Bo Duke

Beauregard "Bo" Duke is a fictional character in the American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, which ran from 1979 to 1985. He was played by John Schneider. The name of Beauregard may have been chosen after the famous Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard.

Bo and his cousin Luke Duke (Tom Wopat) live in an unincorporated area of the fictional Hazzard County, in Georgia. Bo and Luke own a 1969 Dodge Charger, named The General Lee, which is painted orange, with the Confederate flag on top, and 01 painted on the sides with the name "General Lee" inscribed above the doors that were welded shut for safety. Bo and Luke evade the corrupt officials of Hazzard County, such as Boss Hogg and Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane.

The Dukes (including cousin Daisy Duke and Uncle Jesse Duke) were well known for their role in the moonshine business among other interests. Bo and Luke had both been sentenced to probation for illegal transportation of moonshine. As a result, neither was permitted to use firearms, instead preferring to use bow and arrows. It should also be noted that the terms of Bo and Luke's probation included staying within the boundaries of Hazzard County (unless given special permission by their Probation Officer, J.D. Hogg).

Bo (the blonde Duke) was the younger of the two Duke boys, and the more impulsive one of the pair. He often reacted to situations without first thinking or planning, and was the one more likely to get into a fight, although Luke was the better fighter (having been in the Marines). In general, it was usually Bo who got the two into trouble. The character of Bo was best known for his rebel yell exclamation of the catchphrase, "Yee-Haa!"

Most of the time, it was Bo who drove The General Lee, while his cousin Luke rode shotgun. Bo was an ex-stock car driver, and he was typically the one known for taking the General off most of its legendary jumps. Because its doors were welded shut, Bo and Luke always had to climb in and out of the car through the windows. Actors John Schneider and Tom Wopat admitted that, on occasions that the roles were reversed and Luke drove, they found it much more difficult to climb in and out of the opposite window to which they were accustomed.

Bo later left Hazzard County, along with his cousin Luke, to join the NASCAR circuit (coinciding with Schneider's and Wopat's decision to hold out); Bo's cousin Coy (Byron Cherry), who was very similar in nature to Bo except somewhat more of a lovebird, replaced Bo until he returned to the show a few months later.

According to the 1997 Reunion movie, Bo left Hazzard again to pursue a successful NASCAR career, this time without Luke. Shortly before his return to Hazzard, he crashed his car, and is still in Hazzard in the 2000 Hazzard in Hollywood film. Although he was a lifelong bachelor, in the 2000 movie he met a woman named Gabrielle (nicknamed Gabby) in Los Angeles, and convinced her to go Hazzard to be with him.

In Film
Bo Duke was later played by Seann William Scott in the subsequent cinematic version. He was also played by Jonathan Bennett in the prequel film The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning.