Many fans of country music and movies have wondered if Bo Hopkins and Jerry Reed are related. The two actors have appeared together in several films, such as White Lightning (1973) and What Comes Around (1985), and have a similar look and style. However, the truth is that they are not related at all. They are just good friends and colleagues who share a passion for entertainment.
Who is Bo Hopkins?
Bo Hopkins was an American actor who was born on February 2, 1938, in Greenwood, South Carolina. He had a troubled childhood, as his father left when he was nine months old and his mother died when he was 11. He was raised by his grandparents and later by an aunt and uncle. He developed an interest in acting after watching movies at a local theater.
Hopkins started his career in the late 1960s, appearing in several TV shows and movies. He became known for playing supporting roles in major studio films, such as The Wild Bunch (1969), The Bridge at Remagen (1969), The Getaway (1972), American Graffiti (1973), The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (1973), The Killer Elite (1975), Posse (1975), A Small Town in Texas (1976), Midnight Express (1978), and More American Graffiti (1979).
He also starred or co-starred in many made-for-television movies, such as Gondola (1973), Judgment: The Court Martial of Lieutenant William Calley (1975), The Runaway Barge (1975), The Kansas City Massacre (1975), The Invasion of Johnson County (1976), Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (1976), Woman on the Run (1977), Thaddeus Rose and Eddie (1978), Crisis in Sun Valley (1978), and The Busters (1978).
He also appeared in several TV shows, such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Wild Wild West, The Virginian, Nichols, The Rat Patrol, The Mod Squad, Hawaii Five-O, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, The Rookies, Charlie’s Angels, Fantasy Island, The A-Team, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, The Fall Guy, Crazy Like a Fox, Murder, She Wrote, and Doc Elliot.
His final film was Hillbilly Elegy (2020), directed by his long-time friend Ron Howard.
Hopkins was married twice. His first wife was Norma Woodle, whom he married in 1959 and divorced in 1962. His second wife was Sian Eleanor Green, whom he married in 1989. He had two children: Jane Hopkins and Matthew Hopkins.
Hopkins passed away on May 28, 2022, at the age of 84, at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, California. He had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for several years.
Who is Jerry Reed?
Jerry Reed was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor who was born on March 20, 1937, in Atlanta, Georgia. He learned to play guitar at a young age and started writing songs when he was a teenager. He signed with Capitol Records in 1955 and recorded several singles that did not achieve much success.
He moved to Nashville in 1962 and became a session musician for artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings, and Chet Atkins. He also wrote songs for other singers, such as Guitar Man for Presley and A Thing Called Love for Cash.
He had his own breakthrough as a solo artist in the late 1960s and early 1970s with hits such as Amos Moses, When You’re Hot You’re Hot, Lord Mr. Ford, East Bound and Down, She Got the Goldmine I Got the Shaft ,and The Bird.
He also ventured into acting and appeared in several films with Burt Reynolds ,such as W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975), Gator (1976), Smokey and the Bandit (1977), High-Ballin’ (1978), Hot Stuff (1979), Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), The Survivors (1983), What Comes Around (1985) ,and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983).
He also starred or co-starred in other films ,such as Concrete Cowboys (1979) ,Bat*21(1988) ,and The Waterboy(1998).
He also appeared in several TV shows ,such as Nashville 99(1977) ,The Dukes of Hazzard(1979-1985) ,Alice(1980-1981) ,and Evening Shade(1990-1994).
He was married to Priscilla Mitchell from 1959 until his death. They had two daughters: Charlotte and Seidina.
Reed died on September 1, 2008, at the age of 71, from complications of emphysema at his home in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Why Do People Think They Are Related?
There are several possible reasons why some people might think that Bo Hopkins and Jerry Reed are related. Some of them are:
- They have similar facial features, such as a prominent nose, a square jaw, and a thin mouth.
- They have similar hairstyles, such as a curly mullet or a short crop.
- They have similar accents, such as a Southern drawl or a country twang.
- They have similar names, such as Bo and Jerry, which are both short and common.
- They have similar careers, such as being actors and singers in the country genre.
- They have appeared together in several films, such as White Lightning and What Comes Around, where they played brothers.
However, these are all superficial similarities that do not indicate any biological or familial connection. They are just coincidences that happen to occur among two talented and successful entertainers who happen to be friends.
Conclusion
Bo Hopkins and Jerry Reed are not related. They are just two actors who have worked together in several films and have become friends over the years. They share some similarities in their looks, names, accents, and careers, but they have no blood or family ties. They are both icons of American cinema and music who have left a lasting legacy for their fans.
