Otis Burt "Sonny" Shroyer Jr. (born August 28, 1935) is an American actor and singer who has appeared in various television and movie roles. He is known for his role as

Deputy Sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...

Enos Strate ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy TV series that was aired on CBS from January 26, 1979 to February 8, 1985. The show aired for 147 episodes spanning seven seasons. It was consistently among the top-rated television series ...

in the

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...

The Dukes of Hazzard ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy TV series that was aired on CBS from January 26, 1979 to February 8, 1985. The show aired for 147 episodes spanning seven seasons. It was consistently among the top-rated television series ...

''. He also starred in the short-lived spin-off series ''

Enos Enos or Enosh (Hebrew: , Standard ''Enosh'', Tiberian ''ʼĔnôš''; "mortal man”) may refer to: People in religious scripture * Enos (biblical figure), a genealogical figure in the Bible. * The Book of Enos, one of the books that make up the B ...

'' based around his ''Dukes of Hazzard'' character. Shroyer is married and has two sons, Chris and Mark. Shroyer was born in the town of

Valdosta, Georgia Valdosta is a city in and the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, Lowndes County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. As of 2019, Valdosta had an estimated population of 56,457. Valdosta is the principal city of the Valdosta Metr ...

. He attended

Florida State University Florida State University (FSU) is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the st ...

on a

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

scholarship A scholarship is a form of financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, and financial need. Scholarsh ...

, but his career was cut short by an injury. He finished his degree at the

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

. He began a career as a professional model in 1961. His first screen role came in the 1972 film ''

Payday A pay day or payday is a specified day of the week or month when one is paid, usually workers collecting wages from their employers. Pay Day, PayDay or Payday may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Pay Day'' (1918 film), a ...

''. Shroyer almost became

typecast In film, television, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character, one or more particular roles, or characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ...

as a bad guy before landing the role of the naive Deputy Enos Strate in the hit

pop culture Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * Pop (Gas al ...

series ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' in 1978 (first broadcast early 1979). ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' role was Shroyer's most visible. His character was written out at the start of the third season to be given a spinoff series titled ''Enos'' in 1980. The new show was not a success and was canceled after eighteen episodes. Shroyer returned to ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' at the start of the fifth season in 1982 and remained with the series until it ended in 1985. Shroyer also released a children's album in 1982. The album was called '' Back in Hazzard'' and featured a cover of

Roger Miller Roger Dean Miller Sr. (January 2, 1936 – October 25, 1992) was an American singer-songwriter, widely known for his honky-tonk-influenced novelty songs and his chart-topping Country music, country and pop hits "King of the Road (song), Ki ...

's classic, "You Can't Rollerskate In a Buffalo Herd". He also recorded a song "Children in Need" with fellow actor

Randall Franks Randall Franks is an American film and television actor, author, and bluegrass singer and musician who plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and mountain dulcimer. He was inducted into the Tri-State Gospel Music Hall of Fame (Georgia, Tennessee and Al ...

for Franks's 2001 CD ''God's Children''. He and Franks have made personal appearances together. Shroyer remains active as a character actor. He portrayed

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and la ...

coach

Paul "Bear" Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant (September 11, 1913 – January 26, 1983) was an American college football player and coach. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, and best known as the head coach of t ...

in ''

Forrest Gump ''Forrest Gump'' is a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom and stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson and ...

'', Delbert Birdsong in '' The Rainmaker'', and Governor

Jimmie Davis James Houston Davis (September 11, 1899 – November 5, 2000) was an American politician, singer and songwriter of both sacred and popular songs. Davis was elected for two nonconsecutive terms from 1944 to 1948 and from 1960 to 1964 as the ...

in '' Ray''. He is also a

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

and

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

singer.

Filmography

*''

'' (1972) - Dabney *''Sixteen'' (1973) *'' The Longest Yard'' (1974) - Tannen *'' Gator'' (1976) - 4th Agent *''The Farmer'' (1977) - Corrigan *''

Roots A root is the part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors the plant body, and absorbs and stores water and nutrients. Root or roots may also refer to: Art, entertainment, and media * ''The Root'' (magazine), an online magazine focusing ...

'' (1977, TV Mini-Series) - Seaman Thompson (uncredited) *''

Smokey and the Bandit ''Smokey and the Bandit'' is a 1977 American road action comedy film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams and Mike Henry. The directorial debut of stuntman Hal Needham, the film follows ...

'' (1977) - Motorcycle cop (uncredited) *'' The Lincoln Conspiracy'' (1977) - Lewis Paine *'' The Million Dollar Dixie Deliverance'' (1978, TV Movie) - Luke *''

King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

'' (1978, TV Mini-Series) - Police Officer preventing King from visiting an injured friend (uncredited) *''

They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way ''They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way'' is a 1978 slapstick comedy film co-directed by Stuart E. McGowan and Edward Montagne and written by and starring Tim Conway. Premise Dewey and Wallace are small-town lawmen who are ordered by the governor t ...

'' (1978) - Carlie *''

'' (1979–1980, 1982–1985, TV Series) - Enos Strate *''

The Devil and Max Devlin ''The Devil and Max Devlin'' is a 1981 American fantasy–comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions, directed by Steven Hilliard Stern and starring Elliott Gould, Bill Cosby and Susan Anspach. The film was considered to be controversial fo ...

'' (1981) - Big Billy Hunniker *''

'' (1980-1981, TV Series) - Enos Strate *'' Alice'' TV Series (1983) "Mel Is Hog-Tied" - Deputy Enos Strate *'' In the Heat of the Night'' (1990, TV Series) - Emory Tanner *'' Love Crimes'' (1992) - Plainclothes Cop #1 *'' In The Heat of the Night'' (1993, TV Series) - Dwight Foster *''

'' (1994) - Bear Bryant *''

American Gothic ''American Gothic'' is a 1930 painting by Grant Wood in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Wood was inspired to paint what is now known as the ''American Gothic'' House in Eldon, Iowa, along with "the kind of people efancied shoul ...

'' (1995-1998, TV series) - Gage Temple *'' Bastard Out of Carolina'' (1996) - Sheriff *'' The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!'' (1997, TV Movie) - Enos Strate *'' Wild America'' (1997) - Bud *''

Paradise Falls ''Paradise Falls'' is a weekly soap opera television series which aired nationally on the Showcase channel in Canada, starting in 2001. It was filmed in the summer cottage community of Muskoka, Ontario. Like many major soap operas, sex is a dom ...

'' (1997) - Bert Kyler *'' The Rainmaker'' (1997) - Delbert Birdsong *''

The Gingerbread Man The Gingerbread Man (also known as The Gingerbread Boy) is a fairy tale about a gingerbread man's escape from various pursuers until his eventual demise between the jaws of a fox. "The Gingerbread Boy" first appeared in print in the May 1875, is ...

'' (1998) - Chatham County Sheriff *''

Freedom Song Freedom songs were songs which were sung by participants in the civil rights movement. They are also called "civil rights anthems" or, in the case of songs which are more hymn-like, they are called "civil rights hymns." Freedom songs were an impo ...

'' (2000, TV Movie) - Police Chief *'' The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood'' (2000, TV Movie) - Enos Strate *''Diggity's Treasure'' (2001) - Otis Cane *''

A Love Song for Bobby Long ''A Love Song for Bobby Long'' is a 2004 American psychological drama film directed and written by Shainee Gabel, based on the novel ''Off Magazine Street'' by Ronald Everett Capps. It stars John Travolta as the title character, an aging alcoho ...

'' (2004) - Earl *'' Ray'' (2004) - Gov. Jimmie Davis (uncredited) *'' A Tale About Bootlegging'' (2005) - Sheriff Ed Cooper *'' The Hole in Willie's Guitar'' (2005, Memarie Music Video) - Sheriff *'' The Price'' (2008) - Ghost of Matthew Goldyn *''Opening Day'' (2009) - Ray Hampton *'' The Way Home'' (2010) - Ed Walker *'' Unconditional'' (2012) - Pauly

External links

Sonny's Official website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Shroyer, Sonny 1935 births Living people American male film actors American male television actors Florida State Seminoles football players People from Valdosta, Georgia Male actors from Georgia (U.S. state) University of Georgia alumni Florida State University alumni Leon High School alumni