Tom Wopat
(born September 9, 1951 in Lodi, Wisconsin) is an American actor and singer.
He first achieved fame as Luke Duke in the long-running 1979 television series The Dukes of Hazzard
, along with John Schneider. He also played Jeff, one of Cybill Shepherd's ex-husbands in the TV series Cybill
.
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TOM WOPAT TICKETS
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Career
Wopat attended the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, and made his television debut in the daytime drama
One Life to Live
; however, he achieved television fame in the popular long-running television series
The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985).
He also embarked on a music career. He has recorded eight albums. Musically he switches between
rock and roll and
country music styles, though his last two albums have been of classic
pop standards. The latter 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 then appeared as a replacement in the stage musicals
City of Angels
, and
Guys and Dolls
. He finally appeared in the opening cast of the 1999 revival of
Annie Get Your Gun
opposite
Bernadette Peters,
Susan Lucci and
Reba McEntire, who played Annie Oakley (in consecutive order). He was nominated for a
Tony Award in 1999 for his performance as "Frank Butler". He has since appeared in the revivals of the musicals
Chicago
and
42nd Street
.
In 1996, Wopat served as host for Dick Clark's new country music performance show on
The Nashville Network,
Prime Time Country, however his time on the show was short-lived; before the first season was over, Wopat was replaced by Contemporary Christian artist
Gary Chapman as host.
In 2005, Wopat appeared in a non-singing role in the
Broadway revival of
David Mamet's
Pulitzer Prize-winning play
Glengarry Glen Ross
as the browbeaten customer, James Lingk.
Nov 3, 2005: A 'Smallville' episode called 'Exposed' reunited Tom Wopat and John Schneider. Wopat played Sen. Jack Jennings, an old friend of Jonathan Kent's who comes to Smallville to seek his help in an upcoming campaign.
Wopat starred in the North Carolina Theatre's production of
The Music Man
, in the role of Harold Hill in November 2006.
[1]
Playbill reported that Wopat, along with
Nathan Lane, took part in a workshop of a musical,
Catch Me If You Can
, in July 2007.
[2]
In 2008 Wopat starred on Broadway as the father in the musical
A Catered Affair
, written by
Harvey Fierstein (book) and
John Bucchino (score), which opened on April 17, 2008 at the
Walter Kerr Theatre.
[3]. He received his second Tony nomination for that performance.
Wopat starred as Detective Jones in the Independent Black Comedy,
The Understudy
Wopat has returned to the Madison area for various occasions, including performances at various area theatres.
Wopat also provided a minor voice part as a member of the "Bloodhounds" on the 2007 release,
Manhunt 2 video game.
On
May 26 2008 Wopat sang the "
Star Spangled Banner" and "
God Bless America" at the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Washington Nationals
MLB game.
In 2009 he appeared opposite
Kevin Bacon in
Taking Chance, the
HBO production about the returning home of a young man named
Chance Phelps, a United States Marine, who was killed in
Iraq. Wopat plays
Chance Phelps father in the movie, which is based on a true story.
On April 21st, and 22nd of 2009 Wopat appeared at the Baltimore Lyric Opera House in the musical "Chicago" as the greedy lawyer Billy Flynn.
In July 2009, Wopat will be originating the role of Frank Abignale, Sr. in the new musical "
Catch Me if You Can" based on the highly successful 2002 film directed by
Steven Spielberg and starring
Tom Hanks and
Leonardo DeCaprio.
Discography
Albums
Year
| Album
|
1983
| Tom Wopat
|
1987
| A Little Bit Closer
|
1990
| Don't Look Back
|
1992
| Learning to Love
|
1995
| Hands On
|
2000
| In the Still of the Night
|
2005
| Tom Wopat Sings Harold Arlen: Dissertation on the State of Bliss
|
2009
| Consider it Swung
|
Singles
Year
| Single
| Chart Positions
| Album
|
US Country
| CAN Country
|
1986
| "True Love (Never Did Run Smooth)"
| 39
|
| A Little Bit Closer
|
"I Won't Let You Down"
| 44
|
|
1987
| "The Rock and Roll of Love"
| 16
| 14
|
"Put Me Out of My Misery"
| 28
| 25
|
"Susannah"
| 20
|
|
1988
| "A Little Bit Closer"
| 18
|
|
"Hey Little Sister"
| 40
|
| singles only
|
"Not Enough Love"
| 29
|
|
1991
| "Too Many Honky Tonks (On My Way Home)"
| 46
| 46
| Learning to Love
|
"Back to the Well"
| 51
| 54
|
References
- playbill Nov. 4, 2006
- playbill May 3, 2007
- playbill article, April 17, 2008, "One White Dress": New Fierstein-Bucchino Musical A Catered Affair Opens on Broadway