James Best passed away April 7 at the age of 88. He was best known as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on The Dukes of Hazzard. But he had an amazing career playing various characters for over 60 years. One such character was Billy Ben Turner in an episode of The Twilight Zone, “Jess-Belle,” written by Earl Hamner.
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Don’t forget The Killer Shrews!
He was also one of the unnamed, uncredited crew of starship C-57-D, in Forbidden Planet,
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
Riders to the Stars (1954)
Forbidden Planet (1956)
The Killer Shrews (1959)
Men Into Space (‘Beyond the Stars’, 1960)
The Twilight Zone (‘The Grave’, 1961; ‘The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank’, 1962; ‘Jess-Belle’, 1963)
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (‘The Jar’, 1964)
The Green Hornet (‘Deadline for Death’, 1966)
The Brain Machine (1977)
Death Mask (1998)
Return of the Killer Shrews (2012)
Not “Good news, Boss!” at all. Alas.
Steve: He was in “The Jar”? My source must have fallen asleep at the switch. He never misses a chance to mention that episode.
Yes, Mike, the 1964 version. For The Ray Bradbury Theatre’s 1992 adaptation, that same role was taken by Earl Pastko.
Too funny! He must have lost 7 years of age somewhere in there. He went to High School with my father and my dad is 95! I guess Hollywood will do that to you.
Just a few days ago I noticed him in a second season episode of The Phil Silvers Show (i.e. “Sgt. Bilko”).
For KILLER SHREWS it sets some sort of record – original cast member to be in a sequel, some 53 years later.