Tom Wopat Biography

Fast Facts

• Performed in the 1999 "Annie Get Your Gun" revival on Broadway with Bernadette Peters and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
• Performed in musicals while attending the University of Wisconsin
• Started singing and dancing for school musicals at 12 years old and later chose to pursue music as a possible career
• Quote: "Some people who have a popular television show will tell you that they wanted to 'be more artistic' and deny that that TV show was what they wanted to do, but to me, it's all work․"
• Quote: "(Regarding his "Dukes of Hazzard" days) "All you had to do was get to the studio․ They did everything for you; hair, make-up, costumes․ On Broadway you have to do a little more for yourself․""
• Quote: "As far as 'The Dukes of Hazard' goes, it was what it was -- a huge phenomenon․ If you have success of that stature, you should embrace it and shouldn't deny it․"
• Quote: "(On his ambitions growing up) "Singing was always my main thing, and the acting came from doing Broadway shows․ Originally, I wanted to be a football player! But Broadway musicals were the most natural fit for my different skills․""
• Reunited with actor John Schneider, who also starred in "Dukes of Hazzard," on an episode of "Smallville" entitled "Exposed․"
• Beat out actors Dennis Quaid and Gerald McRaney for the role of Luke Duke on "The Dukes of Hazzard․"
• Hosted his own action-packed show on The Nashville Network in 1979
• Is an avid fisherman who enjoys fishing for large carp, panfish and bass