To TV viewers from the 80s, Tom Wopat needs no introduction. Very early in his career, he landed his most iconic role in The Dukes of Hazzard as Luke Duke, who along with his younger cousin Bo, terrorized Hazzard country while fleeing from the law in their iconic 1969 Dodge Charger called "The General Lee."
The Duke Boys were everyone's favorite down-home heroes on TV; always getting into trouble thanks to butting heads with Hazzard's completely corrupt count commissioner, Boss Hog, but always staying on the side of what was morally right, even if the law didn't agree. They also had help from their extremely attractive cousin Daisy, and their wise old bootlegger uncle, Jesse.
Wopat's Luke was the more calm and rational of the Duke Boys, and between his quick-thinking and his signature hood slide across the General Lee, he was a fan-favorite for the entirety of the show's run.
Following the show's cancellation in 1985, Wopat continued to act in small roles for the next several decades, starring on shows like A Peaceable Kingdom and Longmire, along with guest appearances on Home Improvement and Smallville. Of course, he also returned for several Dukes of Hazzard reunions.
However, his latest acting gig has not only been more low-key, but has landed Luke Duke in hot water with the law again, on VERY serious charges.
Seriously, these charges are pretty severe...
Wopat was already accused of groping an adult female cast member of a local theater production he was set to appear in, but now he's also facing charges of indecent assault and battery on a 16-year-old actress from a production of 42nd Street.
According to a statement from the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office, "Wopat has been charged with indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and two counts of accosting and annoying a person of the opposite sex in connection with an alleged assault on a second female cast member that occurred on July 25, 2017."
"Wopat, 66, allegedly assaulted the girl and the woman while they were rehearsing for the musical at the Waltham, Mass.-based Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston.
According to the police report, Wopat allegedly poked the girl in her stomach with his finger and hit her buttocks with his script, saying, 'Nice butt.' He allegedly told the girl, 'I'm a creepy old man, you're really talented and really cute,' according to the police report.
The police report also describes an exchange between Wopat and the teen about his alleged hovering outside the door to the female dressing room, which was recorded on video."
Neither Wopat's publicist or attorney have offered any statement on these charges yet. His court arraignment is set for October 23, 2017.