Jefferson Davis "Boss" Hogg, often referred to as JD or Boss, is the main antagonist of the 1979-1985 TV series The Dukes of Hazzard and its 2005 film adaptation. He was the greedy, corrupt county commissioner of Hazzard County and arch-foe of the series protagonists, the titular Dukes.
Hogg was portrayed by the late Sorrell Booke in the series (who also voiced Pinky in Rock-a-Doodle) and the late Burt Reynolds in the film. Booke also voiced the character in a short-lived cartoon.
Appearance[]
In the series, Hogg was portrayed as an overweight, bumbling glutton with a wrathful and arrogant side. He preferred white clothing, usually a white suit, bow tie and cowboy hat. Burt Reynold's version in the 2005 film, however, was not overweight, though he retained his preference for white clothing and cigars. A bolo tie replaced the bow tie in the film.
Political Position and Authority[]
Boss Hogg was the county commissioner and had broad legal and political powers. He had total control over the police force, which he used as his corrupt enforcers and partners in crime, in particular Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane. He did not share authority with a county council or any similar body. His power was vast but not absolute, and he could be overruled by local judges in some instances (such a ruling often provided a conclusion to an episode.) He also held the positions of fire chief and police commissioner. His office was elected, and he could, in theory, be voted out.
Criminal Activity[]
Hogg was fraudulently elected and spent most of the series engaged in various schemes meant to enrich himself through theft, embezzlement of public funds, various types of fraud, illegal gambling and smuggling of stolen goods or illegal home-brewed alcohol (moonshine). One of his worst crimes was arranging for the interception and confiscation of trucks of consumer goods using his corrupt police force under some pretext to justify confiscation, which he would then resell, making him in effect an armed robber. He had no qualms about dealing with worse criminals than himself, such as the mafia. He held a particular animosity towards the whole Duke family and often tried to entrap them. He sought to confiscate the Duke family property, for which he held the mortgage (why he never simply accelerated the mortgage and claimed the property lawfully was not explained.)
Despite his insatiable greed, he would not permit any physical harm to result from his endeavors, sometimes going as far as sacrifice potential profits or even putting himself in danger to prevent such an outcome. This would sometimes earn him the wrath of less scrupulous criminal partners, after which his Nemeses, the Dukes, would typically come to his rescue.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- Roscoe P. Coltrane
- Enos Strate
- Cletus Hogg
- Hughie Hogg (sometimes)
- Duke Family (sometimes)
- Jesse Duke (former friend and fellow moonshiner)
Enemies[]
- Hughie Hogg (sometimes)
- Duke Family (sometimes)
- Dewey Hogg
- Sheriff Edward Thomas Little
- Law enforcement outside of Hazzard County
Family[]
- Lulu Coltrane Hogg (Wife; she is also Roscoe's sister)
- Hughie Hogg (nephew)
- Jamie Lee Hogg (nephew)