Sonny Shroyer

Otis Burt "Sonny" Shroyer Jr. (born August 28, 1935) is an American actor and singer 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 the short-lived spin-off series Enos based around his Dukes of Hazzard character. Shroyer is married and has two sons, Chris and Mark.

Sonny Shroyer
Shroyer in 2009
Born	Otis Burt Shroyer Jr. (1935-08-28) August 28, 1935 Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actor, singer
Years active	1972–2023
Spouse	Paula Shroyer
Children	Chris and Mark Shroyer

Shroyer was born in the town of Valdosta, Georgia. He 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 1972 film Payday. Shroyer almost became typecast as a bad guy before landing the role of the naive Deputy Enos Strate in the hit pop culture series The Dukes of Hazzard in 1978 (first broadcast early 1979).

The Dukes of Hazzard role was Shroyer's most visible. His character was written out at the start of the third season to be given a spinoff series titled Enos in 1980. The new show was not a success and was canceled after eighteen episodes. Shroyer returned to The Dukes of Hazzard at the start of the fifth season in 1982 and remained with the series until it ended in 1985. Shroyer also released a children's album in 1982. The album was called Back in Hazzard and featured a cover of Roger Miller's classic, "You Can't Rollerskate In a Buffalo Herd". He also recorded a song "Children in Need" with fellow actor Randall Franks for Franks's 2001 CD God's Children. He and Franks have made personal appearances together.

Shroyer remained active until he retired in 2023 due to COVID-related issues. He portrayed University of Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant in Forrest Gump, Delbert Birdsong in The Rainmaker, and Governor Jimmie Davis in Ray. He is also a country and gospel singer.

Filmography

• Payday (1972) – Dabney
• Sixteen (1973)
• The Longest Yard (1974) – Tannen
• Gator (1976) – 4th agent
• Movin’ On (1976) – Henchman (uncredited)
• The Farmer (1977) – Corrigan
• Roots (1977, TV mini-series) – Seaman Thompson (uncredited)
• Smokey and the Bandit (1977) – Motorcycle cop (uncredited)
• The Lincoln Conspiracy (1977) – Lewis Paine
• The Million Dollar Dixie Deliverance (1978, TV movie) – Luke
• King (1978, TV mini-series) – Police Officer preventing King from visiting an injured friend (uncredited)
• They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way (1978) – Carlie
• The Dukes of Hazzard (1979–1980, 1982–1985, TV series) – Enos Strate
• The Devil and Max Devlin (1981) – Big Billy Hunniker
• Enos (1980–1981, TV series) – Enos Strate
• Alice (1983, TV series) "Mel Is Hog-Tied" – Deputy Enos Strate
• In the Heat of the Night (1990, TV series) – Emory Tanner
• Love Crimes (1992) – Plainclothes cop #1
• In The Heat of the Night (1993, TV series) – Dwight Foster
• Forrest Gump (1994) – Bear Bryant
• American Gothic (1995–1998, TV series) – Gage Temple
• Bastard Out of Carolina (1996) – Sheriff
• The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! (1997, TV Movie) – Enos Strate
• Wild America (1997) – Bud
• Paradise Falls (1997) – Bert Kyler
• The Rainmaker (1997) – Delbert Birdsong
• The Gingerbread Man (1998) – Chatham County Sheriff
• Freedom Song (2000, TV Movie) – Police Chief
• The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood (2000, TV Movie) – Enos Strate
• Diggity's Treasure (2001) – Otis Cane
• A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004) – Earl
• Ray (2004) – Gov. Jimmie Davis (uncredited)
• A Tale About Bootlegging (2005) – Sheriff Ed Cooper
• The Hole in Willie's Guitar (2005, Memarie music video) – Sheriff
• The Price (2008) – Ghost of Matthew Goldyn
• Opening Day (2009) – Ray Hampton
• The Way Home (2010) – Ed Walker
• Unconditional (2012) – Pauly

External links

• Sonny's Official website
• Sonny Shroyer at IMDb