Education and Early Career

Catherine was raised in South Dakota and graduated from Stevens High School in Rapid City. She later enrolled at the University of Southern California, where she studied drama and the arts. During her time in college, she supplemented her income by designing and making clothes, a skill that would later play a notable role in her acting career.

Breakthrough Role in The Dukes of Hazzard

Bach gained widespread fame in 1979 when she was cast as Daisy Duke in the CBS television series The Dukes of Hazzard. Not only did she bring personality and charisma to the role, but she also contributed creatively by designing many of her own outfits for the show, including the now-famous denim cut-off shorts popularly dubbed “Daisy Dukes.”

In addition to the series, Bach posed for a promotional poster as Daisy Duke, which reportedly sold over five million copies, further cementing her as a pop culture icon of the 1980s.

Film Appearances and Continued Acting Work

Before her television breakthrough, Catherine appeared in Clint Eastwood’s film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), which helped establish her in Hollywood. She has continued to act over the years, appearing in various television shows and films, though none have reached the widespread popularity of her role in The Dukes of Hazzard.

Personal Life and Marriages

In 1976, Catherine Bach married David Shaw, the stepson of actress Angela Lansbury. Their marriage lasted five years, ending in divorce in 1981. In 1990, she married entertainment lawyer Peter Lopez. The couple had two daughters, Sophia and Laura. Tragically, Lopez died in 2010 from what was reported as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.