Christopher “Chip” Mayer has passed away, and he will be remembered for his role as Vance Duke on “The Dukes of Hazzard” on CBS. He was 57.
Mayer has roles in movies including “Liar Liar” and performed as a guest star on a wide variety of series during the ’80s and ’90s. The dark-haired, gorgeous hunk who turns out to be the bad guy is the type he often played.
Christopher Mayer’s Cause of Death: The Final Factor
Mayer passed away in Sherman Oaks on July 23 from unknown situations. He went through three marriages. Teri Copley from “We Got it Made,” Eileen Davidson from “The Young and the Restless,” and Shauna Sullivan rounded out the top three. There was a divorce in every union.
Remembering Christopher Mayer (1954-2011) who died on this day in 2011 #SantaBarbara #TheDukesofHazzard #Glitter #Baywatch #BaywatchNights pic.twitter.com/iKJilIuOcJ
— Soap Dude 2 (@Soap_Dude2) July 23, 2017
Mayer first rose to prominence on television when he and actor Byron Cherry joined the cast of “Dukes” as cousins of the show’s protagonists, Bo and Luke Duke, who portrayed speedy moonshine runners always on the run from “Boss Hogg” and other law enforcement officials.
While Tom Wopat and John Schneider were having a contract dispute, the cousins appeared in 19 episodes. Mayer reprised his role in an animated sequel, “The Dukes.”
Mayer has also appeared on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Baywatch,” “The Love Boat,” “Xena: Warrior Princess,” and “Silk Stalkings,” among other shows.
In addition to “Survivor,” he also had parts in “East Meets West,” “Hard Time,” and “The Hunted.” Mayer is continued in life by his 3 daughters, 1 grandchild, and 1 great-grandchild. He was in the process of proposing to Catherine Irvine when he passed away.
He posts on Facebook: “I always thought about being a politician but I’d rather be an Ambassador for Christ.”
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Chip Mayer Memorial Trust Fund, c/o Shauna Mayer, 4343 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.
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The Dukes Of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard was a popular sitcom about a group of cousins named the Dukes who lived in rural Hazzard County and seemed destined to run afoul of the law at every turn.
The program included automotive stunts, comedy, and country music. Vance Duke, played by Christopher Mayer, was one of two cousins cast in Season 5 to fill in for Bo and Luke Duke (John Schneider and Tom Wopat, respectively) when a disagreement over contracts led to their temporary replacement.
Byron Cherry, who played Mayer’s brother, Coy Duke, also appeared in the film. While Bo and Luke were away on the NASCAR circuit, the two men were swiftly presented as relatives who had come to aid Uncle Jesse and Daisy.
But viewers didn’t take to the new faces, and the show’s ratings went down. Schneider and Wopat returned to the show when the contract conflict was addressed, while Cherry and Mayer were written off the show after 19 episodes.
Mayer and Cherry remained great friends and frequently did press together despite their brief time on The Dukes of Hazzard. They also voiced Vance and Coy in the 1983 animated series adaptation of The Dukes.
Sorry to learn of sudden death of Sir Christopher Mayer. I remember him coming to speak to my school in 1990s about his time working for John Major and I read his entertaining book DC Confidential. A great character.@SirSocks
https://t.co/JhXeuQTiD8
— Jonathan Sandler – GRAPHICMEMOIR.CO.UK (@jsandler1978) July 29, 2022
Personal Issues
Three of Mayer’s daughters were born from his three marriages. Ashley was named after his daughter from his first marriage to actress Teri Copley. Actress Eileen Davidson, who has been on both Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless, was his second wife.
Two more daughters, Alexandra and Angelica, were born to him and his third wife, actress Shauna Sullivan, whom he wed in 1988. When Mayer passed away, he was planning to marry Catherine Irvine. On July 23, 2011, his body was discovered at his Sherman Oaks, California, home from what appeared to be natural causes.
His passing saddened everyone who knew and loved Mayer. Byron Cherry praised him highly, calling him his best friend and comparing him to a brother in an interview with EW. According to him, Mayer was also hilarious, sincere, cheerful, and spiritual.
He recalled how Mayer comforted him after the tragic loss of his son, Byron Cherry Jr., who was only 20 years old when he died in a vehicle crash. Cherry added that he and Mayer got back together after six years of not talking.
Two months before his death, Mayer was hospitalized for treatment of two brain aneurysms, he said. He said that the two of them had just bonded and that he had recently coaxed him into promising to straighten up a bit.
