7 April 2015
From the section Entertainment & Arts
James Best starred in Dukes of Hazzard for seven series
US actor James Best, who was best known for his role as bumbling sheriff Rosco P Coltrane on TV show Dukes of Hazzard, has died aged 88.
He died in a hospice in Hickory, North Carolina, after a brief illness due to complications from pneumonia, his wife Dorothy said.
Co-star John Schneider, who played Bo Duke, paid tribute to the actor calling him “a fine man”.
Dukes of Hazzard ran on CBS in the US from 1979 to 1985.
“I learned more about acting in front of a camera from Jimmie Best in an afternoon than from anyone else in a year,” Schneider told the Charlotte Observer.
“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.”
Rick Hurst, who played Cletus Hogg on the show said: “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.”
Dukes of Hazzard cast members James Best, John Schneider and Ben Jones reunited for fan event DukesFest in 2005
Best was a prolific actor and starred in dozens of films and TV shows alongside the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Jimmy Stewart.
But it was his portrayal of Sheriff Coltrane – who was forever outwitted by Luke and Bo Duke – which made him a …read more
Source:: BBC Entertainment
