Beauregard "Bo" Duke is a fictional character in the American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, which ran from 1979 to 1985. He was played by television actor John Schneider (b.1960).
Overview[]
Bo was born around 1958[1] and lived in the unincorporated area of the fictional Hazzard County, in Georgia with his Uncle Jesse since infancy, who delivered him as a baby [2]. According to Bo he has never lived anywhere else[3] and he came to live there after the death of his parents in an automobile accident[4]. As a child, Bo was very athletic, playing on a Little League Baseball team and a basketball team along with Luke, Cooter, and Enos[5]. During his time in High School, Bo played linebacker on the football team[6]. At one point during his childhood, Bo made Luke so angry that Luke took a swipe at him with a baseball bat. Bo was able to avoid the bat, but hit his head off the wall in the process[7]. While in high school in Mr. Broom's science class Bo had an accident and nearly blew up the classroom[8]. Ever since Bo was a little kid, he always dreamed of one day becoming a race car driver on the NASCAR circuit[9].
Bo and Luke own a 1969 Dodge Charger,named The General Lee, which is painted orange, with the Confederate flag on top, and 01 painted on the sides with the name "General Lee" inscribed above the doors that were welded shut for safety. The boys built the engine together and completed the car in 1976 where Bo won his first race and completed the first jump[10]. Bo and Luke evade the corrupt officials of Hazzard County, such as Boss Hogg, Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, and the only honest police officers Hazzard has ever had, Enos Strate and Cletus Hogg only because they had to follow orders from Boss Hogg and Sheriff Rosco.
The Dukes (including cousin Daisy Duke and Uncle Jesse Duke) were well known for their role in the moonshine business among other interests. Bo and Luke had both been sentenced to probation for illegal transportation of moonshine. As a result, neither was permitted to use firearms, instead preferring to use bow and arrows. It should also be noted that the terms of Bo and Luke's probation included staying within the boundaries of Hazzard County (unless given special permission by their Probation Officer, J.D. Hogg).
Bo (the blonde Duke) was the younger of the two Duke boys, and the more impulsive one of the pair. He often reacted to situations without first thinking or planning, and was the one more likely to get into a fight, although Luke was the better fighter (having been in the Marines). In general, it was usually Bo who got the two into trouble. The character of Bo was best known for his rebel yell exclamation of the catchphrase, "Yee-Haa!"
.png){kind=link}
Most of the time, it was Bo who drove The General Lee, while his cousin Luke rode shotgun. Bo was an ex-stock car driver, and he was typically the one known for taking the General off most of its legendary jumps. Because its doors were welded shut, Bo and Luke always had to climb in and out of the car through the windows. Actors John Schneider and Tom Wopat admitted that, on occasions that the roles were reversed and Luke drove, they found it much more difficult to climb in and out of the opposite window to which they were accustomed.
Bo later left Hazzard County, along with his cousin Luke, to join the NASCAR circuit (coinciding with Schneider's and Wopat's decision to hold out); Bo's cousin Coy (Byron Cherry), who was very similar in nature to Bo except somewhat more of a lovebird, replaced Bo until he returned to the show a few months later.
According to the 1997 Reunion movie, Bo left Hazzard again to pursue a successful NASCAR career, this time without Luke. Shortly before his return to Hazzard, he crashed his car, and is still in Hazzard in the 2000 Hazzard in Hollywood film. Although he was a lifelong bachelor, in the 2000 movie he met a woman named Gabrielle (nicknamed Gabby) in Los Angeles, and convinced her to go Hazzard to be with him.
Trivia[]
- Bo and Luke's probation generally indicated that they weren't allowed to leave Hazzard County; however, the exact details of this agreement varied from episode to episode. Sometimes it seemed that if they simply set foot outside of Hazzard they would be breaking probation, whereas other times they seemed able to leave as long as they were back by a certain time. And just how they were able to leave to race on the NASCAR circuit in the fifth season was never explained, but their probation was back in place when they returned.
- Bo's famous "Yee-Haa" call was actually used for both Bo and Luke. For example, at the end of the opening credits, where it sounds like both Bo and Luke are calling it, it is actually Bo's call used twice. Tom Wopat (Luke) didn't start to master it for himself until the mid-second season.
- In one episode, the Balladeer explains' Bo's absence as him being at a Marine Reserve Weekend. This is not possible due to Bo's probation
- The images of John Schneider as Bo during the opening credits were updated in the fourth season (even though they were still from the first few episodes, "One Armed Bandits" and "Mary Kaye's Baby"), where as the rest of the cast generally had the same shots throughout the run.
- The character of Bo Duke was inspired by Jerry Rushing. When creating the character for the show, Gy Waldron wanted Bo to be the younger 'pretty boy' who looked up to his older cousin Luke but have contrary opinions[11].
- When the role of Bo Duke was being cast, the producers wanted a "country boy" around the age of twenty-five, so the then-eighteen year old John Schneider showed up for his audition driving a beat-up pickup truck and lied about his age so he could get the role.
External links[]
- John Schneider at the Internet Movie Database
- HazzardNet Bio on John Schneider
- Bo Duke (and the General Lee), BAMF Style, November 10, 2014
See Also[]
References[]
- ↑ Happy Birthday, General Lee
- ↑ Mary Kaye's Baby
- ↑ Farewell, Hazzard
- ↑ Duke Family Tree- Special Feature Season 3 DVD
- ↑ Boar's Nest Bears
- ↑ Enos Strate to the top, Double Dukes, The Great Bank Robbery, and Undercover Dukes Part 1
- ↑ Farewell, Hazzard
- ↑ A Baby for the Dukes
- ↑ Carnival of Thrills: Part 1
- ↑ Happy Birthday, General Lee
- ↑ Duke Family Tree- Special Feature Season 3 DVD