Controversial 80s television icon who feuded with Beyonce and lashed out at Biden seen on rare outing at 66 - who is he?
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By JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ, US ASSISTANT SHOWBIZ EDITOR
Published: | Updated:
He is a veteran actor of over five decades with over 180 credits to his name.
The role that he is best known for made him an icon and one of the most recognizable figures from 1980s television.
He later went on to star as the father to one of the most famous aliens of all-time,
However, in more recent years he has been embroiled in a bit of controversy as he was branded as racist for criticizing Beyonce's foray into country music.
The conservative actor also criticized former US President Joe Biden which prompted a Secret Service investigation.
Now he has been seen on a rare outing at 66-years-old in West Hollywood. Can you guess who he is?
This actor has been seen on a rare outing at 66-years-old in West Hollywood. Can you guess who he is?
He is John Schneider who starred in The Dukes of Hazzard and Smallville!
The actor showcased his signature shaggy blonde hair as he was seen leaving celeb-favorite restaurant Craig's.
He was not alone on the outing as he was joined by wife Dee Dee Schneider, 59, and 91-year-old Canadian actress Ruta Lee.
Schneider's claim to fame was for his portrayal of Bo Duke in iconic action comedy series The Dukes of Hazzard which aired from 1979 to 1985.
He then portrayed Jonathan Kent, the stepfather to Clark Kent AKA Superman who was an alien from the planet Krypton, in television series Smallville which aired from 2001 to 2011.
However, his most controversies are what has kept him in the news in recent years.
In February 2024, Schneider was embroiled in controversy as he compared Beyonce to a dog marking its territory after she announced her country album.
During the discussion on conservative network One American News, he was asked about his thoughts on 'leftist' musicians, like the now 45-year-old singer, who venture into different genres.
He is John Schneider who starred in The Dukes of Hazzard! (Above, seen at the bottom alongside Tom Wopat)
The actor showcased his signature shaggy blonde hair as he was seen leaving celeb-favorite restaurant Craig's
He was not alone on the outing as he was joined by wife Dee Dee Schneider, 59, and 91-year-old Canadian actress Ruta Lee
'The lefties in the entertainment industry just won't leave any area alone, right? They just have to seize control over every aspect, don't they?' the host asked Schneider, who is also a country musician.
He replied, 'They've got to make their mark, just like a dog in a dog walk park. You know, every dog has to mark every tree, right? So that's what's going on here.'
His comments drew the ire from Beyonce's fans and many on social media at the time as many had branded the actor as racist.
The previous year, he was at the center of a Secret Service investigation after making a death threat against then President Biden.
Schneider's claim to fame was for his portrayal of Bo Duke in iconic action comedy series The Dukes of Hazzard which aired from 1979 to 1985 (Above with Wopat and Catherine Bach)
He then portrayed Jonathan Kent, the stepfather to Clark Kent AKA Superman who was an alien from the planet Krypton, in television series Smallville which aired from 2001 to 2011 (Above with Annette O'Toole and Tom Welling)
In February 2024, Schneider was embroiled in controversy as he compared Beyonce to a dog marking its territory after she announced her country album (Above, Beyonce in LA in February 2017)
The previous year, he was at the center of a Secret Service investigation after making a death threat against then US President Joe Biden
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Should celebrities face public backlash for controversial views, or does everyone deserve a second chance?
He took to X In December 2023 to write: 'Mr President, I believe you are guilty of treason and should be publicly hung. Your son too. Your response is..? Sincerely, John Schneider'
Schneider deleted the post, but not before TMZ reported on it.
He later denied that he was making a direct threat or advocating for violence as he eventually faced a preliminary investigation by the Secret Service.
Schneider married Dee Dee Sorvino, who is the widow of Paul Sorvino, in July 2024 as both had lost their spouses in the previous two years leading up to their marriage.
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