Byron Cherry

{{short description|American actor|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{More citations needed|date=February 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}

{{infobox person

|image = Byron Cherry at Ocean Beach Park September 2019.jpg

|caption = Cherry at Ocean Beach Park in September 2019

|image_size =

|name = Byron Cherry

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|4|17}}

|birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

|known_for = Coy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard

|occupation = Television actor, businessman, entrepreneur

|years_active = 1980–present

}}

Byron Cherry (born April 17, 1955, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American actor. He portrayed Coy Duke,{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Grady |title=Dukes of Hazzard's Christopher Mayer: Co-star Byron Cherry remembers |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/08/01/byron-cherry-christopher-mayer-dukes-of-hazzard/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=EW.com |language=en}} one of the new Duke Boys, in the 1982–1983 season of The Dukes of Hazzard{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2023-11-17 |title=‘Dukes Of Hazzard’ Stars Reunite, Tease Potential Reboot Of Hit ’80s TV Series |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/dukes-of-hazzard-stars-tease-potential-reboot-1235616357/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} for the first 19 episodes of season 5.

''The Dukes of Hazzard''

In 1978, Cherry, along with longtime friend John Schneider, auditioned for the part of Bo Duke on the upcoming Dukes of Hazzard. Schneider ended up winning the part, with which he found much success. A few years later, due to merchandising conflicts, Schneider and co-star Tom Wopat walked out on the show, and Cherry, along with Christopher Mayer, were called in to replace them as Coy and Vance Duke. Cherry and Mayer both debuted on Dukes in September 1982. Though resembling the familiar leads played by Wopat and Schneider, Cherry and Mayer's characters of Coy and Vance were not accepted by viewing audience, and ratings for the popular series began to sag during the 19 episodes in which they appeared. By the middle of the 1982–83 season, Warner Bros. came to new agreeable salary terms with Wopat and Schneider, and in February 1983, both of the original stars returned to the show. Cherry and Mayer appeared alongside Wopat and Schneider briefly in the episode of Bo and Luke's return, and then were written out of the show and never mentioned again.

Later career

Under a three-year contract with Warner Bros., Cherry appeared on numerous television shows such as Murder, She Wrote, In the Heat of the Night, and Vietnam War Story, and in various TV commercials and guest spots on numerous talk shows. He was a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society.

Filmography

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;"

! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year

! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title

! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role

! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes

1982–83The Dukes of HazzardCoy DukeMain role (19 episodes)
1983The DukesCoy Duke (voice)Main role (13 episodes)
1984Murder, She WroteDeputy Will RoxieEpisode: "It's a Dog's Life"
1985The FixEsty
1987Vietnam War StoryJannerEpisode: "The Mine"
1989In the Heat of the NightCharlie HobbsEpisode: "The Pig Woman of Sparta"
1990Blood SalvageNewlywed Man
2005The Gender BowlFootball PlayerTV movie
20183rd EyeMiles Dennehy
2019Christmas CarsCousin Coy
rowspan="2" | 2020Stand on It!Byron Cherry
Go Fishin'Game Warden B. Cherry
rowspan="2" | 2021Poker RunCoy Duke
Salvage Yard Shine BoysDeputy Bubba Bradford
2023Midnight Massacre''Mayor Pompey

References

{{reflist}}