Christopher Mayer, best known for his role as Vance Duke in the popular TV show The Dukes of Hazzard, passed away on July 23, 2011, at the age of 57. His death was attributed to natural causes, according to IMDb. Mayer was a talented and versatile actor who had a successful career in television and movies. He also had a personal life full of joys and sorrows, and a loyal friendship with his co-star Byron Cherry. In this article, we will pay tribute to Christopher Mayer and his legacy by looking at some of the highlights of his life and career.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Christopher Mayer was born as George Charles Mayer III on February 21, 1954, in New York City. He started his acting career in 1980 with a role in the TV movie Stunts Unlimited. He then landed a role in the TV series Our Family Business in 1981. However, his big break came in 1982 when he was cast as Vance Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard.
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard was a hit comedy series that followed the adventures of the Duke cousins, who were always in trouble with the law in their rural county of Hazzard. The show featured car chases, stunts, humor, and country music. Christopher Mayer played Vance Duke, one of the two cousins who temporarily replaced Bo and Luke Duke (played by John Schneider and Tom Wopat) in the fifth season due to a contract dispute between the producers and the original actors.
Mayer was joined by Byron Cherry, who played his brother Coy Duke. The two men were quickly cast and introduced as cousins who came to help Uncle Jesse and Daisy while Bo and Luke were away on the NASCAR circuit. However, the fans did not warm up to the new characters and the ratings dropped. When the contract dispute was resolved, Schneider and Wopat returned to the show and Cherry and Mayer were written off after 19 episodes.
Despite the short-lived stint on The Dukes of Hazzard, Mayer and Cherry remained close friends and often did press together. They also reprised their roles as Vance and Coy in the animated series The Dukes in 1983.
Other Roles and Projects
After leaving The Dukes of Hazzard, Mayer continued to work in television and movies. He starred in another comedy series called Glitter from 1984 to 1985, playing Pete Bozak, a reporter for a celebrity magazine. He also appeared in several guest roles on shows like Simon & Simon, The Love Boat, The Ted Knight Show, Renegade, Weird Science, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Mayer also had a notable role on the daytime soap opera Santa Barbara from 1987 to 1989. He played T.J. Daniels, a scheming lawyer who was involved in various plots and romances. He also appeared in another soap opera called Silk Stalkings from 1991 to 1992.
One of Mayer’s last film roles was in Liar Liar (1997), starring Jim Carrey. He played Kenneth Falk, a man who sued his wife for adultery with Carrey’s character. His last TV credit was a guest appearance on 18 Wheels of Justice in 2000.
Personal Life and Death
Mayer was married three times and had three daughters. His first marriage was to actress Teri Copley, with whom he had a daughter named Ashley. His second marriage was to Eileen Davidson, an actress on Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless. His third marriage was to actress Shauna Sullivan in 1988, with whom he had two more daughters, Alexandra and Angelica.
Mayer was engaged to be married to Catherine Irvine at the time of his death. He was found dead of natural causes in his Los Angeles home in Sherman Oaks on July 23, 2011.
Mayer’s death was mourned by his family, friends, fans, and co-stars. Byron Cherry paid tribute to him in an interview with EW, saying that he was his best friend and like a brother to him. He also said that Mayer was very spiritual, positive, uplifting, genuine, and funny. He recalled how Mayer helped him cope with the death of his son Byron Cherry Jr., who died in a car accident at age 20.
Cherry also said that he had recently reunited with Mayer after losing contact with him for six years. He said that Mayer had been diagnosed with two aneurysms in his brain two months before his death, which were treated at the hospital. He said that he made him promise to straighten up a little bit and that they had bonded lately.
Conclusion
Christopher Mayer was a talented actor who had a memorable role in The Dukes of Hazzard. He also had a successful career in other TV shows and movies. He was a loving father, a loyal friend, and a spiritual person. He died of natural causes at the age of 57, leaving behind a legacy of entertainment and inspiration. He will be remembered as one of the Dukes of Hazzard and as a great person.
