Tom Wopat

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Tom Wopat
Tom Wopat by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Tom Wopat in 2024
Born
Thomas Steven Wopat

(1951-09-09) September 9, 1951 (age 73)
Lodi, Wisconsin, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1977–present
Known for Lucas K. "Luke" Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard
Spouse(s)Vickie Allen (divorced)
Kirsten S. Larvick
Children5
Musical career
Genres Country
InstrumentVocals
Labels Columbia, EMI, Capitol, Epic

Thomas Steven Wopat (born September 9, 1951) [1] [2] is an American actor and singer. He first achieved fame as Lucas K. "Luke" Duke on the long-running television action/comedy series The Dukes of Hazzard . Since then, Wopat has worked regularly, most often on the stage in musicals and in supporting television and movie roles. He was a semi-regular recurring character on the 1990s comedy series Cybill , and he had a small role as U.S. Marshal Gil Tatum in Django Unchained (2012). Wopat also has a recurring role as Sheriff Jim Wilkins on the television series Longmire . Additionally, Wopat has recorded several albums of country songs and pop standards, scoring a series of moderately successful singles in the 1980s and 1990s.

Contents

Life and career

Wopat in 1979 Tom Wopat 1979.JPG
Wopat in 1979

Wopat was born in Lodi, Wisconsin, the fifth of eight children born to Albin and Ruth Wopat. [2] His father was a dairy farmer of Czech descent. He was raised a devout Roman Catholic. [3]

Wopat attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and made his television debut on One Life to Live . He credits UW-Madison Lighting Design teacher Gilbert Vaughn Hemsley Jr. with advancing his early performing career. [4] He achieved fame on the television series The Dukes of Hazzard (1979–85), then embarked on a music career. He has recorded eleven albums. Musically, he switches between rock and roll and country music styles, though two recent albums have been of classic pop standards. His 1980s albums were on EMI Nashville. A 2005 recording, Dissertation on the State of Bliss, is a collection of Harold Arlen songs. Wopat first appeared on the Broadway stage as a replacement in the 1977 musical I Love My Wife , as Wally. He later appeared as a replacement in the stage musicals City of Angels and Guys and Dolls (as Sky Masterson in 1992-93).

In 1981, he played the main character, Billy Bigelow, in the musical Carousel , at the Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan. He later reprised the role at the Kennedy Center in 1986. He appeared in the opening cast of the 1999 revival of Annie Get Your Gun as Frank Butler, opposite Bernadette Peters, Cheryl Ladd, Susan Lucci, and Crystal Bernard, who played Annie Oakley (in consecutive order); he was nominated for a Tony Award in 1999 for his performance as Butler. He later appeared in revivals of Chicago (as Billy Flynn in 2004-05, 2007 and 2008-09) and 42nd Street . [5]

In 2005, Wopat appeared in the Broadway revival of David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize–winning play Glengarry Glen Ross as James Lingk. He starred in the North Carolina Theatre's production of The Music Man as Harold Hill in November 2006. [6]

In 2008, Wopat starred on Broadway as the father of the bride-to-be in A Catered Affair , written by Harvey Fierstein (book) and John Bucchino (score), which opened on April 17, 2008, at the Walter Kerr Theatre. [7] He received his second Tony nomination for that performance.

In July 2009, he originated the role of Frank Abagnale Sr. in the musical Catch Me If You Can (based on the film of the same name) in July and August 2009 at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. [8]

He was featured in the new musical revue Sondheim on Sondheim , conceived and directed by James Lapine, presenting the life and works of Stephen Sondheim. The revue premiered on Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre's Studio 54 on March 19, 2010, in previews and closed on June 27. [9] He portrayed Ryan Hutton in the musical Lovestruck. [10]

Marriages

Wopat was first married to Vickie Allen. That union ended in divorce. He is married to Kirsten S. Larvick, a filmmaker and audiovisual archivist.[ citation needed ]

Arrest

Wopat was arrested on March 15, 2006, in northern New Jersey, charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. [11]

Wopat was arrested on August 2, 2017, on indecent assault and battery (felony) and drug (misdemeanor) charges in Waltham, Massachusetts, where he was about to open in a production of 42nd Street at Reagle Music Theater of Greater Boston. [12] [13] The Boston Globe reported "According to a Waltham police report, Wopat allegedly assaulted the woman during a rehearsal at the high school on July 23. The accuser said he came up behind her and grabbed her buttocks and continued touching her in that area. The show's producer and manager had previously spoken to Wopat regarding complaints from other female cast members about inappropriate comments and touching, the report said. The artistic director told police he had spoken with Wopat three times, and the actor was also reprimanded for being intoxicated at rehearsal, authorities said." [14]

During his arrest by Waltham police on August 2, 2017, a search of him and his vehicle under warrant revealed "two bags of white powder believed to be cocaine." [15] According to court documents, Wopat told police that he buys cocaine "in large quantities and uses it over time". [15] Wopat pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on August 3, 2017, and was released on bail. [16]

On July 20, 2018, Wopat pleaded guilty to two counts of "annoying and accosting a person of the opposite sex" and was sentenced to one year of probation. [17]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1979–85 The Dukes of Hazzard Luke Duke 128 episodes
1980 Fantasy Island David ChiltonEpisode: "Flying Aces/The Mermaid Returns"
1983 The Dukes Luke Duke (voice)7 episodes
1984Story, Songs and StarsTelevision movie
Burning RageTom SilverTelevision movie
1987 Christmas Comes to Willow Creek PeteTelevision movie
1988 Blue Skies Frank Cobb8 episodes
1989 A Peaceable Kingdom Dr. Jed McFadden12 episodes
1992Just My ImaginationBobby RexTelevision movie
1995–1998 Cybill Jeff Robbins22 episodes
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (shared with Christine Baranski, Dedee Pfeiffer, Alan Rosenberg, Cybill Shepherd and Alicia Witt)
1996 Murder, She Wrote Bill DawsonEpisode: "Kendo Killing"
1997ContagiousSamTelevision Movie
Crisis Center Chuck GoodmanEpisode: "Someone to Watch Over Me"
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! Luke DukeTelevision movie
1997–1998 Home Improvement Ian2 episodes
1998Meteorites!Tom JohnsonTelevision movie
1999 The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home Luke Duke Video game
2000 The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood Luke DukeTelevision movie
2001 100 Centre Street Hanley RandEpisode: "Lost Causes"
2001–02 All My Children Hank PelhamUnknown episodes
2004 The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee Luke DukeVideo game
2005 Smallville Senator Jack JenningsEpisode: "Exposed"
2006 Standoff Rick KeeslarEpisode: "Pilot"
Bonneville Arlo
2007 Manhunt 2 The BloodhoundsVideo game
The History of Wisconsin Football(voice)Video
2008 The Hive BillTelevision movie
The Understudy Detective Jones
2009 Taking Chance John PhelpsTelevision movie
2010 Jonah Hex Colonel Slocum
Main Street Frank
2010–11 Phineas and Ferb Wilkins Brother No. 2 (voice)2 episodes
2012 Django Unchained U. S. Marshall Gill Tatum
Mariachi Gringo Ron
Blue Bloods Craig IversonSeason 2 Episode 16 "Women With Guns"
2012–17 Longmire Sheriff Jim Wilkins6 episodes
2013 Lovestruck: The Musical Ryan HuttonTelevision movie
2015 All in Time Dentist
2016 Fair Haven Richard Grant
Elementary SobleSeason 4 Episode 9 "Murder Ex Machina"
2017 Lost Cat Corona Jimmy Pipes
New MoneyJohn Breckner
2018 County Line Alden Rockwell
2019Delight in the MountainGuido
2020 The Blacklist Warden Roy CainEpisode: "Roy Cain"
2022 County Line: All In Alden Rockwell
County Line: No Fear Alden Rockwell

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumLabel
1981 The Dukes of Hazzard (soundtrack)Volcano
1983Tom WopatColumbia
1987A Little Bit CloserEMI America
1988Don't Look BackCapitol
1991Learning to LoveEpic
1995Hands Onself-released
2000The Still of the NightAngel
2005Tom Wopat Sings Harold Arlen: Dissertation on the State of BlissBig Deal
2009Consider it SwungLML
2013I've Got Your NumberLML
2014 Home for Christmas (with John Schneider)Wopat Music
2017WopatPledgeMusic
2022Simple ManWopat Music

Singles

YearTitlePeak positionsAlbum
US Country CAN Country
1982"Full Moon, Empty Pockets"——Tom Wopat
1983"(Till) I Kissed You"——
"Sha-Marie"——
1986"True Love (Never Did Run Smooth)"39—A Little Bit Closer
"I Won't Let You Down"44—
"The Rock and Roll of Love"1614
1987"Put Me Out of My Misery"2825
"Susannah"20—
1988"A Little Bit Closer"18—
"Hey Little Sister"40—Don't Look Back
"Not Enough Love"29—
1991"Too Many Honky Tonks (On My Way Home)"4646Learning to Love
"Back to the Well"5154

Music videos

YearVideoDirector
1988"A Little Bit Closer"—
1991"Back to the Well" Sherman Halsey

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References

  1. ↑ The Handy Wisconsin Answer Book. Visible Ink Press. 2019. ISBN   9781578596980.
  2. 1 2 Leszczak, Bob (June 25, 2015). From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, 1950-2000. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 340. ISBN   9781442242746 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ "Tom Wopat Agent - Speaker Fee - Booking Contact". Nopactalent.com. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  4. ↑ Brady Schwind (October 18, 2019). "Tom Wopat, Up Close and Personal at The Beach Cafe". Broadway World. Retrieved May 29, 2024. " And there was a guy named Gilbert Hemsley, who was kind of a world famous lighting designer at the time"
  5. ↑ Tom Wopat at the Internet Broadway Database
  6. ↑ "Playbill News: Glengarry 's Wopat Begins Music Man Run Nov. 4". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2007.
  7. ↑ Playbill article "One White Dress": New Fierstein-Bucchino Musical A Catered Affair Opens on Broadway Archived April 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , April 17, 2008.
  8. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. Broadway-Aimed "Catch Me If You Can Ends Seattle Premiere Run Aug. 16" Archived June 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , Playbill.com, August 16, 2009.
  9. ↑ Jones, Kenneth."Sondheim on Sondheim, a New Musical Reflection of a Life in Art, Begins on Broadway" Archived March 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , Playbill.com, March 19, 2010; accessed March 23, 2014.
  10. ↑ Lovestruck, Abcfamily.go.com; accessed June 21, 2017.
  11. ↑ "'Hazzard' actor Tom Wopat faces DUI". today.com. March 17, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  12. ↑ "'Dukes of Hazzard' Star Tom Wopat Arrested for Indecent Assault". Tmz.com. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  13. ↑ "'Dukes of Hazzard' Star Faces Indecent Assault, Drug Charges". Nbcdfw.com. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  14. ↑ "'Dukes of Hazard' actor arrested in Waltham". bostonglobe.com. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  15. 1 2 "'Dukes of Hazzard' star faces indecent assault, drug charges". Star-Advertiser . Honolulu. Associated Press. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  16. ↑ "'Dukes of Hazzard' star arrested for indecent assault and battery in Waltham". wcvb.com. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  17. ↑ Puente, Maria (July 20, 2018). "Former 'Dukes of Hazzard' star Tom Wopat pleads guilty to 'annoying' women, gets probation". USA Today . Retrieved July 23, 2018.
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