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Actor Chip Mayer dies at 57

Appeared in 'Dukes of Hazzard,' 'Liar Liar'

Actor Christopher “Chip” Mayer, who played Vance Duke on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” was a series regular on the soap “Santa Barbara” and appeared in the Jim Carrey film “Liar Liar,” died July 24 in Sherman Oaks, Calif., of natural causes. He was 57.

Mayer made his TV debut in the 1980 ABC backdoor pilot “Stunts Unlimited,” in which he starred as one of a group of stuntmen recruited for espionage work.

He and Byron Cherry were brought in to star in “The Dukes of Hazzard” as Vance and Coy Duke in the spring of 1982 when series stars Tom Wopat and John Schneider opted not to report to the set due to a contract dispute. Mayer and Cherry were contracted to do 10 episodes but ended up appearing in at least 17. Warner Bros. ultimately reached a settlement with Wopat and Schneider after the show’s ratings sagged.

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Mayer also contributed his voice to an animated CBS spinoff of the show called “The Dukes.”

He had a series regular role on Aaron Spelling’s brief ABC series “Glitter” in 1984, and he appeared on 134 episodes of “Santa Barbara” in the 1987-88 season as T.J. Daniels. He also guested on “The Love Boat,” “Xena: Warrior Princess,” “Baywatch” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”In 1988 Mayer starred in the low-budget film “Survivor”; his other movies included “East Meets West,” “Hard Time” and 1998’s “The Hunted.”

Mayer was married three times, to actresses Teri Copley, Eileen Davidson and Shauna Sullivan, from whom he was divorced. He is survived by three daughters; a grandson; and a granddaughter.

Donations may be made to the Chip Mayer Memorial Trust Fund, c/o Shauna Mayer, 4343 Ventura blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.

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