This Beloved ’80s Star Lost Her Husband Too Soon But Found Strength As A Single Mom Of 2 Daughters

Feb 24, 2025 by apost team

Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of suicide that may be troubling for some readers.

This Hollywood star rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s with her iconic role as Daisy Duke in “The Dukes of Hazzard.” However, she almost didn’t get the role! 

In a 2017 interview, she said: “It was a complete fluke that I was Daisy Duke! I’m half Mexican and half German, and my agency said, ‘You’re way too exotic and just not television material’ – and they fired me!”

Her first marriage was to producer David Shaw, who may or may not have leveraged his connections for her to land the role. Their marriage lasted from 1976 to 1981. 

In 1990, she married music attorney Peter Lopez, who had worked with iconic artists like Michael Jackson. Together, they had two daughters: Sophia Lopez, born in 1996, and Laura Lopez, born in 1998. 

However, her life turned upside down after Peter shockingly passed away at 60 years of age.

Reflecting on her life with her late husband, the actress said she was eternally grateful. She recalled in a FOX News interview: “I’m able to stay home with our kids. He makes a good living, he was a lawyer. This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.’ And then all of a sudden it was just gone.”

In April 2010, after 20 years of marriage, the actress’s husband took his own life.

“It was the first time I’ve ever felt completely and utterly… totally overwhelmed. ... I didn’t see it coming… I just didn’t know how I was going to get through it by myself,” the star told Fox News.  

In an exclusive interview with HuffPost, the star relayed the details of the seemingly mundane yet tragic 2010 day.  

She recalled that she had asked her husband to take the kids to school as she was running late. He drove their daughters and said goodbye to them for the last time as he dropped them off.

The actress who endured the horrific event was Catherine Bach.  

Later that fateful day in 2010, her husband, Lopez, was found dead of an apparent suicide up a hill in their home at the age of 60. 

A member of the household staff, who heard a gunshot, found the body and immediately called 911. The police arrived shortly after, quickly surrounding the house. 

Bach, who was also in the house then, heard the gunshot. However, she later recalled she chose not to rush toward the danger, thinking of her daughters and the need to keep them safe.

She later revealed how badly affected she and her family were affected by the tragic loss:

“We were so devastated. When you are part of a happy family unit, you lose part of that... I mean, we were completely insulated and happy with our family.”

With no apparent causes, such as substance abuse or financial issues, Bach struggled to comprehend the reason behind her husband’s death.

As a devout Catholic, the actress leaned on her faith to support her daughters. She was also candid about her grief, believing that expressing her pain was essential to the healing process. 

Bach returned to television in 2012, joining the cast of “The Young and the Restless” as Anita Lawson – her first role since the tragedy.

In June 2023, she honored her late husband with a tribute on Instagram with the caption:

“Happy Heavenly Father’s Day honey. What a great dad you were to our girls not to mention a fantastic husband!”

At 70, the television icon made a public appearance at the wedding of her “Dukes of Hazzard” co-star John Schneider in August 2024, where she embraced a fresh look in a stylish black shirt and striped cardigan.

As Bach continues to live life on her own terms, she remains a beloved icon, inspiring others with her positive outlook on both her personal and professional journey.

apost.com

What are your thoughts on Catherine Bach’s devastating personal experiences? Are you a fan of hers? Let us know, and then pass this along to friends and family, too.