John Richard Schneider was born on April 8, 1960, in Mount Kisco, New York, the youngest of three boys of Shirley (Frasier) [Schneider] Conklin (1932–2016) and John "Jack" Richard Schneider III (1930–2013), a pilot who had served in the U.S. Air Force.[2][3] His mother is from Sanford, Florida.[4] 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 three, 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's legendary escape act. When he was 14, he and his mother moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where his love for performing continued. He went to North Springs High School in Sandy Springs, Georgia.[5]
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."[6] 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.[7]
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.
Schneider (left) with Smallville co-star Tom Welling and producer Brian Peterson
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.[8]
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."[9]
He returned to the role of Bo Duke, alongside Tom Wopat as Luke Duke, in a 2014 commercial for Autotrader.com.
Filmmaking
In addition to acting, John Schneider owns and operates the John Schneider Studios (JSS) where he writes and produces independent films in Holden, Louisiana. 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
Schneider performing in 2008
During Schneider's Dukes of Hazzard days, he also entered into music. In the early 80s 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," peaking at No. 1 on the CAN Country music charts. In 1985, 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 80s, 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.
John Schneider at a meet and greet 2019
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."
In November 2021, Schneider spoke and performed at Global Vision Bible Church in Wilson County, Tennessee.
In 2023, Schneider competed in season ten of The Masked Singer as "Donut". He finished in 2nd place where he also referenced the death of his wife Alicia Allain.[10]
Theater
Schneider has also been involved with a number of stage performances:
42nd Street [Pittsburgh, PA (Regional)]
Pittsburgh CLO Revival, 2006
Julian Marsh [Replacement]
Chicago [Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1996
Billy Flynn [Replacement]
Grand Hotel [Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1989
Felix Von Gaigern [Replacement]
(source: Broadway World)
Audio books
Schneider took part In the "Word of Promise" Audio Bible series, which featured the voices of many famous actors and actresses. He voiced James in the Book of James.[11]
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.[12] They became the sixth couple to be eliminated from the competition on November 5, alongside DeMarcus Ware and his professional partner Lindsay Arnold.
Schneider was good friends with James Best, who played Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in The Dukes of Hazzard, until Best's death, April 6, 2015, at age 88.[15]
In a February 2024 interview with One America News Network, a far-right TV network, Schneider likened Beyoncé's entry into country music to a "dog peeing on a tree." His comments were criticized as racist.[16][17]
Relationships
Schneider was married to former Miss AmericaTawny Elaine Godin from 1983 to 1986. He married his second wife, Elvira "Elly" Castle, on July 11, 1993. On December 12, 2014, TMZ.com reported that Castle had filed for divorce,[18] They have three children: two are Castle's children from her first marriage (born in 1991)[19] and a daughter together.[20] Schneider began a relationship with Alicia Allain, his producing partner and owner of Maven Entertainment in April 2015. Alicia was also his personal and professional manager. They married in September 2019 and remained together until Allain's death from breast cancer on February 21, 2023.[21][22]
On July 23, 2024 Schneider married Dee Dee Sorvino (née Benkie), actor Paul Sorvino's widow. Both stars had lost their spouses in the previous two years leading up to their marriage.[23]
Legal issues
On June 12, 2018, Schneider spoke to Fox News regarding his upcoming three-day jail sentence for failing to pay alimony 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 which was destroyed in an August 2016 flood.[24] 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 was still ordered to perform 240 hours of community service and pay the debt to Elvira, or else face imprisonment of five years.[25][26]
On December 21, 2023, Schneider posted a comment on X calling for the prosecution and public hanging of U.S. PresidentJoe Biden and his son Hunter Biden for treason.[27][28] The comment was deleted after it drew criticism and the attention of the United States Secret Service, who opened an investigation into the remark. Schneider has publicly denied advocating violence.[29][30]
^"Take a tour of John Schneider's flooded Louisiana home". August 19, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2021. John Schneider: 'Two and half feet up, everything in there, every closet, every drawer, great pictures of when Mom was a girl in Sanford, Florida.'
^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."
