Sonny Shroyer
|
|
Otis Burt "Sonny" Shroyer, Jr. (born August 28, 1935 in Valdosta, Georgia) is an American actor from Georgia 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.
Shroyer 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 the 1972 film Payday. Shroyer almost became typecast as a bad guy before landing the role of the naive Deputy Enos Strate in the pop culture classic series The Dukes of Hazzard in 1979.
The Dukes of Hazzard role was Shroyer's most visible. His character was given a spinoff series entitled Enos in 1980. The new show was not a success and was canceled after just 17 episodes. Shroyer returned to The Dukes in 1982 and remained with the series until it ended in 1985.
Shroyer remains active as a character actor. He portrayed University of Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant in Forest Gump, Delbert Birdsong in The Rainmaker, and Governor Jimmie Davis in Ray. He is also a talented country and gospel singer.
Brief filmography
- Ray (2004) - Jimmie Davis
- Freedom Song (2000) - Police Chief
- Paradise Falls (1997) - Bert Kyler
- The Rainmaker (1997) - Delbert Birdsong
- Bastard Out of Carolina (1996) - Sheriff
- Forrest Gump (1994) - Bear Bryant
- The Devil and Max Devlin (1981) - Big Billy Hunniker
- Enos (1980) - Enos Strate
- The Dukes of Hazzard (1979) - Enos Strate
- The Million Dollar Dixie Deliverance (1978) - Luke
- Smokey and the Bandit (1977) - Motorcycle cop (uncredited)
- Roots (1977) - Seaman Thompson (uncredited)
- The Longest Yard (1974) - Tannen
- Payday (1972) - Dabney