The former Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider has long been known as one of the few devout Christians in Hollywood. Now, Schneider is speaking out to say that he believes that God has always controlled his life.
Schneider’s Strong Christian Faith
“I believe we’re designed very specifically to do something because God is up to something that we’re part of,” Schneider told Fox News.
Though his life has had many ups and downs, Schneider has always trusted in God’s plan. Indeed, he credits God with his success in the entertainment world.
“There was always this feeling from the very beginning, watching movies, watching John Wayne, watching stuff happen on the big screen in Mount Kisco, that that’s where I was supposed to be,” explained Schneider, 64.
Born in Mount Kisco, New York, Schneider was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. There, fell in love with theater as a young child. In fact, he already had a decade of experience in acting by the time he auditioned for Dukes of Hazzard at 18.
Dukes of Hazzard
Dukes of Hazzard told the story of two good-looking Southern cousins in the rural South, with Schneider as the lead alongside Tom Wopat. The show was a major hit, running from 1979 until 1985. After it ended, however, Schneider found it difficult to find more work despite being a talented actor and singer.
“For every door that was open, 10 were slammed in my face because I was famous … because I was a celebrity,” he recalled.
“The industry, however, largely, I think — and this may be judgmental — but largely thinks about celebrities as the luckiest people in the room. And really fairly talent free. So when you have any skill, the industry is always surprised,” he added.
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Schneider Stands By God
Through all of his career struggles, however, Schneider always stuck by God. His strong Christian faith was also something that he leaned on when his beloved wife Alicia Allain tragically died of breast cancer in 2023 at the age of 54.
“If it weren’t for my faith, if it weren’t for my belief, absolute belief that God is real. Heaven is real,” Schneider told Fox News months after Allain’s death. “The promise of God that Alicia and I will see each other again forever. If it weren’t for that, I think I would have jumped off a bridge.”
“I believe immediately after my last breath here will be my first breath there,” he added at the time. “And it will be Alicia’s hand I’ll be holding. I look forward to that day. And I tell people, you know, I can’t wait to get there, but I will. I will wait. I also believe jumping off a bridge is a sin that would keep me from actually seeing Alicia again. So, I won’t do that.”
Full Story: ‘Dukes Of Hazzard’ Star John Schneider Struggling After Wife Dies At 53
Schneider Finds Love Again
Thankfully, Schneider has since found love again. Last year, he married Dee Dee Schneider, who sadly lost her husband, actor Paul Sorvino, in 2022. Indeed, the two of them bonded over their grief, and managed to fall in love in the process.
“God sent a widower to a widow and a widow to a widower who [gets] it, who understands,” Schneider said on the Grace Begins, The Podcast. “Because I tell you what, I was ready to give it up, all of it — everything.”
We applaud Schneider for continuing to use his platform to spread the word of God. If only we had more celebrities around like him!
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