5 Things You Never Knew About ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Star Byron Cherry! Plus, Where Is He Now?
If you’re a Dukes of Hazzard fan, you probably remember the brief but memorable moment when Coy Duke rolled into town. Byron Cherry took over as one of the lead Dukes during a tumultuous fifth season and while his time on the show was short, it helped launch his career. Born April 17, 1955, in Atlanta, Georgia, Cherry just turned 70 in 2025, and he’s been busy since his Hazzard days. Here are five fun facts about the actor, athlete and all-around Southern charmer:
1 He got his first acting job with just a kiss
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Cherry’s first brush with showbiz was totally unplanned. While walking past the student center at his university, a casting agent stopped him and said he had “the look” for a TV commercial. The audition? Sit next to a beautiful blonde and kiss her. He booked the job with no lines required.
2 He used to fly the friendly skies and hit the gridiron
Before landing the role of Coy Duke, Cherry had a different career. He worked as a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines and, earlier, played college football at East Tennessee State University alongside his older brother, Nat. He was a running back and even earned a black belt in karate after college.
3 His Dukes debut wasn’t his first try
Everett Collection
Cherry auditioned for The Dukes of Hazzard in 1978 at the same time as his friend John Schneider. Schneider got the part of Bo Duke, but when Schneider and co-star Tom Wopat left the show over contract issues in 1982, Cherry was called in to play Bo’s cousin Coy. He stayed for 19 episodes and even shared the screen with the original Dukes when they returned in 1983.
When his co-star Christopher Mayer (Vance Duke) passed away in 2011, Cherry opened up about how much their friendship meant to him. He shared with Entertainment Weekly, “Lately, we just totally bonded. He was just incredible, a great, great person. Very spiritual—he always talked about the Bible. He was like the first person, when my son died in a car wreck—my firstborn son, Byron Cherry Jr, he’d just turned 20—[Mayer] was the first person I called because I knew he could pull me out of it. He was very positive, upbeat, lifting, and genuine person. He might have drank a little too much or this or that—I don’t know, but we’d have a few beers together! He was just a good-hearted guy, and my kids loved him. I had to tell my 10-year-old son and my five-year-old [about the death] because he was throwing them up in the air a couple weeks ago at my house, and joking with them, and telling stories, and making everybody laugh. He was a comic, and a very, very bright guy.”
4 He kept the momentum going after Dukes
Thanks to a contract with Warner Bros., Cherry continued to work after his time in Hazzard County. He landed roles on shows like Murder, She Wrote, In the Heat of the Night, and the miniseries Vietnam War Story and also voiced his same character in a cartoon version called The Dukes. He also became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society and appeared on several talk shows and commercials throughout the ’80s and ’90s.
5 What he’s up to now
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Cherry now lives in California with his wife, Krista, and their kids. For a while, he owned a bar in Ventura called Byron’s Barkeep but it appears to be closed now. He also makes regular appearances across the U.S. and abroad with the iconic General Lee, signing autographs, selling Coy Duke merch, and chatting with fans of all ages.
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’80s Where Are They Now
March 2023
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