Actor James Best of 'Dukes of Hazzard' dies (Rosco P Coltrane)

[Suzanimal]

RIP

The actor who played Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on The Dukes of Hazzard TV series has died.

James Best died Monday night in Hickory, NC after a brief illness and complications of pneumonia, according to his website.

Best, a World War II veteran, served in the Army and joined the military theatrical company.

After the war, Best traveled to New York City to pursue a career on Broadway. Best soon caught Hollywood's eye and he became a contract actor for Universal Studios.

His movie and TV continued to flourish and in the late 1970s Best got the opportunity to film 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,” stated an obituary posted on Best's website.

Best was 88 years old.

Read more: http://www.cbs46.com/story/28737971/actor-james-best-of-dukes-of-hazzard-dies#ixzz3WdPy9fWR

 

[William Tell]

We'll miss you Roscoe.

 

[phill4paul]

I'd seen him about town. Seemed like a real nice guy doing charities and such. Helped raise funds for the community theater. Didn't seem like he thought it an inconvenience to let fans take pics with him.

 

[donnay]

RIP Roscoe.

 

[Anti Federalist]

"Flash, are you alright?"

 

[Todd]

I imitated him when I was a kid. Found out as an adult what an incredibly smart and gifted character actor he was.

"Coood yoood....I'm in Hot pursuit"