Byron Cherry

Byron Wight Cherry (born April 17, 1955, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American actor. He portrayed Coy Duke, one of the new Duke Boys, in the 1982–1983 season of The Dukes of Hazzard 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 Year Title Role Notes 1982–83 The Dukes of Hazzard Coy Duke Main role (19 episodes) 1983 The Dukes Coy Duke (voice) Main role (13 episodes) 1984 Murder, She Wrote Deputy Will Roxie Episode: "It's a Dog's Life" 1985 The Fix Esty 1987 Vietnam War Story Janner Episode: "The Mine" 1989 In the Heat of the Night Charlie Hobbs Episode: "The Pig Woman of Sparta" 1990 Blood Salvage Newlywed Man 2005 The Gender Bowl Football Player TV movie 2018 3rd Eye Miles Dennehy 2019 Christmas Cars Cousin Coy 2020 Stand on It! Byron Cherry Go Fishin'''