| Real Name: | John Richard Schneider |
| Birthday: | April 8, 1960 |
| Net Worth | $200,000 |
| Height: | 6ft 26in |
| Occupation: | Actor and country music singer |
John Schneider is a versatile artist. He starred in The Dukes of Hazzard. He played music in the 1980s. And he appeared on magic shows and performances at the age of 8. But many people remember him as portraying Clark Kent’s dad on the Smallville TV show. Well, portraying Superman’s dad definitely has its perks.
This might come as a surprise, but the net worth of the American actor and country singer is just $200,000 as of June 2020. He is an actor, filmmaker, country musician, and entertainer. Some of his songs reached the top of the Billboard country singles chart.
Well, let’s take a look at his career path and journey.
Content Compass
Career Ups and Downs
John is a born entertainer. He started appearing on magic shows and performances at the age of 8. He attended North Spring High School in Sandy Springs.
He got his breakout role at the age of 17. John portrayed Bo Duke, the legendary character from The Dukes of Hazzard. Fun fact: For his audition, he borrowed a dilapidated pickup truck, put on a country accent and funky hat, and came to the audition. He came in with a bead and toting a beer. He learned to drive the iconic Dodge Charger in the show.
At the height of the series popularity, he entered the recording business. Schneider entered the world of country music. He also became a face of merchandise. In 1982, he and co-star Tom Wopat left the show over legal suits with the producers over the distribution of merchandising royalties. The two came back in 1983. The show got canceled after seven seasons.
In 2001, he joined another iconic show as an iconic character. He portrayed Jonathan Kent, the adoptive father of Clark Kent on Smallville. John appeared in a total of 100 episodes and even directed some of them. Many episodes contain references to his work in The Dukes of Hazzard.
Besides these iconic shows, he appeared as a guest star in Hee Haw, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Touched by an Angel, JAG, and Walker, Texas Ranger.
In 2014, he returned to the role of Boke Duke. He and Tom Wopat appeared in a commercial for Autotrader.com.
Besides acting, he is also a director and filmmaker. He owns and operates the John Schneider Studios. He writes and produces independent movies in Holden, Louisiana.
As for his music career, he entered the world of country music in the early 1980s. Schneider signed with Scotti Brothers Label to release his debut album, Now or Never. It peaked at Number 8 on the US Country Billboard charts. The single It’s Now or Never, a remake of Elvis Presley’s hit, peaked at Number 4 on the Us Country Billboard charts. It remains the top-charting Elvis cover of all time.
He continued making music and releasing singles and albums. His single I’ve Been Around Enough to Know is his first Number 1 hit. He followed it up with other No.1 hits, including Country Girls and Tryin’ to Outrun the Wind.
In January 2019, he got inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. At the ceremony, he said that people responded to his music in the early 1980s, and one thing led to another. Fun fact: He didn’t sing the Dukes of Hazzard song, even though many fans think he did. Waylon Jennings sang it.
As a versatile actor, he got involved with stage performances as well. And he has an audiobook career as well.
In September 2018, he joined the season 27 of Dancing with the Stars. He got paired with professional dancer Emma Slater. They got eliminated on November 5.
Net Worth, Earnings and Income
John Schneider got into the entertainment industry in the early 1980s. He is part of it ever since. After four decades in the entertainment industry, his net worth is more than $200,000.
The number might come as a surprise, but there is a reason for it. The main reason for his financial troubles are floods that destroyed his studio. And it happened two times. Once in March, and then again in August of 2016.
John owns a Mercedes Benz and a Range Rover. He is a popular American actor, singer, and entertainer.
Awards and Achievements
John had a successful country career during the 1980s. From 1980 to 1990, he produced more than 18 singles, 10 albums, and many of them reached the top spot on the Billboard Country chart.
He even won a Grammy for his music performance, for a Classical Compendium in 2015. It was for his Harry Partch: Plectra & Percussion Dances. In 2013, he got nominated for his Partch: Bitter Music.
Personal Life
John got married three times. His first wife is former Miss America, Tawny Elaine Godin. They got married in 1983. It didn’t last long, as the two got divorced in 1986.
Schneider got married to his second wife, Elly Castle in July 1993. After almost 20 years in marriage, she filed for divorce in December 2014. The divorce got confirmed in 2019. They have three children together, Leah and Chasen from Castle’s first marriage, and their own daughter, Karis.
Since April 2015, John dates Alicia Allain, the owner of Maven Entertainment. She serves as his professional and personal manager. The two got married in September 2019.
In the summer of 2018, he had to serve a three-day jail sentence after failing to pay alimony to his ex-wife, Elvira Castle.