John Schneider (television actor)
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| John Schneider | |
|---|---|
 John Schneider, December 2007 |
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| Born | John Richard Schneider III April 8, 1960 Mount Kisco, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, singer, screenwriter, film producer |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse | Tawny Godin (1983-1986) Elly Castle (1993-present) |
John Richard Schneider III (born April 8, 1960) is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bo Duke in the 1980s American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, and as Jonathan Kent on Smallville, a 2001 television adaptation of Superman.
Alongside his acting career, Schneider performed as a country music singer in the 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 (Doing in a Love Like This)" and "You're the Last Thing I Needed Tonight", all of which reached the top of the Billboard country singles charts.
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[edit] Early life
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This section requires expansion with: more info. |
Schneider was born in Mount Kisco, New York. His family included a younger brother, Robert. 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. John graduated from North Springs High School in Sandy Springs, Georgia.
[edit] Career
[edit] Acting career
Schneider is best known for his role of Bo Duke on the popular TV show The Dukes of Hazzard. The role eventually resulted in his being typecast as a "hillbilly" type. Schneider was at times sensitive to this fact, and was known to have had small tiffs with fans he perceived to be teasing him about it, the most notable was an on camera argument at the Los Angeles Emmy's convention in 2008 with a cameraman, Vince Collier, who worked for Emerging magazine, a Canadian publication.
Schneider can be seen on several episodes of the FX Network show Nip/Tuck as "Ram Peters", the owner of a pornographic film company. Also, from February to March 2008, he performed as Billy Flynn in the Musical Chicago on Broadway.
Schneider is also known to television audiences as Jonathan Kent, the adoptive father of Clark Kent on the hit show Smallville, starring in 100 episodes before his character was killed off. Schneider also directed episodes of Smallville, including S3E20 and Talisman, which received a respectable 8.8 rating out of 10 on TV.com. Some Smallville episodes contain references to Schneider's other work in The Dukes of Hazzard. Schneider also guest starred for the latter half of Smallville: Season 5 appearing in the episodes 'Void' and 'Oracle'.
Schneider has appeared in many films and TV series, including 5 guest spots on Hee Haw and the miniseries 10.5. He had a recurring role on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and guest-starred on such shows as Diagnosis: Murder, Touched by an Angel, JAG and Walker, Texas Ranger. He also appeared in the national tour of the Broadway musical The Civil War as a Confederate soldier. John's other stage-work includes Oklahoma!; he auditioned for, but did not get, the role of Erik in The Phantom of the Opera.
Schneider has also been mentioned in other media such as the South Park episode "Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow", in which an episode of Terrance and Phillip was aired in place of the popular fictitious show The John Schneider Variety Hour, causing outrage.
In 2007, he was among a series of celebrities involved in television ads for the Zaxby's restaurant chain.
In 2008, Schneider portrayed a villain (a rarity for him) on the series CSI: Miami, in the episode "Tunnel Vision".
In 2009, he made an appearance on the series CSI in an episode titled "Kill Me If You Can". He played the spouse of a murder victim; the murder was later confirmed as a suicide.
On November 9, 2009, Schneider appeared briefly in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. He played half of a couple whom Larry David meets, in the episode "Officer Krupke".
Schneider 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, so in one episode, his character would die in a plane crash.
As of November 6, 2009, Schneider is set to play the lead in the new Australian action film, The Ninja, also starring Roger Cross, John Wesley Shipp, Tania Zaetta, Jeremy Kewley and Rob Baard.
On July 20, 2009, it was announced he would have a recurring role on 90210 as Liam's plastic surgeon stepfather.
Schneider appeared on June 16, 2010, on the pilot of the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland as Melanie's date, Hank.
He will return for the season 10 premiere of Smallville, reprising his role as Jonathan Kent and may be in one other episode later in the season.[1]
In 2010, Schneider appears as a corrupt music executive in Season 3 Episode 6 of the TV show Leverage.
In 2010, he voices Preston Stormer in the HERO Factory TV series.
In 2010, he appears in several episodes of Desperate Housewives as a retired military man and father of the love interest of a main character.
In November 2010, he began to appear in a series of UK adverts for Little Chef, where he plays a centaur who refuses to buy into the great value of Little Chef breakfasts.
In Spring 2011, he will star 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."[2]
[edit] Music career
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This section requires expansion with: More info on each album, critical reception. |
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 #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 #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.
[edit] Personal life
Schneider became a born-again Christian while living with Johnny and June Carter Cash for a short time and speaking with Johnny about Christianity.[3] 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 recently 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.[4] 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.[5]
Both of John's parents are from a German-American background.[citation needed] [6] John was married to former Miss America Tawny Elaine Godin from 1983 to 1986; they have no children. John married his second wife, Elly Castle, on July 11, 1993. They have three children: daughters Leah and Karis, and son Chasen, who has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.[7]
Schneider recently sold his "General Lee" (Dodge Charger on Barrett-Jackson car auction) to a Markwood car dealer and collector in Hardy County, West Virginia. On March 12, 2008, John was present in Moorefield, West Virginia to sign over the car and give autographs to fans. Schneider has recently written, produced, directed, and starred in his own film series, John Schneider's Collier & Co. – Hot Pursuit.
[edit] Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | Dream House | Charley Cross | |
| 1983 | The Raccoons and the Lost Star | Dan the Forest Ranger | (voice) |
| Happy Endings | Nick Callohan | ||
| Eddie Macon's Run | Eddie Macon | ||
| 1985 | Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster | Gus Brown | |
| Cocaine Wars | DEA Agent Cliff Adams | ||
| 1986 | Stagecoach | Buck | Overland Stage Driver |
| 1987 | The Curse | Carl Willis | |
| Christmas Comes to Willow Creek | Ray | ||
| 1989 | Outback Bound | Jim Tully | |
| Speed Zone! | Donato | ||
| Ministry of Vengeance | David Miller | ||
| 1990 | Grand Slam | Dennis 'Hardball' Bakelenekoff | |
| 1992 | Highway Heartbreaker | Mickey | |
| 1993 | Come the Morning | Name unknown | |
| Desperate Journey: The Allison Wilcox Story | Eddie | ||
| 1994 | Texas | Davy Crockett | |
| Bandit: Bandit Bandit | Sheriff Enright | ||
| Heaven Help Us | Doug Monroe | ||
| Exit to Eden | Prof. Collins | ||
| 1995 | The Little CHP | Jack Sr. | |
| 1996 | The Legend of the Ruby Silver | Tommy Towne | |
| Night of the Twisters | Jack Hatch | ||
| 1997 | True Women | Sam Houston | |
| 1999 | Michael Landon, the Father I Knew | Michael Landon | TV movie |
| Sam Churchill: Search for a Homeless Man | Sam Churchill | ||
| 2000 | Snow Day | Chad Symmonz | |
| The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood | Bo Duke | TV movie | |
| 2001 | Lightning: Fire from the Sky | Tom Dobbs | |
| 2002 | Mary Christmas | Joel Wallace | |
| 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 | TV movie |
| 2006 | Hidden Secrets | Gary Zimmerman | |
| John Schneider's Collier & Co. – Hot Pursuit | J.R. Collier | limited theatrical | |
| 2007 | Lake Placid 2 | Sheriff Riley | |
| You've Got a Friend | Jim Klecan | ||
| Sydney White | Paul White | ||
| 2008 | Ogre | Henry Bartlett | |
| Shark Swarm | Daniel Wilder | TV movie | |
| 2009 | The Ninja | Unknown role | |
| The Rebound | Trevor | ||
| Come Dance at My Wedding | Tanner Gray | ||
| Holyman Undercover | Satan | ||
| Set Apart | Pastor John Gunn | ||
| The Gods of Circumstance | Mick Jeremiah | Post-production | |
| 2010 | What Would Jesus Do? | The Drifter | |
| 2011 | Doonby | Doonby | Post-production |
| 2011 | Flag of my Father | Daniel | Post-production |
| 2011 | Super Shark | Wade | Post-Production |
| 2012 | October Baby | Jacob | |
[edit] Television
| TV | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | The Midnight Special | Guest host | Season 9 Episode 23, March 13, 1981 |
| 1983 | The Dukes | Bo Duke (voice) | Season 2 Episodes 1-7 |
| 1979–1982, 1983–1985 | The Dukes of Hazzard | Bo Duke | Last Ep April '82, Return Feb '83 |
| 1989 | Wild Jack | Jack McCall | Mini series |
| Guns of Paradise | Sheriff Pat Garrett | Season 2 Episode 1 | |
| 1993 | Sisters | McGreevy/McGrady/McGruder | Season 3 Episode 17 |
| 1993, 1997–1998 | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman | Daniel Simon | Seasons 5 & 6, '93 played Red McCall |
| 1994 | Second Chances | Richard McGill | Season 1 Episodes 8-10 |
| Burke's Law | Brett Scanlon | Season 1 Episode 7 | |
| Christy | Theodore Harland | Season 1 Episode 8 | |
| 1995, 2000–2001 | Touched by an Angel | Joshua Winslow | Season 7 Episodes 24-25, '95 played Satan |
| 1996 | Kung Fu: The Legend Continues | Latrodect | Season 4 Episode 5 |
| 1996, 2000 | Diagnosis: Murder | Brett Hayward/Eddie Dagabosian | Played Michael Dern in '96, Season 7 Episodes 24-25 |
| 1997 | The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! | Bo Duke | |
| 1998 | JAG | Sgt. Clyde Morrison | Season 4 Episode 8 |
| Walker, Texas Ranger | Jacob Crossland | Season 7 Episode 22 | |
| 1999–2000 | Veronica's Closet | Tom | Season 3 Episodes 13-15 |
| 2000 | Twice in a Lifetime | Captain Luke Sellars/Willie | Season 2 Episode 21 |
| 2000, 2001 | Relic Hunter | Dallas Carter | Season 1 Episode 12 & Season 2 Episode 12 |
| 2001–2006, 2010–2011 | Smallville | Jonathan Kent | Series Regular Seasons 1-5, Season 10 Recurring |
| 2001–2003 | The Mummy: The Animated Series | Rick O'Connell | Series Regular |
| 2005 | Living with Fran | Tom Martin | Season 1 Episode 2 |
| 2006 | King of the Hill | The Ace (voice) | Season 10 Episode 7 |
| Model Family | John | ||
| Hi-Jinks | Himself | Guest host | |
| Shorty McShorts' Shorts | Hunky-D | Short animation on Disney Channel | |
| 2007 | Nip/Tuck | Ram Peters | Season 5 Episodes 5,7,8,12,22 |
| Journeyman | Dennis Armstrong | Season 1 Episode 8 | |
| 2008 | Davie & Golimyr | Cartoon | |
| CSI: Miami | Charles Brighton | Season 6 Episode 18 | |
| 2008–2009 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Marshall Bowman | Season 1 Regular |
| 2009 | Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld | Fox News Channel program | |
| Dirty Sexy Money | Congressman Skip Whatley | Season 2 Episodes 11-13 | |
| Twentysixmiles | Jack Kinkaid | Six-Episode TV Series | |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Mickey Ross | Season 09 Episode 15 - "Kill Me If You Can" | |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm | Dennis | Season 07 Episode 08 - "Officer Krupke" | |
| 2009–2010 | 90210 | Jeffrey Sarkossian | Recurring Season 2 |
| 2010 | Phineas and Ferb | Wilkins Brother #1 | Voice |
| Leverage | Mitchell Kirkwood | Season 3 Episode 6 | |
| LEGO Hero Factory | Preston Stormer | TV Series, Voice, continuing in 2011 | |
| Desperate Housewives | Richard Watson | Season 7, Episodes 7-10 | |
| 2010 | Hot in Cleveland | Henry 'Hank' Szymborska | Season 1 "Pilot", Season 2 "Bad Bromance" |
| 2011 | Working Class | Glen | Season 1 Episode 3 |
| 2011 | Trick My What? | Host | |
| 2011 | Glee | Sam Evans' dad | Season 3 |
[edit] Discography
[edit] 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 | — | — | |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country[8] | US | CAN Country | CAN AC | |||
| 1981 | "It's Now or Never"A | 4 | 14 | 7 | 5 | Now or Never |
| "Them Good Ol' Boys Are Bad" | 13 | — | 12 | — | ||
| 1982 | "Dreamin'" | 32 | 45 | 28 | 19 | Quiet Man |
| "In the Driver's Seat" | 56 | 72 | 36 | — | ||
| 1983 | "Are You Lonesome Tonight" (w/ 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 |
- A"It's Now or Never" also peaked at #5 on Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks.
[edit] B-sides
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||
| 1981 | "Still" | 69 | Now or Never |
[edit] References
- ^ Smallville: An Original Cast Member Returns, Eric Goldman, IGN, June 30, 2010
- ^ 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
- ^ Taking the Lead - Today's Christian
- ^ http://blog.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2008/05/catching_up_with_john_schneide.html?hpid=entnews Washington Post Article
- ^ http://www.thankingthemonkey.com/nybooklaunch.php Thanking the Monkey Book Reading
- ^ mickeynews.com, 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."
- ^ Morgan, John (April 15, 2003). "John Schneider promotes Asperger's Syndrome awareness". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2003-04-15-schneider_x.htm.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 370–371. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
[edit] External links
- John Schneider's official website
- John Schneider at the Internet Movie Database
- John Schneider at the Internet Broadway Database
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