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John Richard Schneider (born April 8, 1960) is an American actor and
country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, o ...
singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Beauregard "Bo" Duke in the American television action/comedy series '' The Dukes of Hazzard'' (opposite Tom Wopat, Catherine Bach and James Best), Jonathan Kent in the 2001–11 TV series '' Smallville'', and James "Jim" Cryer on the television series '' The Haves and the Have Nots'', created by Tyler Perry. 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 "I've Been Around Enough to Know" is a song written by Bob McDill and Dickey Lee. It was first recorded in 1975 by Jo-El Sonnier for Mercury Records. Sonnier's version, his debut single, peaked at number 78 on the Hot Country Songs Hot Countr ...
", " 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.


Early life

Schneider was born on April 8, 1960, in Mount Kisco, New York, the youngest of three boys for Shirley Conklin (1932-2016) and John "Jack" Schneider III (1930-2013), a pilot who had served in the U.S. Air Force. His mother is from Sanford, Florida. His family included an older brother Robert, an artist living in southern New York. His other brother (also called John) died of lung failure age 3, three years before John's birth. John's life as an entertainer began at the age of eight, when he put on magic shows for his peers and their families. This once got him into trouble, when he had himself chained up and tossed into a swimming pool with the intention of re-creating
Harry Houdini Harry Houdini (, born Erik Weisz; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-American escape artist, magic man, and stunt performer, noted for his escape acts. His pseudonym is a reference to his spiritual master, French magician ...
's legendary escape act. When he was 14, he and his mother moved to
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,71 ...
, Georgia, where his love for performing continued. He went to North Springs High School in
Sandy Springs, Georgia Sandy Springs is a city in northern Fulton County, Georgia and an inner ring suburb of Atlanta. The city's population was 108,080 at the 2020 census, making it Georgia's seventh-largest city. It is the site of several corporate headquarters, i ...
.


Career


Acting career

Schneider with President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan during a taping of NBC">Nancy_Reagan.html" ;"title="Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan">Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan during a taping of NBC's ''Christmas in Washington'' special in 1982. At the age of 18, he won the role of Bo Duke, working alongside another newcomer Tom Wopat and veteran actor James Best. For his audition, he "borrowed a dilapidated pickup truck, put on a big ol' country accent and funky hat. I hadn't shaved and went in toting a beer. I don't know whether they believed it or not, but they liked it." Schneider learned to drive the iconic Dodge Charger in the show, but to the disappointment of many fans, he admitted he never jumped the car due to the dangerous nature of the stunt. At the height of the series' popularity, he also became a recording artist and a face of merchandise. In 1982, a tangle of legal suits with the producers over the distribution of merchandising royalties caused Schneider and co-star Tom Wopat to leave the show for most of a season. They returned to their roles in February 1983 only after their claims were satisfied. The show was canceled in 1985, after seven seasons. Schneider directed the series finale, titled ''Opening Night at the Boar's Nest'', airing originally on CBS, February 8, 1985. In 2001, he portrayed Jonathan Kent, the adoptive father of Clark Kent on '' Smallville'', starring in 100 episodes. Schneider directed some episodes of ''Smallville'', including "Talisman". Some episodes contain references to Schneider's work in ''The Dukes of Hazzard'', e.g. the season five episode "Exposed" is notable for reuniting Schneider with his former ''Dukes'' co-star Tom Wopat. Schneider guest starred for the latter half of season five appearing in the episodes "Void" and "Oracle". Schneider returned for the season 10 premiere of ''Smallville'', reprising his role as Jonathan Kent in a recurring role. Schneider has appeared in many films and TV series, including five guest spots on '' Hee Haw'' and the miniseries '' 10.5''. He had a recurring role on '' Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'' and made guest appearances on such shows as '' Diagnosis: Murder'', '' Touched by an Angel'', '' JAG'' and '' Walker, Texas Ranger''. 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. During the summer of 2008 and early 2009, John portrayed "Marshall Bowman". He declined to continue through the second season and his character was written off. 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'' as a retired military man and father of Keith Watson ( Brian Austin Green), the love interest of Bree Van de Kamp. In 2011, he starred in the film ''Doonby'', as a drifter who comes into a small town and makes it better. However, a menacing force stalks him. "It's ''It's a Wonderful Life'' without the wonderful part," Schneider explains. "'Reach down into the throat of ''It's a Wonderful Life'', pull it inside out and make a movie out of it." He returned to the role of Bo Duke, alongside Tom Wopat as Luke Duke, in a 2014 commercial for Autotrader.com.


Filmmaking career

In addition to acting, John Schneider owns and operates the John Schneider Studios (JSS) where he writes and produces independent films in
Holden, Louisiana Holden is an unincorporated community located on U.S. Highway 190 between Albany and Livingston in Livingston Parish, Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regi ...
. John Schneider Studios (JSS) has created an infrastructure to give independent filmmakers all the tools they need to create their stories and films in one location.


Music career

During Schneider's ''Dukes of Hazzard'' days, he also entered into music. In the early 80's Schneider signed with Scotti Brothers Label and released his debut full-length album, ''Now or Never'', which peaked at No. 8 on the US Country Billboard charts. The single "It's Now or Never," a remake of the Elvis Presley hit, peaked at number 4 on the US Country Billboard charts and peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1981 and is one of the highest charting Elvis covers of all time. Schneider continued to release albums, including ''Quiet Man'' and ''If You Believe'', and, in 1984, signed with MCA Nashville. Through MCA Nashville, Schneider released ''Too Good to Stop Now'' which included his first No. 1 hits, "I've Been Around Enough to Know" and "Country Girls," also peaking at No. 1 on the CAN Country music charts. The following year, Schneider unleashed ''Tryin' To Outrun the Wind'', followed by ''A Memory Like You'' which debuted at No. 1 on the US Country Billboard charts, a first for Schneider. The album ''A Memory Like You'' featured "What's a Memory Like You (Doing In A Love Like This)" and "You're The Last Thing I Needed Tonight," singles which both peaked at No. 1 on the US Country Billboard charts and CAN Country. In the late 80's, Schneider continued releasing albums including his Greatest Hits record. Taking some time off to pursue acting opportunities, Schneider returned with ''Worth The Wait'', ''John's Acoustic Christmas'', ''The Promise'' and ''Home For Christmas'', with ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' co-star Tom Wopat in 2014. In 2019, on January 29, LIVE, at a filming of the TV show "Good Rockin' Tonight," John Schneider was Inducted on the air into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "I hadn't done music since 1990. People responded to that music, and one thing led to another," shares Schneider. "It's funny. Even though I had a bunch of No. 1 songs, people say, 'Oh, I love that Dukes of Hazzard song you sang!' Well, I didn't sing it, Waylon Jennings sang it. I'm famous for music by a song I never sang. Crazy." More than a dozen artists are joining Schneider in recording songs for Odyssey, including Tanya Tucker, John Conlee, Steve Wariner, Collin Raye, Mark Wills, Jamie O'Neal, Heidi Newfield, Bobby Bare, Kelly Lang, Jim Brown, Danny Shirley, Doug Supernaw and Marty Raybon, among others. More information about Odyssey can be found by visiting Schneider's website. In November 2021, Schneider spoke and performed at Global Vision Bible Church in Wilson County, Tennessee.


Theater career

Schneider has also been involved with a number of stage performances: '' 42nd Street'' ittsburgh, PA (Regional)Pittsburgh CLO Revival, 2006 Julian Marsh eplacement''
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'' roadwayBroadway Revival, 1996 Billy Flynn eplacement'' Grand Hotel'' roadwayOriginal Broadway Production, 1989 Felix Von Gaigern eplacement(source: Broadway World)


Audio book career

Schneider took part In the "Word Of Promise"
Audio Bible Audio Bibles or spoken Bibles are Bibles that were recorded in audio format. They provide the listener the ability to listen to the Scriptures without being required to look directly at written text. History The first audio Bible (KJV in English ...
series, which featured the voices of many famous actors and actresses. He voiced James in the Book of James.


''Dancing with the Stars''

On September 12, 2018, Schneider was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on season 27 of '' Dancing with the Stars''. His professional partner was Emma Slater. They became the sixth couple to be eliminated from the competition on November 5, alongside DeMarcus Ware and his professional partner Lindsay Arnold.


Personal life

In 1982, Schneider co-founded the Children's Miracle Network with Marie Osmond and her brothers. In 1995, he founded FaithWorks Productions in order to produce family-oriented videos and recordings. In 1998, Schneider became a born-again Christian while living with
Johnny Johnny is an English language personal name. It is usually an affectionate diminutive of the masculine given name John, but from the 16th century it has sometimes been a given name in its own right for males and, less commonly, females. Varia ...
and June Carter Cash for a short time, and speaking with Johnny about Christianity. Schneider was married to former
Miss America Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 17 and 25. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is now judged on competitors' talent performances and interviews. As ...
Tawny Elaine Godin from 1983 to 1986. He married his second wife, Elly Castle, on July 11, 1993. On December 12, 2014, TMZ.com reported that Castle had filed for divorce, They have three children, Leah and Chasen (born 1991), both of whom are Castle's children from her first marriage, and their daughter Karis. Since April 2015 Schneider has been in a relationship with Alicia Allain, his producing partner and owner of Maven Entertainment. Alicia is also his personal and professional manager. They married in September 2019. Schneider was good friends with James Best, who played Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in '' The Dukes of Hazzard'', until his death on April 6, 2015, at age 88. On June 12, 2018, Schneider spoke to
Fox News The Fox News Channel, abbreviated FNC, commonly known as Fox News, and stylized in all caps, is an American multinational conservative cable news television channel based in New York City. It is owned by Fox News Media, which itself is ...
regarding his upcoming three-day jail sentence for failing to pay
alimony Alimony, also called aliment (Scotland), maintenance (England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Canada, New Zealand), spousal support (U.S., Canada) and spouse maintenance (Australia), is a legal obligation on a person to provide financial su ...
to his estranged wife Elvira Castle. He said he has had hard financial times and he has spent his money on repairing his studio in
Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a U.S. state, state in the Deep South and South Central United States, South Central regions of the United States. It is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 20th-smal ...
which was destroyed in an August 2016 flood. He was arrested at 10:29 AM and released at 3:45 PM. The short imprisonment was due to the overcrowded prison. He contrasted the warm treatment of the corrections officers to the " guilty until proven innocent" treatment he received in the court system. However, he still has to do 240 hours of
community service Community service is unpaid work performed by a person or group of people for the benefit and betterment of their community without any form of compensation. Community service can be distinct from volunteering, since it is not always perform ...
and pay the debt to Elvira, or else he faces an imprisonment of five years.


Filmography


Television


Film


Discography


Albums


Singles


Promotional singles


Music videos


References


External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Schneider, John 1960 births American evangelicals American country singer-songwriters American film producers American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male screenwriters American male singer-songwriters American male television actors American male voice actors American people of German descent Living people Male actors from New York (state) MCA Records artists People from Mount Kisco, New York Converts to Christianity Screenwriters from New York (state) 20th-century American singers 20th-century American male singers 21st-century American singers 21st-century American male singers 21st-century American screenwriters 21st-century American male writers