Sonny Shroyer
Encyclopedia
Otis Burt "Sonny" Shroyer, Jr. (born August 28, 1935) is an American actor who has appeared in various television and movie roles. He is best known for his role as Deputy Sheriff Enos Strate
in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard
. He also starred in a spin-off
called Enos
based on his Dukes of Hazzard character. Shroyer is married and has two sons, Chris and Mark.
Shroyer was born in the town of Valdosta
in the US state of Georgia. He attended Florida State University
on a football scholarship
, but his career was cut short by an injury. He finished his degree at the University of Georgia
.
He began a career as a professional model in 1961. His first screen role came in the 1972 film Payday. Shroyer almost became typecast
as a bad guy before landing the role of the naive Deputy Enos Strate in the hit pop culture series The Dukes of Hazzard in 1978 (first broadcast early 1979).
The Dukes of Hazzard role was Shroyer's most visible. His character was written out at the start of the third season to be given a spinoff series titled Enos in 1980. The new show was not a success and was canceled after just 18 episodes. Shroyer returned to The Dukes at the start of the fifth season in 1982 and remained with the series until it ended in 1985. Shroyer also released a children's album in 1982. The album was called Back in Hazzard and featured a cover of Roger Miller
's classic, "You Can't Rollerskate In a Buffalo Herd". He also recorded a song "Children in Need" with fellow actor Randall Franks
from In the Heat of the Night
for Franks's 2001 CD God's Children with David Davis that was singled to radio. He and Franks have made personal appearances together.
Shroyer remains active as a character actor. He portrayed University of Alabama
coach Paul "Bear" Bryant in Forrest Gump
, Delbert Birdsong in The Rainmaker
, and Governor Jimmie Davis
in Ray
. He is also a talented country
and gospel
singer.
Enos Strate
Enos Strate is a character on the television series, The Dukes of Hazzard played by Sonny Shroyer.-Fictional biography:Enos was born in Hazzard County to a loving family, and grew up as friends with Bo and Luke Duke. At the age of sixteen, he enrolled at the Hazzard Police Academy, graduated at the...
in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
. He also starred in a spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
called Enos
Enos (TV series)
Enos is an American television series from the 1980–1981 season that aired on the CBS network. A spinoff of The Dukes of Hazzard, Enos focused on the adventures of Enos Strate, a former small-town deputy in Hazzard County, now having moved to Los Angeles to join the L.A.P.D...
based on his Dukes of Hazzard character. Shroyer is married and has two sons, Chris and Mark.
Shroyer was born in the town of Valdosta
Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 54,518. The Valdosta metropolitan area, according to the 2010 estimate, has a population of 139,588...
in the US state of Georgia. He attended Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
on a football scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
, but his career was cut short by an injury. He finished his degree at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
.
He began a career as a professional model in 1961. His first screen role came in the 1972 film Payday. Shroyer almost became typecast
Typecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
as a bad guy before landing the role of the naive Deputy Enos Strate in the hit pop culture series The Dukes of Hazzard in 1978 (first broadcast early 1979).
The Dukes of Hazzard role was Shroyer's most visible. His character was written out at the start of the third season to be given a spinoff series titled Enos in 1980. The new show was not a success and was canceled after just 18 episodes. Shroyer returned to The Dukes at the start of the fifth season in 1982 and remained with the series until it ended in 1985. Shroyer also released a children's album in 1982. The album was called Back in Hazzard and featured a cover of Roger Miller
Roger Miller
Roger Dean Miller was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs...
's classic, "You Can't Rollerskate In a Buffalo Herd". He also recorded a song "Children in Need" with fellow actor Randall Franks
Randall Franks
Randall Franks is an award-winning bluegrass singer and musician who plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar and mountain dulcimer. He was recognized by the International Bluegrass Music Museum in 2010 as a Bluegrass Legend; inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004; and was designated...
from In the Heat of the Night
In the Heat of the Night (TV series)
In the Heat of the Night is a television series based on the motion picture and novel of the same name. It was broadcast on NBC from 1988 until 1992, and then on CBS until 1995...
for Franks's 2001 CD God's Children with David Davis that was singled to radio. He and Franks have made personal appearances together.
Shroyer remains active as a character actor. He portrayed University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
coach Paul "Bear" Bryant in Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise...
, Delbert Birdsong in The Rainmaker
The Rainmaker (1997 film)
The Rainmaker is a 1997 American drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Matt Damon. Coppola wrote the script, based on the 1995 novel of the same name by John Grisham....
, and Governor Jimmie Davis
Jimmie Davis
James Houston Davis , better known as Jimmie Davis, was a noted singer of both sacred and popular songs who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana...
in Ray
Ray (film)
Ray is a 2004 biographical film focusing on 30 years of the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. The independently produced film was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jamie Foxx in the title role; Foxx received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.Charles was set to...
. He is also a talented country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer.
Filmography
- The Way Home (2010) - Ed Walker
- The Price - Ghost (2008)
- The Hole in Willie's Guitar - Memarie Music Video (2005) - Sheriff
- A Tale About Bootlegging (2005) - Sheriff Ed Cooper
- RayRay (film)Ray is a 2004 biographical film focusing on 30 years of the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. The independently produced film was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jamie Foxx in the title role; Foxx received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.Charles was set to...
(2004) - Jimmie Davis - Freedom SongFreedom SongFreedom Song is a 1982 live album by Oscar Peterson, recorded in Japan.-Track listing:# "'Round Midnight" – 6:41...
(2000) - Police Chief - Paradise FallsParadise FallsParadise Falls is a weekly soap opera shown nationally on the Showcase channel in Canada, starting in 2001. It is set in a summer cottage community in Central Ontario....
(1997) - Bert Kyler - The RainmakerThe Rainmaker (1997 film)The Rainmaker is a 1997 American drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Matt Damon. Coppola wrote the script, based on the 1995 novel of the same name by John Grisham....
(1997) - Delbert Birdsong - Bastard Out of Carolina (1996) - Sheriff
- Forrest GumpForrest GumpForrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise...
(1994) - Bear Bryant - The Devil and Max DevlinThe Devil and Max DevlinThe Devil and Max Devlin is a Disney motion picture released by Buena Vista Distribution Company, directed by Steven Hilliard Stern and released in early 1981 starring Elliott Gould, Bill Cosby and Susan Anspach. Gould praised this film in interviews as the finest he ever did...
(1981) - Big Billy Hunniker - EnosEnos (TV series)Enos is an American television series from the 1980–1981 season that aired on the CBS network. A spinoff of The Dukes of Hazzard, Enos focused on the adventures of Enos Strate, a former small-town deputy in Hazzard County, now having moved to Los Angeles to join the L.A.P.D...
(1980) - Enos Strate - The Dukes of HazzardThe Dukes of HazzardThe Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
(1979 - 1980, 1982 - 1985) - Enos Strate - King TV Miniseries (1978) - Police Officer preventing King from visiting an injured friend
- The Million Dollar Dixie Deliverance (1978) - Luke
- Smokey and the BanditSmokey and the BanditSmokey and the Bandit is a 1977 American film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, and Mike Henry. It inspired several other trucking films, including two sequels, Smokey and the Bandit II, and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3...
(1977) - Motorcycle cop (uncredited) - RootsRoots (TV miniseries)Roots is a 1977 American television miniseries based on Alex Haley's fictional novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Roots received 36 Emmy Award nominations, winning nine. It also won a Golden Globe and a Peabody Award. It received unprecedented Nielsen ratings with the finale still...
(1977) - Seaman Thompson (uncredited) - The Longest Yard (1974) - Tannen
- Payday (1972) - Dabney