Jesse Duke
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Jesse L. Duke, most commonly known as "Uncle Jesse", was a fictional character in the American television series The Dukes of Hazzard which ran from 1979 to 1985. Jesse was played by Denver Pyle.
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[edit] Overview
Jesse was uncle to Bo, Luke, Daisy, Coy, Vance, and Jeb Stuart Duke. Jesse, his niece and, periodically, his nephews, lived in an unincorporated area of the fictional Hazzard County, in Georgia. Jesse was the patriarch of the Duke family and the father-figure to all Dukes who stayed with him on the dilapidated "Duke Farm". Jesse, a long-time widower who apparently had no children of his own, happily provided for his nephews and niece in the absence of their parents--all tragically killed in a car wreck years earlier. He was known for dispensing sage-like wisdom to his niece and nephews, who often found themselves in trouble with the corrupt local officials, Boss Hogg and Rosco P. Coltrane.
[edit] Life
Jesse Duke, in his youth, had been a moonshine "ridge-runner", in direct competition with J.D. Hogg—thus beginning the "feud" between the Dukes and the Hoggs. However, it should be noted that, while both Boss Hogg and Uncle Jesse would scowl at the mention of the other's name, the two enjoyed a lifelong "friendship" of sorts, with one helping the other when in desperate need. Jesse educated his nephews about Hogg and the corruption in Hazzard, and often provided the cousins with inspirational sage advice.
Up until the late 1970s, the Duke family had been making what was commonly known in Hazzard County as "The finest shine this side of the Mason-Dixon." However, after his nephews Bo and Luke were arrested, tried and convicted for illegally-transporting moonshine, Jesse Duke struck a deal with the government: he would cease and desist all moonshine brewing in exchange for Bo and Luke being released on probation.
Jesse Duke drove a 1973-77 Ford F-100 pickup truck.
Jesse remained in Hazzard long after his niece and nephews had moved on. In 1997, he chaired the Hazzard Homecoming reunion committee, although he was alienated by much of the town by rejecting "Mama Maxx"'s plans to build a theme park on Hazzard Swamp - creating additional jobs, revenue and entertainment for Hazzard County. However, in order to build the park, Maxx needed access to the Duke farm. For the Swamp's sake, Jesse held out and eventually - Bo, Luke, and Daisy returned to help their uncle, and - in the process - exposed Maxx's plan as fraud: she wanted the rights to the land solely to mine for its valuable ore.
Shortly after this last adventure, Jesse passed away (Pyle had died in December 1997). However, his legacy lived on through the many of his famous recipes that were passed to his friends and family. Cooter used Jesse's barbecue sauce recipe to enter the Hazzard Hoe-Down BBQ sauce contest in 2000. But due to a missing secret ingredient, he could only muster second place.
[edit] Uncle Jesse in film
Arthur Hunnicutt originated the character in the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was the precursor to The Dukes of Hazzard.
Willie Nelson portrayed Uncle Jesse in the 2005 film The Dukes of Hazzard and in the 2007 film The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning. This version of the character was known for his seemingly endless repertoire of risque one-liner jokes and his singing ability, in addition to his sage-like advice. In reference to Nelson's well-publicized support for legal marijuana, Nelson's Jesse also was shown enjoying a puff of pot.
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