Sonny Shroyer

Biography

Sonny Shroyer was born in Valdosta, Georgia, a small city on the Georgia-Florida border. Shroyer, whose given name is Otis Burt Shroyer Jr., grew up steeped in the traditions of the deep South. He worked in the tobacco warehouses pushing tobacco buggies and helped his father in their fruit stand-ice cream parlor business. His prowess in high school football landed him a football scholarship at Florida State University (he later ended up playing football in the movie The Longest Yard (1974) with another FSU football player, Burt Reynolds). However, his football career was cut short by an injury, and Shroyer finished his education at the University of Georgia, where he earned his degree in business.

Known For

Forrest Gump

as College Football Coach

The Rainmaker

as Delbert Birdsong

The Resident

as Hugh Yokum

A Love Song for Bobby Long

as Earl

The Dukes of Hazzard

as Enos Strate

The Longest Yard

as Tannen

Rectify

as Mayor Johnny Daggett

The Love Boat

as Don York

The Gingerbread Man

as Chatham County Sheriff

Matlock

as Hugo Larson