What Happened To The Actors From “The Dukes Of Hazzard?”
The Dukes of Hazzard / Facebook
Whatever happened to the good ol’ boys?
The beloved series The Dukes of Hazzard followed the Duke family’s adventures through endless trouble, intense car chases, and downright wild situations. Airing from 1979 to 1985, the show delivered a total of 147 episodes over seven seasons.
From surprising career paths to additional noteworthy roles, check in with the actors from The Dukes of Hazzard below!
LUKE DUKE / TOM WOPAT
THEN: Luke Duke, played by Tom Wopat, was the older and presumably more responsible counterpart to his cousin Bo. Luke often was the mastermind behind plans to get his family out of sticky situations.
NOW: After portraying Luke in The Dukes of Hazzard, Wopat continued to act on stage and the small screen. He found success in musical theater and recording, earning Tony nominations for Annie Get Your Gun and A Catered Affair. Additionally, Wopat released several albums during the 80s and 90s, recording both country and pop songs.
BO DUKE / JOHN SCHNEIDER
THEN: Beauregard “Bo” Duke, played by John Schneider, was the younger and wilder half of the infamous duo. Bo was generally known for his daring car stunts in the General Lee, often accompanied by his catchphrase, “Yee-Haa!”
NOW: Schneider kept active in music, television, and film after his time on The Dukes of Hazzard. He starred in and produced independent films, including To Die For, and performed in the long-running Off-Broadway murder mystery A Perfect Crime. He competed on the 27th season of Dancing with the Stars, where he placed 7th, and was the runner-up on season 10 of The Masked Singer.
DAISY DUKE / CATHERINE BACH
THEN: Daisy Duke, played by Catherine Bach, was the eye-catching cousin of Luke and Bo. Known for her micro-mini-shorts, Daisy worked as a waitress and often joined her cousins on their escapades.
NOW: Because of Catherine’s role in the Dukes of Hazzard, “Daisy Dukes” became synonymous with her particular style of shorts. While on the show, Catherine‘s legs were insured for a million dollars. She continued to act after the show ended, appearing in smaller films throughout the 90s and early 2000s. In 2012, she joined the cse cast of the soap opera The Young and the Restless.
In 2025, Catherine was hospitalized in Los Angeles after suffering from an embolism that developed following a minor surgery. She has since recovered.
UNCLE JESSIE DUKE / DENVER PYLE
THEN: Uncle Jesse, played by Denver Pyle, was a former moonshine runner and the Duke family’s patriarch. While it was never revealed how Bo, Luke, and Daisy’s parents died, the storyline follows Jesse raising the Duke kids.
NOW: Pyle had already built a very long and successful career as an actor when he landed the role of Uncle Jesse at 60 years old. After The Dukes of Hazzard, Pyle retired from full-time acting. He died on Christmas Day in 1997 and is rumored to be buried in an unmarked grave next to his second wife’s parents. He was 77 years old.
SHERIFF ROSCO P. COLTRANE / JAMES BEST
THEN: Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, played by James Best, was a bumbling and corrupt sheriff who regularly plotted against the Duke family. His schemes against the Duke brothers often resulted in over-the-top car chases.
NOW: Best was also a veteran in the TV and film industry before he landed his role as the sheriff. Following the show, he wrote, directed, and performed in stage productions, as well as hosted workshops for young hopefuls in Los Angeles. Best died on April 6, 2015, at 88 years old.
BOSS JEFFERSON DAVIS “J.D.” HOGG / SORRELL BOOKE
THEN: Boss Hogg, played by Sorrell Booke, was the mischievous County Commissioner of Hazzard County. He was also the richest man in town and had a standing feud with Uncle Jesse, stemming from their days as moonshiners.
NOW: Booke was a classically trained method actor with degrees from Yale and Columbia, and had a long career in theatre, TV, and fil before his role as Boss Hogg. After the show ended, he transitioned away from the screen but continued working as a voice actor and narrator until his death on February 11, 1994.
COOTER DAVENPORT / BEN JONES
THEN: Cooter, played by Ben Jones, was the laid-back owner of the local garage. Cooter was an “honorary Duke” and often helped the Duke family in their opposition against Boss Hogg and Rosco.
NOW: Ben Jones stepped aside from acting to run for political office. He was elected in Georgia as a Democrat and served in the United States House of Representatives for four years. After his term, he returned to acting, but continued to contribute to political discussions with regular appearances on shows such as “O’Reilly” and “Hardball.”
Jones died of a heart attack just weeks before his 85th birthday on August 9, 2026.
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