The Cast of 'The Dukes of Hazzard' Then and Now
'The Dukes of Hazzard' was a wildly popular series that ran on CBS from 1979-1985. The show followed cousins Bo (John Schneider) and Luke Duke (Tom Wopat), who lived in the fictional Hazzard County, Georgia, racing around in their 1969 Dodge Charger "The General Lee," and evading corrupt county commissioner Boss Hogg (Sorrell Brooke) and sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, while often foiling their dastardly plans. The show was so popular, they remade it as a feature film in 2006 - a film that became Jessica Simpson's sole big screen success.
Bo, Luke, Uncle Jesse and Daisy Duke
The boys lived with their Uncle Jesse (Denver Pyle), who acted as a father figure to all the Dukes, and their pretty younger cousin, Daisy Duke (Catherine Bach).
Fun Fact:
"The Dukes of Hazard" was based on the 1975 movie "Moonrunners," about the life of moonshiner Jerry Rushing, starring James Mitchum. Country music star Waylon Jennings narrated both the movie and the series.
Catherine Bach
Catherine Bach had several roles on TV and in film before being cast to play Daisy Duke, a role which made her an icon. Daisy was sweet, kind and would often use her good looks to help cousins Bo and Luke stop the unscrupulous Boss Hogg and Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane. She was known for her signature ultra-short denim shorts, a style now commonly referred to as "Daisy Dukes."
Catherine Bach now
After the series, Bach, now 61, starred in the Canadian TV series "African Skies" from 1991-1994. She has made appearances for "Dukes of Hazzard" reunion specials, and her most recent acting role was a guest spot on the USA series "Monk" in 2006.
Denver Pyle
Denver Pyle was a seasoned pro before landing the role of patriarch Jesse Duke and had starred in several films and appeared on countless TV shows, including regular appearances on "The Andy Griffith Show," throughout the 50's and 60's.
Denver Pyle now
Pyle mostly retired from acting after the series but continued to make cameo appearances on TV with guest roles on" Dallas," "Murder She Wrote,"" L.A. Law" and others. His last movie role was in the 1994 film "Maverick." His final performance was a reprisal of his role as Jesse in the 1997 made-for-TV movie "Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!" Pyle died of lung cancer on Christmas Day 1997 at the age of 77.
James Best
James Best had an incredibly successful film and TV career and took on countless roles, portraying a wide range of characters from the 50's through the 70's. However, he is best known for his role as bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane.
James Best now
James continued to act after the show was canceled, but later moved to Florida to teach at the University of Central Florida. He is currently semi-retired but takes on occasional acting roles. In 2009, completed his autobiography, "Best in Hollywood: The Good, The Bad and The Beautiful" which was just published in August. (20th Century Fox). Best died on April 6, 2015, in Hickory, North Carolina from complications of pneumonia. He was 88. Prior to his death, Best's former The Dukes of Hazzard co-star and long-time friend, John Schneider, released a statement; "I laughed and learned more from Jimmie in one hour, than from anyone else in a whole year. Give Uncle Jesse my love when you see him dear friend".
John Schneider
John Schneider got his big break playing handsome and rambunctious Bo Duke on the series. Alongside his acting career, Schneider has been a singer since the early 1980s, releasing nine studio albums and a greatest hits package, as well as eighteen singles. This total includes "I've Been Around Enough to Know", "Country Girls", "What's a Memory Like You", and "You're the Last Thing I Needed Tonight", all of which reached the top of the Billboard country singles charts.
John Schneider now
Schneider, 55, continued to work steadily after the show's cancellation. He starred as Jonathan Kent on "Smallville" from 2001-2006. In 2009, Schneider made an appearance on CSI in an episode titled "Kill Me If You Can". He appeared in the first season of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, in which his real-life son Chasen Schneider had a recurring role. In 2010, Schneider appeared in the series Leverage as a corrupt music executive in the season three episode "The Studio Job", and in several episodes of Desperate Housewives. In 2011, he starred in the film Doonby and, in 2014, he returned to the role of Bo Duke in a commercial for Autotrader.com. Schneider has recorded 10 albums to date, including works on Scotti Brothers Records and MCA Nashville.
Tom Wopat
Tom Wopat got his start on Broadway before gaining fame playing strapping Luke Duke. Luke was the more mature, rational cousin and would often be the man with the plan.
Tom Wopat now
After "Dukes," Tom, now 64, went back to his true love - music. He recorded several albums and appeared in appearing in scores of plays. In 2009 he acted opposite Kevin Bacon in the HBO production "Taking Chance". In July 2009, he originated the role of Frank Abagnale, Sr. in the musical Catch Me if You Can (based on the film of the same name)
Sorrell Brooke
Sorrell Brooke earned degrees from both Columbia and Yale University, served in the Korean War as a counterintelligence officer, and had supporting roles in several noteworthy 1960s films and TV shows before landing his most high-profile role playing corrupt politician Boss Hogg. After "Dukes," Sorrell did mostly voice over work. He died of colorectal cancer in 1994 at the age of 64.
Sonny Shroyer
Sonny Shroyer played Rosco Coltrane's deputy Enose Strate. He was the friendliest law enforcement official in Hazzard County, but none too bright. He began a career as a professional model in 1961. His first screen role came in the 1972 film Payday. Shroyer almost became typecast as a bad guy before landing the role of the naive Deputy Enos Strate in the hit pop culture series The Dukes of Hazzard.
Sonny Shroyer now
Shroyer, now 80, became a star all his own with his short-lived 1980 spin-off "Enos." Since his "Dukes" days, he has continued to act on TV and in films. He portrayed University of Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant in Forrest Gump, Delbert Birdsong in The Rainmaker, and Governor Jimmie Davis in Ray. He is also a country and gospel singer.
Rick Hurst
Rick Hurst played another Hazzard County deputy, Cletus Hogg, often paired with Enos in hair-brained schemes to catch the Duke boys. Cletus and Enos usually wound up in their squad car in the river after losing out in yet another car chase with The General Lee.
Rick Hurst now
Rick Hurst, now 70, continues to act off and on, and is a regular at "Dukes" reunions. Rick makes numerous appearances at various Dukes of Hazzard events and at Cooters in Nashville and Gatlinburg.
