Tom Wopat

Tom Wopat
Tom Wopat in 1979.
Born	Thomas Steven Wopat (1951-09-09) September 9, 1951 (age 65) Lodi, Wisconsin, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, singer
Years active	1977–present
Spouse(s)	Vickie Allen (divorced) Kathy Wopat (present)

Thomas Steven "Tom" Wopat (born September 9, 1951) actor and singer, He first achieved fame as Lucas K. "Luke" Duke in the long-running 1979 television series The Dukes of Hazzard. Since then Wopat has worked regularly, most often on the stage in musicals and in supporting TV and movie roles. He was a semi-regular guest on the 1990s comedy series Cybill, and had a small role as U.S. Marshal Gil Tatum in Django Unchained (2012). Wopat also has a recurring role as Sheriff Jim Wilkins on the television series Longmire. Additionally Wopat has recorded several albums of country songs and pop standards, scoring a series of moderately successful singles in the 1980s and '90s.

Thomas Steven Wopat was born in Lodi, Wisconsin, the fifth of eight siblings born to Albin Carl Wopat (December 10, 1919 – January 27, 1983), and his wife, Ruth Arlene (née Skarda) Wopat (May 20, 1920 – September 23, 1959). His father, a devout Roman Catholic, who raised his children in that faith, was a dairy farmer of Czech descent.

Wopat attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and made his television debut on One Life to Live. He achieved television fame in the popular television series The Dukes of Hazzard (1979–85), then embarked on a music career. He has recorded eight albums. Musically, he switches between rock and roll and country music styles, though his two most recent albums have been of classic pop standards. His 1980s albums were on EMI Nashville. 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 later appeared as a replacement in the stage musicals City of Angels, and Guys and Dolls.