‘Dukes of Hazzard’ star John Schneider admits he lied his way into iconic Bo Duke role at 18

The Bo Duke actor revealed how he fabricated his age, hometown and driving credentials to win over "Dukes of Hazzard" producers in 1978.

‘Dukes of Hazzard’ star John Schneider admits he lied his way into iconic Bo Duke role at 18

TL;DR

  • John Schneider, at 18, convinced "The Dukes of Hazzard" producers he was a 24-year-old Georgia farm boy with racing experience.
  • He fabricated his age, hometown (New York instead of Georgia), and driving credentials for the role.
  • Schneider stated he gave producers what he thought they wanted: "good old boys from the rural South, 24 to 30, with no acting experience, but a lot of racing experience."
  • One producer initially objected, but another saw him as the ideal "Bo Duke."
  • Schneider also revealed he previously lied his way onto the set of "Smokey and the Bandit."
  • "The Dukes of Hazzard" premiered in 1979 and ran for seven seasons, becoming a ratings success.