William Best (abt. 1916 - 1962)

Born about 27 May 1916 in Greenwood, Leflore, Mississippi, United States

Died 27 Feb 1962 at about age 45 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Biography

Willie Best is a part of US Black heritage.

Willie Best is Notable.

An American television and film actor known professionally as Willie Best or Sleep n' Eat, Best was one of the 1st African American actors and comedians to become well known. Of the 124 films he appeared in, he received screen credit in at least 77, an unusual feat for an African American bit player.

William was born about May 27, 1912 in Greenwood, Leflore County, Mississippi, the son of George Best. (see Research Notes below)

1940 CENSUS - 664 E. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California ^[1]

Willie Best 25 Head California Negro Single Actor High School, 4th year

U.S. WORLD WAR II DRAFT CARDS YOUNG MEN, 1940-1947

Name Willie Best

Race Negro (Black)

Age 28

Birth Date 27 May 1912

Birth Place Greenwood, Mississippi, USA

Residence Place 664 E. Adams, Los Angeles, California, USA

Registration Date 18 Oct 1940

Registration Place Los Angeles, California, USA

Employer Unemployed

Height 6

Weight 140

Complexion Black

Hair Color Black

Eye Color Black

Friend Louise Franklin, 752 E. Adams, Los Angeles, California

1950 CENSUS - Wesley Hotel, 333 4th St., Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California ^[2]

Dessie M Hall 28 Negro Mississippi

Dorothy Williams 24 White Louisiana

Willie Best 34 Negro Mississippi Never Married Actor Motion Picture Seeking Work

Joan L Anderson 38 Negro Louisiana

Johnny Myers 28 White New York

Ann Myers 22 White New York

Best died on February 27, 1962, at the Motion Picture Country Hospital in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and was buried on March 5th at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery. Cause of death was carcinoma of lung duration 4 months and cardio respiratory failure duration 2 hours.

Research Notes

Willie himself gave his birth as May 27, 1912 in Greenwood, Mississippi on his Second World War draft card ^[3]BUT his death records gave it as May 27, 1916 in Sunflower, Mississippi.^[4])

• This bio uses the death record DOB but the actual place of birth given by Willie and confirmed by a 1942 newspaper article from Greenwood, Mississippi that said Willie's father was George Best, a "tenant on Hugh Critz' plantation". A letter from Willie was taken to George at Hugh Critz' Motor Company^[5] in Greenwood.^[6]

Willie Best cannot be located in the 1920 or 1930 Census with any certainty. The only 1920 Census listing that looks promising is one for Leflore County, Mississippi but unfortunately most of the names are difficult to read.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ 1940 CENSUS for Willie Best
2. ↑ "1950 CENSUS" : United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 820; Sheet Number: 3; Enumeration District: 66-1428
3. ↑ WORLD WAR II DRAFT CARD for Willie Best
4. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL5X-N4R4 : 1 March 2021), Willie Best, 1962.
5. ↑ Wikipedia:Hughie_Critz
6. ↑ "Leflore Negro is Movie Star," The Greenwood Commonwealth [Mississippi], 27 Jul 1942, page 1, column 4; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenwood-commonwealth/74780037/ : accessed 19 Jun 2023).
7. ↑ possible 1920 Census record

SEE ALSO:

• Wikipedia:Willie_Best