Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane

James Best, portraying the character that made him famous, "Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane", along with his sidekick, "Flash".

On the American TV series The Dukes of Hazzard, Rosco Purvis Coltrane is the bumbling sheriff of Hazzard County and right-hand man of its corrupt county commissioner, Jefferson Davis "J.D." Hogg ("Boss Hogg"). The role of Rosco is played by James Best, who had appeared in numerous movies and TV series before landing the role as top (inept) lawman of Hazzard County. Rosco frequently initiates car chases with Bo and Luke Duke (Hogg's most frequent adversaries), but the Duke boys are often able to easily elude Rosco, who winds up crashing his patrol car in various ways (always escaping uninjured).

Starting with the 1980-1981 season, Rosco got a pet dogâ€"a basset hound he calls "Flash"â€"which he mothered and loved dearly (likely because Rosco was a bachelor and childless). Early on, the dog's sex was male, but this would change in later episodes. Flash would be a frequent thorn in Boss's side, but she was friendly with the Dukes (despite Rosco's training).

Boss and Rosco are brothers-in-law; Rosco's older sister, Lulu Coltrane, is married to J.D.

Rosco has just more than 43 dollars in his savings account, and often tries to join Boss in indulging in high-calorie dishes (which usually results in him getting his hands slapped). His patrol car (a 1977 or 1978 Dodge Monaco) also serves as his daily driver. His main deputiesâ€"whom he often calls "dipstick"â€"include Enos Strate and Cletus Hogg.

Rosco's mentality is that of a fun-loving kid. He speaks with a childish vernacular and repeats his favorite catchphrases constantly. He is easily excitable and genuinely enjoys law enforcement, especially chasing criminals, which he refers to as "hot pursuit". Rosco's favorite story is "Jack and the Beanstalk".

Rosco was married briefly in an episode during the 1980-1981 season, to a woman he purportedly met through a computer dating service, but the marriage was a shamâ€"his "bride" robbed banks with her husband and his associateâ€"and the union was quickly annulled. This episode showed that, despite Rosco's often childish, irresponsible and corrupt ways (in large part because of his friendship/relationship to Boss), he was a human being who had feelings and wanted to do the right thing. Rosco has shown on numerous occasions (especially on episodes where characters either were thought to have died or found themselves in serious trouble) that he is truly a tender, caring man. This is a level of depth brought to the character by James Best.

In the early episodes, the character of Rosco was a fairly serious one. He is depicted as a more hard-nosed, focused, and aggressive sheriff, and actually shot a criminal in an early episode. He was a much more willing accomplice to Boss Hogg's vile schemes, fueled by a sense of bitterness and resentment. In another early episode, Rosco explained that he served Hazzard County as an honorable lawman for more than 20 years but became embittered after watching most of his pension get wiped out following a failed bond referendum. It wasn't until the show's creators realized that they had found an audience with children, that the character was toned down to the more childlike and bumbling persona for which he is best known.

When Boss Hogg died, (some time between the series end and the first television reunion movie) Rosco inherited his money and he also became Hazzard County's Commissioner.

Rosco's most famous quotes

* Enos! (or Cletus!) This is your superior officer, Ros-CO P. Coltrane!
* Enos/(Cletus), you dipstick!
* Little fat buddy (referring to Boss Hogg).
* I'm in "Hot Pursuit!"
* Kik-kik-kyah