John Schneider (screen actor)

John Schneider

John Schneider, December 2007
Born John Richard Schneider
(1960-04-08) April 8, 1960
Mount Kisco, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actor, singer, screenwriter, film producer, director
Years active 1977–present
Spouse(s)
Children 3

Musical career

Genres Country
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1981–present
Labels Scotti Brothers, MCA Nashville, FaithWorks

John Richard Schneider (born April 8, 1960) is an American actor and country music singer.[1] He is best known for his portrayal of Beauregard "Bo" Duke in the American television series The Dukes of Hazzard,[1] Jonathan Kent in the 2001–11 TV series Smallville (an adaptation of Superman),[1] 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", "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 April 8, 1960, in Mount Kisco, New York, the son of Shirley Conklin and John "Jack" Schneider III, a pilot who had served in the U.S. Air Force.[2][3] His family included an older brother Robert, an artist living in southern New York. 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's legendary escape act. When he was 14, he and his mother moved to Georgia, where his love for performing continued.

Career

Acting career

Schneider at the 2005 Superman Festival, Metropolis, IL
Schneider (left) with Smallville co-stars Tom Welling and Brian Peterson

He briefly attended the Georgia School of High Performance, hoping to become a race-car driver. His prowess behind the wheel enabled him to land his Dukes of Hazzard role as Bo Duke (from 1979 to 1985), opposite another newcomer Tom Wopat and veteran Western actor James Best, who would all remain best friends, after the series' cancelation, until Best's death. Beginning in 2001, he portrayed Jonathan Kent, the adoptive father of Clark Kent on Smallville, starring in 100 episodes before his character was killed off. 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.[4]

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 killed 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."[5]

He returned to the role of Bo Duke in a commercial for Autotrader.com in 2014. Tom Wopat returned as Luke Duke.

Music career

Schneider performing in 2008

During the 1980s, Schneider parlayed his success as Bo Duke with a string of country music hits. His biggest hits include: "It's Now or Never" (#4 country and No. 14 pop, 1981; a remake of the Elvis Presley hit); "I've Been Around Enough to Know" (#1 country, 1984); "Country Girls" (#1 country, 1985); "What's a Memory Like You (Doing in a Love Like This)" and "You're The Last Thing I Needed Tonight" (both No. 1 country, 1986); "At the Sound of the Tone" (#5 country, 1986); and "Love, You Ain't Seen the Last of Me" (#6 country) in 1987.

Schneider has recorded 10 albums to date, including works on Scotti Brothers Records and MCA Nashville. His co-star (on The Dukes of Hazzard), Tom Wopat, also enjoyed success on the country music charts. Schneider and Wopat sang several duets on the TV series, sometimes with co-star Catherine Bach. In fact, in the season 7 DVD boxset, the trio performed a remake of the show's theme song "Good Ol' Boys" in a music video as a tribute to their friend Waylon Jennings.

Personal life

Schneider in 2010

Schneider became a born-again Christian while living with Johnny and June Carter Cash for a short time in 1998 and speaking with Johnny about Christianity.[6] In 1982, he co-founded, with Marie Osmond, the Children's Miracle Network to help suffering children. In 1995, he founded FaithWorks Productions in order to produce family-oriented videos and recordings.

Schneider has become involved in animal advocacy. He read from Karen Dawn's book Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking The Way We Treat Animals at its New York book launch. In a Washington Post article he discussed the effects of the book and the people he met through the event on his life.[7] He was moved to record a personal video, which is available on YouTube and on the book's website, in which he talks of his shock upon learning about the way animals are treated by human society, and mentions the award winning documentary Earthlings, which is about the human dependence on animals for a variety of resources.[8]

Schneider was married to former Miss America Tawny Elaine Godin from 1983 to 1986. He married his second wife, Elvira Castle, on July 11, 1993. On December 12, 2014, TMZ.com reported that Castle had filed for divorce.[9] They have three children, Leah and Chasen, both of whom are Castle's children from her first marriage,[10] and their daughter Karis.[11]

On April 6, 2015, Schneider had lost his acting mentor and decades-long friend, James "Jimmie" Best, to pneumonia, just 2 days before Schneider's 55th birthday. Prior to Best's death, 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," he also added, "(Best) would say, 'sure thing, which eye?' I'm forever thankful to have cut my teeth in the company of such a fine man."[12] Then, nearly one year after Jimmie's death, he said of Schneider's favorite episodes, which included most of Best's off-camera personality was: "One that always comes to mind was called The Ghost of General Lee... Someone had taken our car, The General Lee, and Rosco thinks he's caused us to drown. It shows Rosco's real appreciation, in fact love, for the Duke boys and he was terribly hurt when he thought he'd killed them," He also added, "There are a couple of moments in Dukes... that aren't all fun and games and that was one of them. Then I wrote and directed the last episode we did called Opening Night at the Boar's Nest and in that, Rosco does a magic trick and thinks he's made Boss Hogg disappear - and you see the love he has for Boss Hogg." Schneider also said about the laughter; "We drop the veil of shenanigans and laughter and show what those relationships are really like. Those are my two favourites because of those reasons and it's important, I think, to note that both of them centre around the amazing acting ability of James Best, who played Rosco." The last thing that he said about his working relationship with Best; "He was amazing in everything he did; he was not just a funny guy. In fact, I think the comedic timing kind of came to him later on in life because before that he was a very serious actor. I was very fortunate to have grown up working with people like Jimmie Best and Denver Pyle and Sorrell Booke. Incredibly talented men, incredibly talented actors."[13] Following the cancelation of The Dukes of Hazzard, Schneider had a long association with Best for exactly 30 years, by keeping him in touch or for visiting him, until Best's death. After attending the funeral of Sorrell Booke (who died in 1994, who also played Boss Hogg in the series), he, Best and the rest of the cast were reunited in starring in The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!, in 1997 (where both the cast/show paid tribute to Booke), before he and Best, along with the rest of their surviving cast starred in another Dukes reunion movie, The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood, in 2000 (where once again, both the cast/show paid tribute to Denver Pyle, who died, near the end of 1997). Schneider, along with Wopat and Best were all featured in the 2004 PlayStation 2 game, The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee, which received mixed reviews. Six years later in 2010, both Best and Schneider were reunited together to guest-star in CMT Cribs, which featured the late host George Jones, then in 2012, just a few years before Best would be gone, he and Rick Hurst both teamed up with Best for one last time to co-star in Return of the Killer Shrews, where Best reprised the role he created, over a half-century ago.

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1979–1985 The Dukes of Hazzard Bo Duke 127 episodes
1981 Dream House Charley Cross Movie
1981 The Midnight Special Guest host Season 9, episode 23, March 13
1983 The Raccoons and the Lost Star Dan the Forest Ranger (voice) Movie
1983 Happy Endings Nick Callohan Movie
1983 The Dukes Bo Duke (voice) 7 episodes in season 2
1985 Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster Gus Brown Movie
1986 Stagecoach Buck Movie
1987 Christmas Comes to Willow Creek Ray Movie
1988 Outback Bound Jim Tully Movie
1989 Wild Jack Jack McCall Miniseries
1989 Guns of Paradise Sheriff Pat Garrett Episode: "A Gathering of Guns"
1990 Grand Slam Dennis 'Hardball' Bakelenekoff 8 episodes
1992 Highway Heartbreaker Mickey Movie
1992 Delta Jimmy Word Episode: "The Bad Word"
1993 Sisters McGreevy/McGrady/McGruder Episode: "Moving Pictures"
1993 Desperate Journey: The Allison Wilcox Story Eddie Movie
1993 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Red McCall Episode: "A Cowboy's Lullaby"
1994 Texas Davy Crockett Movie
1994 Bandit: Bandit Bandit Sheriff Enright Movie
1994 Heaven Help Us Doug Monroe All 13 episodes
1994 Second Chances Richard McGill Episodes 8–10
1994 Burke's Law Brett Scanlon Episode: "Who Killed the Soap Star?"
1994 Christy Theodore Harland Episode: "Amazing Grace"
1995,
2000–2001
Touched by an Angel Satan / Joshua Winslow "In the Name of God"
"Shallow Water" (Parts 1 & 2)
1996 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Latrodect Episode: "Black Widow" (season 4)
1996,
2000
Diagnosis: Murder Brett Hayward / Eddie Dagabosian / Michael Dern "X Marks the Murder" (Parts 1 & 2)
2 episodes in season 7
1997–1998 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Daniel Simon Recurring role
1997 The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! Bo Duke Movie
1998 JAG Sgt. Clyde Morrison Episode: "Mr. Rabb Goes to Washington"
1998 Walker, Texas Ranger Jacob Crossland Episode: "Jacob's Ladder"
1999 Michael Landon, the Father I Knew Michael Landon Movie
1999 Sam Churchill: Search for a Homeless Man Sam Churchill Movie
1999–2000 Veronica's Closet Tom 3 episodes in season 3
2000 The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood Bo Duke Movie
2000 Twice in a Lifetime Captain Luke Sellars / Willie Episode: "Final Flight"
2000, 2001 Relic Hunter Dallas Carter 2 episodes
2001–2006,
2010, 2011
Smallville Jonathan Kent Series regular (103 episodes), seasons 1–5
2001–2003 The Mummy: The Animated Series Rick O'Connell (voice) Series regular (25 episodes)
2001 Lightning: Fire from the Sky Tom Dobbs Movie
2002 Mary Christmas Joel Wallace Movie
2003 The Nick at Nite Holiday Special Mr. Schneider, The Ski Instructor
2004 10.5 Clark Williams Miniseries
2005 Felicity: An American Girl Adventure Mr. Merriman Movie
2005 Living with Fran Tom Martin Episode: "Riley's Parents"
2006 King of the Hill The Ace (voice) Episode: "You Gotta Believe (In Moderation)"
2006 Model Family John Short film
2006 Hi-Jinks Himself Guest host
2006 Shorty McShorts' Shorts Hunky-D Short animation on Disney Channel
2007 Lake Placid 2 Sheriff James Riley Movie
2007 You've Got a Friend Jim Klecan Movie
2007 Nip/Tuck Ram Peters 5 Episodes
2007 Journeyman Dennis Armstrong Episode: "Winterland"
2008 Come Dance at My Wedding Tanner Gray Movie
2008 Ogre Henry Bartlett Movie
2008 Shark Swarm Daniel Wilder Movie
2008 CSI: Miami Charles Brighton Episode: "Tunnel Vision"
2008–2009 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Marshall Bowman Season 1 regular (18 episodes)
2009 Dirty Sexy Money Congressman Skip Whatley 3 episodes in season 2
2009 Twentysixmiles Jack Kinkaid All 6 episodes
2009 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Mickey Ross Episode: "Kill Me If You Can"
2009 Curb Your Enthusiasm Dennis Episode: "Officer Krupke"
2009–2010 90210 Jeffrey Sarkossian Recurring role
2010 Phineas and Ferb Wilkins Brother No. 1 (voice) Episode: "Just Passing Through/Candace's Big Day"
2010 Leverage Mitchell Kirkwood Episode: "The Studio Job"
2010 Desperate Housewives Richard Watson 4 episodes in season 7
2010 Hot in Cleveland Henry 'Hank' Szymborska Episodes: "Pilot", "Bad Bromance"
2010–2013 Hero Factory Preston Stormer (voice) Animated series
2011 Working Class Glen Episode: "Sugar Mama"
2011 Trick My What? Host
2011 Glee Sam Evans' dad Episode: "Hold on to Sixteen"
2012 Whiskey Business Sheriff Gilly Movie
2012 Happily Divorced Adam Episode: "Adventure Man"
2013 Mistresses Thomas Grey Episodes "Pilot", "Breaking and Entering"
2013–present The Haves and the Have Nots Jim Cryer Main role

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Eddie Macon's Run Eddie Macon
1985 Cocaine Wars DEA Agent Cliff Adams
1987 The Curse Carl Willis
1989 Speed Zone Donato
1989 Ministry of Vengeance David Miller
1993 Come the Morning
1994 Exit to Eden Prof. Collins
1995 The Little CHP Jack Sr.
1996 The Legend of the Ruby Silver Tommy Towne
1996 Night of the Twisters Jack Hatch
1997 True Women Sam Houston
2000 Snow Day Chad Symmonz
2006 Hidden Secrets Gary Zimmerman
2007 John Schneider's Collier & Co. – Hot Pursuit J.R. Collier Limited theatrical release
2007 Sydney White Paul White
2008 Conjurer Frank Higgins
2009 The Rebound Trevor
2009 Holyman Undercover Satan
2009 Set Apart Pastor John Gunn
2009 The Gods of Circumstance Mick Jeremiah
2010 What Would Jesus Do? The Drifter
2010 Wild Things: Foursome Detective Frank Walker
2011 Doonby Doonby
2011 Flag of my Father Daniel
2011 Super Shark Wade
2011 Snow Beast Jim Harwood
2012 October Baby[14] Jacob Lawson
2012 Hardflip Jack Sanders
2012 Lukewarm Bill Rogers
2013 Road to the Open Rob Gollant
2013 Not Today Luke
2013 Season of Miracles Coach
2014 Let the Lion Roar Hilary Bishop of Poitiers Documentary
2014 Smothered Player Also director and writer
2014 Runaway Hearts Chief Tate
2015 American Justice Sheriff Payden

Discography

Albums

Year Album Chart positions Label
US Country US
1981 Now or Never 8 37 Scotti Brothers
White Christmas 39 155
1982 Quiet Man
1983 If You Believe
1984 Too Good to Stop Now 4 133 MCA
1985 Tryin' to Outrun the Wind 15
A Memory Like You 1
1986 Take the Long Way Home 17
1987 You Ain't Seen the Last of Me 41
Greatest Hits 22
1996 Worth the Wait FaithWorks
2009 John's Acoustic Christmas self-released
2010 The Promise
2014 Home for Christmas (with Tom Wopat)

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
US Country
[15]
US
[15]
US AC CAN Country CAN AC
1981 "It's Now or Never" 4 14 5 7 5 Now or Never
"Them Good Ol' Boys Are Bad" 13 12
"Still" 69
1982 "Dreamin'" 32 45 28 19 Quiet Man
"In the Driver's Seat" 56 72 36
1983 "Are You Lonesome Tonight" (with Jill Michaels) 57 If You Believe
"If You Believe" 81
1984 "I've Been Around Enough to Know" 1 1 Too Good to Stop Now
1985 "Country Girls" 1 1
"It's a Short Walk from Heaven to Hell" 10 6 Tryin' to Outrun the Wind
"I'm Gonna Leave You Tomorrow" 10 7
"What's a Memory Like You (Doing in a Love Like This)" 1 1 A Memory Like You
1986 "You're the Last Thing I Needed Tonight" 1 1
"At the Sound of the Tone" 5 16 Take the Long Way Home
"Take the Long Way Home" 10 7
1987 "Love, You Ain't Seen the Last of Me" 6 4 You Ain't Seen the Last of Me
"When the Right One Comes Along" 32 35
"If It Was Anyone But You" 59
2010 "The Promise" The Promise
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

  1. 1 2 3 "John Schneider". The New York Times.
  2. "John Schneider". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  3. "Obituary for John Schneider III - MILLBROOK, NY". www.hudsonvalleyfuneralhomes.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  4. "Smallville: An Original Cast Member Returns" by Eric Goldman, tv.ign.com, June 30, 2010; accessed February 26, 2014.
  5. Hold the saccharine: The Christians behind Doonby hope it will be a different kind of 'faith-based film', Rebecca Cusey, World Magazine Issue: Broken beyond repair? September 25, 2010.
  6. "Taking the Lead - Today's Christian". christianitytoday.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  7. Kelly, Liz (May 2008). "Catching up With John Schneider". washingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  8. "Thanking the Monkey - Photos and Video from the May 2008 New York launch of Thanking the Monkey.". thankingthemonkey.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  9. "John Schneider -- Marriage is a Hazzard ... Wife Files for Divorce". tmz.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  10. Mickeynews.com (archived from the original), writing "James Denton ... applauded hosts of the organization's autism awareness public service announcements, including celebrity parents of children with autism, Ed Asner, Gary Cole, Joe Mantegna and John Schneider."
  11. Morgan, John (April 15, 2003). "John Schneider promotes Asperger's Syndrome awareness". USA Today.
  12. Gary Lane. "'Dukes' John Schneider Remembers the "Best" - The Hollywood Billboard". The Hollywood Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  13. "Actor John Schneider is Living The Dream". Digital Journal. 2016-01-07. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  14. "October Baby". The New York Times. March 23, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  15. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 370–371. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
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