Daisy from 'Dukes of Hazzard' Stuns in Public 13 Years after Her Husband Died & Left Her with 2 Daughters

• Catherine Bach is the star known for her "Daisy Dukes" denim hotpants in "The Dukes of Hazzard."

• Her husband took his own life, but she focused on her daughters despite battling her weight problems.

• Bo and Luke Duke from "The Dukes of Hazzard" also have another life.

Catherine Bach became famous as a sex symbol when she appeared in denim hotpants from 1979 until 1985 as Daisy Duke in the fan-favorite series, "The Dukes of Hazzard." The American actress featured in a whopping 145 episodes of the show.

She starred in the comedy-drama alongside prominent actors like Tom Wopat and John Schneider. In the mid-1980s, "The Dukes of Hazzard" went off the air, and in 2000 it was revived for die-hard fans as a movie.

After five more years, the show returned as a new film with a completely new cast. The 2005 movie saw actress Jessica Simpson getting to take on Bach's role as Daisy Duke and slip into the iconic denim hotpants.

While many people only knew her for her legendary role, Bach also had a private life. In 2012, the actress, then 57, opened up about losing her husband, Peter Lopez, to suicide when he took his own life in April 2010.

The star revealed how police initially thought she was the victim when they noted a gun going off at her San Fernando, California residence. Bach explained how someone was stalking her then, and when the gunshot report came through, the police thought the person had found and shot her, not Peter.

The actress was left shocked, and she and others couldn't understand what had happened because she and Peter had been happy. The widow shared that her husband of 19 years wasn't depressed or thinking about suicide, with Bach stating:

"He was very happy with his family and very proud of his girls."

The star said they'd been deeply in love and were together and happy. Bach revealed that other people who saw Peter days before his death couldn't believe he was suicidal and wasn't a drinker, nor did he take illegal substances, with her noting:

"That’s what’s so crazy about this. There’s [sic] no signs."

The actress shared how her dentist confessed to examining her husband a week before his passing. Peter's widow struggled with his death feeling it wasn't something that happened that a person would clean their teeth knowing they would take their own lives.

In 2019, Bach revealed that she'd relied on her faith to get her through the loss. She said losing her husband so suddenly had been the first time in her life that she was "completely and utterly" overwhelmed and hadn't seen it coming.

The star admitted she didn't know how to get through it alone. The actress had always believed she was happy, was blessed with her family, and a man she loved and couldn't see any problems in their marriage.

The couple found fulfillment in staying home with their children, and Peter was a lawyer who earned well. Bach was content that she'd gotten the "greatest thing" to happen to her, and then it was all suddenly gone.

However, opening up to others about her tragedy also helped her remain strong for her children. She explained how she hadn't been ashamed of speaking out about the loss because she was focused on caring for her daughters and herself so she wouldn't fall apart.

Someone once came to her confessing that their mother stayed in bed with alcohol for five years after losing someone dear, and they coped by taking illegal substances. Bach knew she couldn't do that, so she "prayed a lot" and attended church frequently because she was Catholic.

She stayed close to her trusted priest, and it and therapy kept her alive. Peter's widow attended grief group therapy, surrounded by support and people who had suffered tremendous losses.

However, by August 2022, the actress was thriving again, and fans saw what she looked like in recent years when she was caught on an outing. Bach, then 68, traded her hotpants for workout pants while shopping in Los Angeles.

By then, it had been around four decades since her series ended, but her legacy still lived on, with people still calling the denim hotpants "Daisy Dukes." The actress was getting older, struggling with her body, and continuing to be a single mother.

Catherine Is Ready for Her 69th Birthday: Inside Her Weight Problems amid Raising Two Daughters

In 2016, Bach seemed to be trying to get back in shape at age 58 as she worked out on the beach while on vacation with her children in Hawaii. The actress was seen practicing yoga, rowing, running, and swimming.

She'd previously confessed that she'd "gained a little weight" but wasn't bothered by it. However, she explained that the figure she had during her "Dukes of Hazzard" days was due to having a strict workout schedule, adding:

"I wasn't skinny from dieting; I was an athlete."

Losing her husband two years before probably led to her weight gain, but she didn't let it stop her from being a present mother. In 2015, fans saw how her daughters had grown when Laura Lopez shared an Instagram photo of her beside her sister, Sophia Lopez.

At the time, she wished her sister a happy birthday for turning 20 and called Sophia her "beautiful BFF." In February 2023, before Bach's 69th birthday in March, fans saw what she looked like when actor Christian Le Blanc uploaded an Instagram image of the actress in a Sacramento, California, parade.

The star still looked stunning as she posed royally, and 13 years after the tragedy that almost broke her, she appeared happy. Some of the people she starred with on "The Dukes of Hazzard" were still thriving, and below, we check in with two of them.

What Happened to Bo and Luke Duke from "The Dukes of Hazzard?"

"The Dukes of Hazzard" focused on three cousins, Bo, Daisy, and Luke Duke. The trio lived in Georgia and were always causing trouble while evading the local police officer and the corrupt county commissioner.

The 1975 film, "Moonrunners" inspired the series, and in 2005, the show gave birth to the movie "The Dukes of Hazzard." Some people who acted in the series grew their careers, while others dropped out of the spotlight and took on ordinary jobs.

[Catherine] Bach's onscreen cousin [John Schneider] also got into music and released 32 albums over four decades.

In August 2022, Tom Wopat, who played Luke, was 70. He was born on September 9, 1951, in Lodi, Wisconsin, and made his acting debut in 1968 when the soap opera "One Life to Live" premiered before being cast on "The Dukes of Hazzard."

When the show concluded, Wopat launched his successful music career, including 11 albums. He also didn't stop acting and appeared in "Cybill," "Bonneville," "Jonah Hex," "Django Unchained," "All in Time," "County Line," and "County Line: All In."

The actor also got to star on Broadway a few times. His first wife was Vickie Allen, but their relationship ended in divorce, and then he tied the knot with Kirsten Larvick; according to reports, he and the filmmaker were still together.

John Schneider, then 62, played Bo from 18 in his first acting role. The star, born on April 8, 1960, in Mount Kisco, New York, appeared as Jonathan Kent in "Smallville" after the show ended.

He's also had roles in "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," "Touched by an Angel," "Secret Life of the American Teenager," "Leverage," and "Desperate Housewives." Besides acting, he also launched John Schneider Studios, a production company that had produced several independent films.

Bach's onscreen cousin also got into music and released 32 albums over four decades. He featured on Broadway plays, competed in season 27 of "Dancing with the Stars," and co-founded the Children's Miracle Network in 1982.

In 1983, he married former Miss America Tawny Elaine Godin, but by 1986 they'd gone their separate ways. John's second wife was Elly Castle, whom he tied the knot with in 1993, he had a daughter named Karis but separated in 2014, and in 2019 he married his producing partner, Alicia Allain.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org.

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