Sorrell Booke Net Worth

What Was Sorrell Booke's Net Worth?

Sorrell Booke was an American stage, film, and television actor who had a net worth of $1.5 million at the time of his death in 1994. Sorrell Booke was best known to television audiences as Jefferson Davis "Boss" Hogg, the flamboyant, corrupt county commissioner on the CBS series "The Dukes of Hazzard." Though that role made him a pop-culture fixture, Booke's career extended far beyond Hazzard County and spanned more than four decades across Broadway, film, and television.

A classically trained actor with an academic background rarely seen in television comedy, Booke earned degrees from both Columbia University and the Yale School of Drama. Long before he donned a white suit and cigar, he was a respected stage performer and a prolific character actor in prestige films and landmark television dramas. By the time he reached mainstream fame in the late 1970s, Booke had already appeared in dozens of films and well over 100 television productions, building a reputation as one of the most reliable and versatile supporting actors of his era.

Early Life and Education

Sorrell Booke was born on January 4, 1930, in Buffalo, New York. His father, Sol Booke, was a physician, and as a child Sorrell often entertained patients in his father's waiting room, an early sign of his performance instincts. At age nine, he began acting on local radio and soon became a regular presence on Buffalo stations WGR and WEBR, frequently playing elderly characters despite his youth.

A gifted student, Booke graduated as valedictorian of his class at Bennett High School in 1946. He enrolled at Columbia University at just 16 years old, where he studied literature and drama and performed in Shakespearean productions. After earning his bachelor's degree in 1949, he continued his training at the Yale School of Drama, receiving a Master of Fine Arts.

Following graduate school, Booke served two years as a counterintelligence officer in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, an experience that added to the intellectual rigor and discipline that later characterized his performances.

Television Career

Booke appeared on more than 150 television programs over the course of his career, making him one of the most ubiquitous character actors of mid-century American television. He became especially prolific in the 1960s, guest-starring on series such as "Car 54, Where Are You?," "Route 66," "Dr. Kildare," "The Patty Duke Show," "12 O'Clock High," "Slattery's People," and "The Wild Wild West." His work on the second-season finale of "Dr. Kildare" earned him an Emmy Award nomination.

Throughout the 1970s, Booke remained in constant demand, appearing on shows including "Hawaii Five-O," "Room 222," "MAS*H," "Gunsmoke," "Cannon," "The Bob Newhart Show," "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," "Soap," "Good Times," "Columbo," and "The Rockford Files." He also appeared in television films and miniseries such as "The Iceman Cometh," "The Amazing Howard Hughes," and "Rich Man, Poor Man Book II."

In 1979, Booke was cast in the role that would define his public image: Boss Hogg on "The Dukes of Hazzard." Though originally conceived as a recurring antagonist, the flamboyant, corrupt county commissioner quickly became central to the show's identity. The series starred John Schneider and Tom Wopat as cousins Bo and Luke Duke, with Catherine Bach as Daisy Duke and Denver Pyle as Uncle Jesse. "The Dukes of Hazzard" ran for seven seasons, concluding in 1985, and Booke reprised the role of Hogg in animated spinoffs and guest appearances. After the series ended, he transitioned primarily into voice work, contributing to animated projects such as "Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers," "The Smurfs," "Bonkers," "Capitol Critters," and "Droopy, Master Detective."

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Film Career

Booke's film career was extensive and unusually prestigious for an actor best remembered for television comedy. In the 1960s, he appeared in films such as "Gone Are the Days!," "Black Like Me," "Joy House," and Sidney Lumet's Cold War thriller "Fail Safe." He continued working with major directors throughout the decade, appearing in "Up the Down Staircase" and "Bye Bye Braverman."

In the 1970s, Booke appeared in Peter Bogdanovich's "What's Up, Doc?," George Roy Hill's adaptation of "Slaughterhouse-Five," and John Frankenheimer's film version of "The Iceman Cometh," reprising a role he had previously played on television. He later appeared in "The Bank Shot," "Mastermind," "Special Delivery," and the Disney comedy "Freaky Friday."

His final film appearances included voice roles in animated features such as "Rock-a-Doodle" and "Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation," released shortly before his death.

Stage Career

Booke maintained a serious commitment to the stage throughout his life. He made his Broadway debut in 1956 in "The Sleeping Prince" and went on to appear in productions including "Nature's Way" and "Heartbreak House." He replaced the title role in the musical "Fiorello!" and appeared in the Broadway revival of "Finian's Rainbow."

One of his most acclaimed stage roles came in 1961 when he originated the role of Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee in "Purlie Victorious," later recreating the character in the film adaptation "Gone Are the Days." His stage résumé ultimately included dozens of productions across Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theaters.

Personal Life and Death

Booke was married to Miranda Knickerbocker from 1958 until their divorce in 1973. They had two children together. Known for his intellect and curiosity, Booke was fluent in multiple languages, including French, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. He also enjoyed purchasing and restoring neglected homes, a hobby he pursued for years.

Sorrell Booke died on February 11, 1994, at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, from colorectal cancer. He was 64 years old and was buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City.

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