(USA TODAY) -- If you ever watched The Dukes of Hazzard back in the day (1979-1985), you probably remember the bumbling, sputtering Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane.
He was constantly chasing after those Duke boys of Hazzard County.
James Best, the actor who portrayed the sheriff, died Monday after a brief illness and complications from pneumonia, reports The Charlotte Observer. He was 88.
"I acted the part as good as I could," Best told The Observer in 2009. "Rosco – let's face it – was a charmer. It was a fun thing."
In addition to Dukes of Hazzard, Best appeared in films including The Caine Mutiny and Shenandoah, and classic TV shows ranging from Rawhide to I Spy.
According to JamesBest.com, the actor was born Jewel Franklin Guy in Powderly, Ky. After his mother's death in 1929, he spent short time in an orphanage before being was adopted by Essa and Armen Best and moved with them to their home in Corydon, Ind. While serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he got interested in theater. After he left the military, he headed for New York and then Los Angeles, where his career took off.
In 1986, he married actress Dorothy Collier, described as "the love of his life and partner in all things." He is survived by her, along with son Gary Allen Best, daughter JoJami Best Tyler and daughter Janeen Damian.
Jimmie," as he was known, was a dog lover and animal advocate. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations fans are asked to make donations to a local humane society, says his website.
