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John Schneider
The multi-talented John Schneider has been a critically-acclaimed presence on stage and screen for nearly 30 years. His diverse career has encompassed everything from award-winning musicals and features to blockbuster TV series and directing.

Schneider is currently producing his own independent film, Collier & Co., which he wrote and will direct and star. The PG action-adventure film will revolve around an ex-stock car driver who sells "previously loved" exotic cars, which he acquires through "pink for pink" late night racing. However, when faced with the prospect of losing his wife and daughter over his side business, he tries to go legit until he wins a car with a very important item in the glove box that just so happens to belong to a very bad man. When his wife and child are kidnapped as a result, the chase is on! Schneider is currently shooting the film while securing more funding.

Schneider just completed a five-season turn as Jonathan Kent, the father of teenage Clark Kent in the critically-acclaimed smash hit Smallville for the WB. His other recent television credits include yhe WB television movie Felicity: An American Girl Adventure opposite Marcia Gay Harden and a hilarious guest-starring turn on Fran Drescher's series, Living with Fran.

In addition to acting, Schneider is currently generating immense radio buzz with his unreleased duet with the late country legend, Johnny Cash. Titled "Hell This Ain't Heaven," he recorded the track with Cash while he lived at his home in Nashville several years ago. Cash was one of the biggest supporters of Schneider's country music endeavors. He also released a new album, John Schneider, An Acoustic Christmas, in time for the holidays. It features him and old musician friends covering some of their favorite Christmas tunes. Both albums can be purchased at www.johnschneidertv.com.

Last summer, Schneider returned to the stage in a one-time performance of Mame at the famed Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Of his performance as the wealthy Southerner Beauregard, the LA Times wrote ,"The audience applauded the dishy beau played by John Schneider, who filtered his baritone through a Dixie accent as smooth as a swig of Southern Comfort!" Variety praised Schneider's Beauregard Burnside as "presenting a picture of striking charm!" He also appeared in NBC's hit mini 10.5, alongside Gene Simmons in a music video for country music stars Trick Pony and will lend his voice to an episode of FOX's animated sitcom, King of the Hill.

Schneider's diverse credits include nearly two dozen MOWs. In addition to 10.5, he earned rave reviews for his performance as Michael Landon in the CBS telefilm, Michael Landon: The Father I Knew in 1999. He has also appeared in such TV movies as the historical epic Texas, in which he played Davy Crockett; Stagecoach, a remake of the John Ford classic with Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash; True Women; The Legend of Ruby Silver; and Night of the Twisters.

In 1997, Schneider appeared in a two-hour special of the family drama, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, in which he was so well received by fans that he became a regular on the series starring as Daniel Simon for a year and a half.

Schneider is also a seasoned director. "Directing allows me to bring my 30-plus years of experience to both the set and to the screen," says Schneider, who made both his writing and directorial debut in the '80s on The Dukes of Hazzard and most recently on Smallville. In 2002, he directed the telefilm, Mary Christmas, the highest-rated movie ever for PAX TV.

On the big screen, Schneider has appeared in over 15 features including Snow Day with Chevy Chase, Garry Marshall's Exit to Eden and Eddie Macon's Run opposite Kirk Douglas, to name a few. He can also be heard as the voice of archaeologist Rick O'Connell in Kids WB!'s animated series, The Mummy.

Schneider was born in upstate New York and was performing in local theatre by the time he was 8 years old. "I used to go to the movies every Saturday back in Kisco. It was there that I first saw McQueen, Redford and Voight. That was when I became enamored with Peckinpaw, George Roy Hill and Eastwood," Schneider says.

When he was 18, Schneider heard about a casting call for a new series called The Dukes of Hazzard. His agent tried to dissuade him from auditioning. "They were looking for people 24 to 30 years old and from the South. I was 18 and from New York. And they didn't want actors ... they wanted real people!" he reflects. Schneider landed the part and starred for six seasons as Bo Duke on the hugely popular '80s comedy-adventure series. During its run from 1979 to 1985, the show averaged an incredible 28 ratings share.

An accomplished musician and singer, Schneider has enjoyed a successful recording career. He has released 11 solo albums, four of which he co-produced with music legend Jimmy Bowen, one that reached the much-coveted No. 1 country album position and four No. 1 singles, as well as several more Top 10 singles. Schneider has recently shared a microphone with Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters, Nathan Lane and Kevin Spacey for an untitled Broadway album.

No stranger to the Broadway stage, Schneider starred in 487 performances of Tommy Tune's Tony Award-winning musical, Grand Hotel. His extensive stage work also includes Music Man, The Will Rogers Follies, Frank Wildhorn's Civil War and Brigadoon. He also performed in last year's Kennedy Center Honors in a tribute to Carol Burnett, as well as at a tribute to children's television pioneer Mr. Rogers at the Television Academy in Los Angeles.

Recognizing a need for better health care for children, Schneider co-founded the Children's Miracle Network, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for 170 children's hospitals throughout North America. Each year, these nonprofit hospitals treat more than 17 million children afflicted with diseases, injuries and birth defects of every kind. Since its inception in 1982, the Children's Miracle Network Celebration has raised more than $2.5 billion and is the only telethon that gives 100 percent of the money raised directly to the benefactor.

He also oversees both Cannan Film Works and Trail's End Productions, which have executive produced three telefilms for PAX TV.

Schneider, who is married with three children, lists cars as another passion. He owns the last original General Lee, The Dukes celebrated orange 1969 Dodge Charger with a 511-Hemi engine, which he races twice a year at the Silver State Classic in Nevada. Having been disqualified twice for exceeding his tech speed, he shrugs, "I'd rather be taken out going too fast than too slow. One can brag about -- the other I'd never outlive!"