bio courtesy of Jackie Clouse
Otis B. Shroyer was born in Valdosta, Georgia on August 28th, 1935. He attended the University of Florida on a football scholarship but earned his BBA Degree at the University of Georgia. Sonny was a model and this exposure got him roles in movies and on television. Sonny enrolled in an acting class (the instructor was future Sheriff of Hazzard County, James Best) and together he and James worked in the Burt Reynolds movie Gator. He went on to appear in two more of Burt Reynolds’ movies, The Longest Yard and Smokey and the Bandit. Sonny has done numerous guest roles on television since the Dukes. Sonny has also appeared in many movies including playing Coach Bear Bryant in the feature film Forrest Gump and in two John Grisham films, The Rainmaker and The Gingerbread Man. Sonny has two sons named Mark and Christopher who own the Sinfully Good Candy Company.