# Sorrell Booke
**Sorrell Booke** (January 4, 1930 – February 11, 1994) was an American character actor best known for playing the corrupt, white-suited politician [Jefferson Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/jefferson-davis) "Boss" Hogg on the CBS television series *The Dukes of Hazzard* from 1979 to 1985. He worked on stage, in film, and on television for nearly four decades, appearing in more than 100 plays and about 200 television shows.[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/82629/sorrell-booke)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | January 4, 1930, Buffalo, New York; February 11, 1994, Sherman Oaks, California, of colorectal cancer, at age 64[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0095368/bio/) |
| Signature role | Jefferson Davis "Boss" Hogg on *The Dukes of Hazzard*, 147 episodes, 1979–1985[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/82629/sorrell-booke) |
| Education | Columbia University; master's degree in Fine Arts from Yale[3](https://www.hazzardnet.com/dukes-of-hazzard-original-tv-series/dukes-of-hazzard-cast/sorrell-booke/) |
| Military service | Two years in counterintelligence during the Korean War[3](https://www.hazzardnet.com/dukes-of-hazzard-original-tv-series/dukes-of-hazzard-cast/sorrell-booke/) |
| Languages | Fluent in five languages, including Japanese[3](https://www.hazzardnet.com/dukes-of-hazzard-original-tv-series/dukes-of-hazzard-cast/sorrell-booke/) |
| Broadway debut | 1956, in Michael Redgrave's production of *The Sleeping Prince*[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-16-mn-23468-story.html) |
| Recognition | Nominated for a 1964 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/sorrell-booke/bio/3000728999/) |
## Early life and education
Booke was born in [Buffalo, New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/buffalo-new-york), the son of a local physician.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0095368/bio/) He showed a talent for voices and storytelling early, entertaining patients in the waiting room of his father's medical office, and by age 9 he was performing on local radio programs.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-16-mn-23468-story.html) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/sorrell-booke/) He graduated from high school at 16 and enrolled at Columbia University, where a campus variety show cast him as "Senator Cottonmouth," his first role as a Southern politician.[3](https://www.hazzardnet.com/dukes-of-hazzard-original-tv-series/dukes-of-hazzard-cast/sorrell-booke/) After Columbia he entered Yale and earned a master's degree in Fine Arts.[3](https://www.hazzardnet.com/dukes-of-hazzard-original-tv-series/dukes-of-hazzard-cast/sorrell-booke/)
During the [Korean War](https://www.edgepedia.org/korean-war) he spent two years in counterintelligence, where his linguistic ability was useful; he was fluent in five languages, including Japanese.[3](https://www.hazzardnet.com/dukes-of-hazzard-original-tv-series/dukes-of-hazzard-cast/sorrell-booke/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0095368/bio/)
## Stage career
After military service Booke worked in off-Broadway plays, including *The White Devil*, and made his Broadway debut in 1956 in [Michael Redgrave](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-redgrave)'s production of *The Sleeping Prince*.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-16-mn-23468-story.html) He had major roles in more than 100 plays and musicals, among them *Fiorello!*, *Purlie Victorious*, *Finian's Rainbow*, *Heartbreak House*, *Annie Get Your Gun*, *An Enemy of the People*, and *Morning, Noon and Night*.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-16-mn-23468-story.html)
His Broadway performance as the unreconstructed Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee in *Purlie Victorious* (1961) won critical acclaim, and he recreated the role for his film debut, *Gone Are the Days* (1963).[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/sorrell-booke/) He also appeared in Broadway productions of *King Lear* and *Caligula*.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-16-mn-23468-story.html)
## Film and television work
Booke's film credits through the 1960s and 1970s included *Gone Are the Days* (1963), *Black Like Me* (1964), *Fail Safe* (1964), *Up the Down Staircase* (1967), *Bye Bye Braverman* (1968), *What's Up, Doc?* (1972), *Slaughterhouse-Five* (1972), *The Iceman Cometh* (1973), and *The Other Side of Midnight* (1977).[7](https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1994/rt9402/940215/02150218.htm) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/sorrell-booke/)
On television he first appeared on the 1950s series *Omnibus* and over three decades accumulated credits in about 200 shows, including *Dr. Kildare*, *M*A*S*H* (as General Wilson Spaulding Barker), *Columbo*, *The Rockford Files*, *Gunsmoke*, *Mission: Impossible*, and *All in the Family*, where he played [Archie Bunker](https://www.edgepedia.org/archie-bunker)'s boss.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-16-mn-23468-story.html) • [1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/82629/sorrell-booke) Toward the end of his life he did voice work for animated films and programs, including *Rock-A-Doodle* (1991), and appeared as a cranky businessman who turns out to be Santa on *Full House*.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/sorrell-booke/) • [3](https://www.hazzardnet.com/dukes-of-hazzard-original-tv-series/dukes-of-hazzard-cast/sorrell-booke/)
## Boss Hogg
In 1978 Booke auditioned for the role of Boss Jefferson Davis Hogg, and the series ran from January 1979 to August 1985, making the character a household name.[3](https://www.hazzardnet.com/dukes-of-hazzard-original-tv-series/dukes-of-hazzard-cast/sorrell-booke/) • [7](https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1994/rt9402/940215/02150218.htm) Hogg, the nemesis of Luke Duke ([Tom Wopat](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-wopat)) and Bo Duke (John Schneider), was the corrupt politician of Hazzard County, preoccupied with the antics of the Duke boys.[7](https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1994/rt9402/940215/02150218.htm) Booke played the role in 147 episodes.[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/82629/sorrell-booke)
**Crafting the character.** The role was physically and temperamentally far from Booke himself. To obtain [Boss Hogg](https://www.edgepedia.org/boss-hogg)'s hefty girth he wore padding, and although he smoked cigars in front of the cameras he preferred cigarettes off camera.[3](https://www.hazzardnet.com/dukes-of-hazzard-original-tv-series/dukes-of-hazzard-cast/sorrell-booke/) Adept with languages and dialects, he said he copied Hogg's Southern drawl from U.S. Senators Sam Erwin and [Strom Thurmond](https://www.edgepedia.org/strom-thurmond).[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-16-mn-23468-story.html) He had been known throughout his career for using makeup, padding, and disguises to portray characters of various ages and sizes.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-16-mn-23468-story.html)
Despite his Columbia and Yale education and his Broadway background, Booke did not look down on the role. "Acting is acting," he said, "whether you are doing Hazzard or Hamlet."[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-16-mn-23468-story.html)
## Death
Booke died of colorectal cancer on February 11, 1994, at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, a month after his 64th birthday. His daughter [Alexandra](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexandra) and son Nicholas were at his bedside. He is interred at [Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery](https://www.edgepedia.org/hillside-memorial-park-cemetery) in [Culver City, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/culver-city-california), where his tombstone reads, "Beloved Pa, Grandpa, Brother and Boss."[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0095368/bio/) • [8](https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Sorrell_Booke) • [7](https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1994/rt9402/940215/02150218.htm) In addition to his daughter and son he was survived by a brother, Frederick, and one grandson.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-16-mn-23468-story.html)
## References
1. [Sorrell Booke, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/82629/sorrell-booke)
2. [Sorrell Booke Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0095368/bio/)
3. [Sorrell Booke, HazzardNet](https://www.hazzardnet.com/dukes-of-hazzard-original-tv-series/dukes-of-hazzard-cast/sorrell-booke/)
4. [Sorrell Booke; TV, Stage and Movie Actor, Los Angeles Times (February 16, 1994)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-16-mn-23468-story.html)
5. [Sorrell Booke Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/sorrell-booke/bio/3000728999/)
6. [Sorrell Booke, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/sorrell-booke/)
7. ['Dukes of Hazzard' Star Booke Dies of Cancer at 64, Associated Press via Roanoke Times (February 15, 1994)](https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1994/rt9402/940215/02150218.htm)
8. [Sorrell Booke, Military Wiki](https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Sorrell_Booke)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Be to Bo*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license