of Hazzard”:

“The greatest pleasures in life are to love and to laugh. And I have met no man who has given more love or made more people laugh than James Best. To say the world is a better place because of him would be a ridiculous understatement. And to call him my friend is truly an honor.”

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Statement from Steve Latshaw, friend, colleague and director of Return of the Killer Shrews:

“James Best was my teacher, mentor, collaborator and dear friend for 26 years.  He once said to me, “I wish I’d met you 20 years earlier; we could have done great things together.”  Well, we did do great things.  Maybe no Academy Awards, but we climbed a few cinematic mountains together.

“The thing about Jimmie was his passion for filmmaking.  It was his second language.  He was a walking encyclopedia of film skills. He knew everyone’s job better than they did.  But he never lorded it over you. He had great respect for directors and other actors.  It was Golden Rule with Jimmie–treat your colleagues as you would like to be treated.  In my case, I’d only directed a handful of films before we did our first together.  And true to form, if he had a suggestion or request, he would always discreetly pull me aside. 

“He felt it was important that the director be in charge and that there be nothing to indicate otherwise to the rest of the cast and crew.  He did the same thing for Burt Reynolds when Burt was directing his first feature (Gator), so I was in very good company.  Jimmie knew more about actors and camera technique than anyone I’ve ever met. So I listened. If you’re smart, you accept that you still have much to learn as you go through life. If you’re lucky, you have a teacher like Jimmie.”

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