Duane Lee Chapman, also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, is a famous American television personality best known for his reality television shows depicting his life and work as a bounty hunter.
He is actively involved in campaigning for stricter laws to fight crime and is involved in various media projects, including new TV series and podcasts. Chapman is also a New York Times Bestselling Author with a new book released in 2023, along with a speaking tour.
File
- Full name: Duane Lee Chapman
- Nickname: Bounty Hunter
- Date of birth: February 2, 1953
- Age: 71 years old
- male
- Place of birth: Denver, Colorado, USA
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Bounty hunter, Reality TV personality
- Height: 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m)
- Parents: Wesley Duane Chapman and Barbara Darlene Chapman
- Siblings: Jolene Kaye Martinez, Michael Chapman and Paula Hammond
- Spouse: Beth Smith (d. 2006–2019; died), Tawny Marie (d. 1991–2003; divorced), Anne M. Tegnell (d. 1979–1982; divorced), La Fonda Sue Honeycutt (d. . 1972– 1977;
- Children: 12 children including Leland Chapman, Lyssa Chapman, and Bonnie Joanne Chapman
- Relationship status: Widowed
- Net worth: 6 million USD
Early life and education
Duane Lee Chapman is now 71 years old. He was born on February 2, 1953 in Denver, Colorado, to Wesley Duane Chapman and Barbara Darlene Chapman.
His father worked as a welder in Dog’s early years before becoming a bail bondsman for Aaron Bail Bonds, and his mother was an Assemblies of God minister, specifically a Sunday school teacher.
He had three siblings: Jolene Kaye Martinez (née Chapman; 1955–2016), Michael Chapman and Paula Hammond (née Chapman). His father’s side is of German and English descent, and his mother’s side is of English descent.
At age 15, Chapman joined the Devils Diciples, an outlaw motorcycle club, and left home. In 1976, he was convicted of third-degree murder and received a five-year sentence in a Texas prison.
This was because he was involved in a situation where his friend shot and killed a man during a struggle while trying to buy marijuana.
Personal life
Chapman was married six times and had a total of 12 children, including one adopted child. Sadly, a son and a daughter passed away.
His first marriage was to La Fonda Sue Darnell, with whom he had two children, Duane Lee Chapman II and Leland Blane Chapman. Both sons worked with Chapman at Da’Kine Bail Bonds in Honolulu, Hawaii and appeared on TV with him.
His second marriage was to Ann Tegnell, with whom he had three children, Zebadiah Chapman (who died in infancy), Wesley Chapman and James Robert (JR) Chapman.
The two married shortly after Chapman’s parole and divorced after Wesley’s birth. Ann was awarded custody of the children and moved to Utah.
Chapman’s third marriage was to Lyssa Rae “Big Lyssa” Brittain (née Greene). They have three children together, Barbara Katie Chapman, Tucker Dee Chapman and Lyssa Rae Chapman. The marriage ended in 1991.
Chapman’s fourth marriage was to Tawny Marie Chapman, whom he met in 1988 after arresting her for drug possession. They married in 1992, separated in 1994 and officially divorced in 2002.
Despite having no children together, Chapman’s children called her their mother throughout their relationship. Chapman described the marriage as “a disaster from the start” in her autobiography, claiming she was addicted to amphetamines.
His fifth marriage was to Alice Elizabeth “Beth” Barmore, with whom he had an on-and-off relationship before marrying in 2006. They had two children together, and Chapman adopted his daughter. Beth from her previous marriage.
Tragically, Beth passed away in 2019 from throat cancer, and the whole family appeared in the series titled Dog and Beth: Their fight for survival to record the experience.
After Beth died, Chapman became engaged to Francie Frane, who had also just lost her husband. They announced their engagement in May 2020 and married in Colorado on September 2, 2021.
Chapman also has an illegitimate child, older son Christopher Michael Hecht, the son of his ex-girlfriend Debbie White.
Career
On June 18, 2003, Chapman attracted international attention when he arrested Andrew Luster, the heir to the Max Factor cosmetics company, who had fled the United States during his trial for drugging and rape. many women.
With the assistance of Leland’s son and partner Tim Chapman, they captured Luster in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. However, they were all jailed by Mexican police on the way to San Diego, and Dog and Leland were also arrested on suspicion of drug use.
After being released on bail due to media attention, they fled the jurisdiction, becoming international bail seekers.
They were eventually arrested in Honolulu by US police on behalf of the Mexican government, who accused them of “deprivation of liberty” for their illegal bounty hunting activities. Despite facing extradition to Mexico, they were treated with respect while in federal custody.
After years of searching for fugitives, Chapman appeared on the show Get this jobFocus on people with unique careers.
This led to a spin-off series highlighting his efforts to capture bail fugitives, especially his pursuit of Andrew Luster in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Chapman’s profile attracted the attention of the American public, leading A&E to create a reality series about his bounty hunting work.
The first season of Bounty hunting dog premiered on August 30, 2004, and ran for eight seasons before being canceled in 2012. In early October 2007, Chapman faced criticism after a private conversation with his son was leaked. leaked to the media, leading to his television series being suspended. After issuing a public apology and contacting African-American organizations, the show eventually returned to production.
Prize
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Male Reality TV Star (2009)
- Nominated for Teen Choice Award for Choice Male Reality TV Star (2007, 2008)
Net value
According to sources, Duane Chapman’s net worth is estimated to be around $6 million, a fortune mainly accumulated from his career as an actor.
Argumentative
Duane Chapman has been embroiled in a number of controversies over the years. He has faced accusations of racism, homophobia and making controversial statements.
In 2021, his daughter Bonnie said he was racist and homophobic, and in 2022, he made comments about the 2020 US presidential election that were criticized as conspiracy theories.
Chapman also faces legal issues, including a lawsuit in 2021 from his former production company, claiming he breached his contract by making racist and homophobic statements. gay people. He was also accused of wearing an illegal taser device during filming in Virginia, which is illegal in that state.
In addition to public controversies, Chapman also faced personal and family-related issues, including bitter feuds with his own family members and the revelation of a secret son. . These controversies all contributed to his scandalous public image over the years.
Social Media
- Instagram: @duanedogchapman
- Twitter: @DogBountyHunter
Filming
- Bounty hunting dog
- Dog and Beth: Hunting
- The most wanted dog
Book
- You Can Run But You Can’t Hide (2007)
- Where mercy is shown, mercy is given (2010)