This 80s star endured the heartbreaking loss of her husband, but continued to raise her children as a single mother — how does she look at 70?
In the final days of her husband’s life, the iconic actress sensed there were things he wanted to say before he passed. His sudden death left her devastated. Over time, she has transformed in ways that go beyond her appearance, much like the grief and healing that shaped her journey after the tragedy.
Known for her role in the beloved 1970s and 1980s series “The Dukes of Hazzard,” she almost missed out on the iconic role that helped launch her career. She recalled in a candid interview, “Being Daisy Duke was a complete accident! My agency said I wasn’t ‘TV material’ — they fired me! I’m half Mexican, half German.”
But determined to prove herself, she did exactly that. She revealed that her first husband, David Shaw, had connections with Bob Clark, who was working with show creator Gy Waldron. Bob suggested they meet the actress, and after some hesitation, she agreed. Just two weeks later, she was cast as Daisy Duke. She proudly says, “Now I’m considered the All-American girl.” Even the famous Daisy Duke outfit was designed by her.
While the actress captivated audiences on-screen, her husband David worked behind the scenes as a producer and manager. David Shaw had a long career with notable works like “The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax” (1999) and “Murder, She Wrote” (1984).
Though the couple had no children from their first marriage, she later married Peter Lopez, a respected music lawyer and co-founder of a firm that represented big names like Michael Jackson and Michael Bublé. After their 1990 wedding, they welcomed two daughters, Sophia in 1996 and Laura in 1998.
Reflecting on her marriage, she said, “I thought it was perfect. I could stay home with our kids while he earned a good living. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
But in April 2010, the Ohio native’s world was shattered when her husband tragically took his own life at their home. In an emotional interview, she recounted the events of that fateful day. She was preparing breakfast when Peter surprised her from behind and asked, “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
After kissing him and saying, “I love you,” she continued with her busy morning. He offered to drop the kids off at school, and she admired him as he left, noticing his slight pause before walking away. She never imagined it would be the last time she saw him.
As her daughters said their goodbyes to their father, they had no idea it would be their final farewell. He later ended his life with a gun. She rushed to the top of their property after hearing the shot but felt it was safer to stay away from potential danger. Soon, one of the staff found him, and the police were called to the scene.
“We were inconsolable,” she shared. “We had been living in a bubble of happiness. You lose a part of yourself when that’s shattered.” In the aftermath, she and her eldest daughter sought to understand why it had happened, reading extensively to cope with the devastation.
Despite her grief, she continues to honor her family, embracing the journey ahead, and showing the strength that defines both her personal and professional life.