Catherine Bach

The curvaceous brunette whose donning of denim short-shorts in the 1970s helped create a timeless fashion statement was best-known for her role as the feisty cousin of "good ole' boys" John Schneider and Tom Wopat on the popular CBS family-friendly series, "The Dukes of Hazzard" (1979-1985). Her homespun appeal captured on popular posters of the time - complete with hay bales, cut-offs and cowboy hat - gave other pin-up queens of the time like Loni Anderson and Farrah Fawcett a run for their money. Though her career would wind down once the reign of the Duke Boys ended in the mid-1980s, Bach would forever hold a sentimental place in many a young boy's heart throughout the decades.

Born on March 1, 1954 in Warren, OH to German and Hispanic parents, Bach moved to California at age 16 to study acting, including stints at the University of Southern California and with coaches Milton Katselas and Anna Strasberg. She first came to the notice of TV viewers in the telefilms "Strange New World" (ABC, 1975) and the "Matt Helm" pilot (ABC, 1975). Though her roles were small - such as with her bit part in "Murder in Peyton Place" (NBC, 1977) - a new show loomed on the horizon for the attractive young actress.

"The Dukes of Hazzard" came to her rescue, and for six years, Bach cavorted onscreen in tank tops and cut-off shorts - later coined "Daisy Dukes" - and thusly, became the female ideal for male viewers of all ages who tuned in each Friday for the mindless and popular rural comedy. The athletic and outgoing Bach also graced such ongoing TV specials as "The Battle of the Network Stars," "Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes," "Circus of the Stars," and "World's Greatest Stunts," as well as one-time guest shots on "The Nashville Palace" (ABC, 1980), "The Magic of David Copperfield" (CBS, 1981), and "Willie Nelson's Picnic" (syndicated, 1987). She also provided the voice of Daisy in an animated version of the series, "The Dukes" (CBS, 1983).

Buoyed by her popularity but tied to the backwoods image, Bach appeared in a serious-minded television movie as a photojournalist up against "White Water Rebels" (CBS, 1983). For 3 seasons, Bach returned to series TV as a businesswoman who moves to Africa with her teenage son in "African Skies" (The Family Channel, 1991-94). She even agreed to reprise Daisy in "The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!" (CBS, 1997) and its successor, "The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood" (CBS, 2000).

Bach's forays into theatrical releases were not as high-profile or as successful. Before striking gold in Hazzard County, she had small roles in Michael Cimino's action comedy "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" (1974) and in the drama "The Midnight Man" (1974), as well as Robert Aldrich's thriller "Hustle" (1975), co-starring Burt Reynolds. She would go on to reteam with Reynolds for "Cannonball Run II" (1983) and had her first starring role in the low-budget actioner, "Driving Force" (1989). She later scored large roles in smaller films, including another actioner, "Street Justice" (1989), the horror flick "Criminal Act" (1989), the biker road comedy "Masters of Menace" (1991), and the martial arts film "Rage & Honor" (1992). Reynolds also gave Bach a theatrical showcase with the stage drama "Extremities" (1986) at his Florida dinner theater, proving the actress was much more than the sum of her well-regarded parts.

In 2006, Bach returned to TV to guest on the popular series "Monk" (USA Network, 2002-09). While she never again recaptured the magic of her years spent stealing cars or dumping drinks on Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane at the Boar's Nest, Bach left an indelible impression on TV fans in her portrayal of the spitfire cousin of Bo and Luke Duke. When singer-turned-actress Jessica Simpson portrayed Daisy Duke in the misbegotten big screen adaptation, "The Dukes of Hazzard" (2005), her portrayal was judged against Bach's who was rumored to not be too happy with the remake and casting of her particular role. Happily and quietly married to entertainment attorney Peter Lopez for almost 20 years, with whom she had two daughters, Bach became the focus of media attention yet again after Lopez's alleged suicide on April 30, 2010 in the couple's Encino, CA home.