Duane Chapman Biography: Age, Net Worth, Wives, Children, Parents, Siblings, Career, Books, Movies, Awards

Duane Lee Chapman, also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, is a prominent American television personality famous for his reality TV shows depicting his life and work as a bounty hunter.

He is actively engaged in advocating for stricter laws to combat crime and is involved in various media projects, including a new TV series and podcast. Chapman is also a New York Times Best-Selling Author with a new book released in 2023, along with a speaking tour.

Profile

• Full Name: Duane Lee Chapman
• Nickname: Dog the Bounty Hunter
• Date of Birth: February 2, 1953
• Age: 71 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of Birth: Denver, Colorado, United States
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Bounty Hunter, Reality TV Personality
• Height: 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m)
• Parents: Wesley Duane Chapman and Barbara Darlene Chapman
• Siblings: Jolene Kaye Martinez, Michael Chapman, and Paula Hammond
• Spouse: Beth Smith (m. 2006–2019; her death), Tawny Marie (m. 1991–2003; divorced), Anne M. Tegnell (m. 1979–1982; divorced), La Fonda Sue Honeycutt (m. 1972–1977; divorced)
• Children: 12 children including Leland Chapman, Lyssa Chapman, and Bonnie Joanne Chapman
• Relationship Status: Widowed
• Net Worth: $6 million

Early Life and Education

Duane Lee Chapman is currently 71 years old. He was born on February 2, 1953, in Denver, Colorado, to Wesley Duane Chapman and Barbara Darlene Chapman.

His father worked as a welder in Dog’s early years before becoming a bail bondsman with Aaron Bail Bonds, and his mother was an Assemblies of God minister, specifically a Sunday school teacher.

He has three siblings: Jolene Kaye Martinez (née Chapman; 1955–2016), Michael Chapman, and Paula Hammond (née Chapman). His father’s side is of German and English descent, while his mother’s side is of English descent.

At 15, Chapman joined the Devils Diciples, an outlaw motorcycle club, and left home. In 1976, he was convicted of third-degree murder and received a five-year sentence in a Texas prison.

This was due to his involvement in a situation where his friend shot and killed a man during a struggle while attempting to buy marijuana.

Personal Life

Chapman has been married six times and has a total of 12 children, including one adopted child. Sadly, one son and one daughter have passed away.

His first marriage was to La Fonda Sue Darnell, with whom he has two children, Duane Lee Chapman II and Leland Blane Chapman. Both sons worked with Chapman at Da’Kine Bail Bonds in Honolulu, Hawaii, and appeared on TV with him.

His second marriage was to Ann Tegnell, with whom he has three children, Zebadiah Chapman (who passed away as an infant), Wesley Chapman, and James Robert (J.R.) Chapman.

The two married shortly after Chapman was paroled and divorced after the birth of Wesley. Ann was granted custody of their children and moved to Utah.

Chapman’s third marriage was to Lyssa Rae “Big Lyssa” Brittain (née Greene). They had three children together, Barbara Katie Chapman, Tucker Dee Chapman, and Lyssa Rae Chapman. The marriage ended in 1991.

Chapman’s fourth marriage was to Tawny Marie Chapman, whom he met in 1988 after arresting her on a drug possession charge. They got married in 1992, separated in 1994, and officially divorced in 2002.

Despite not having children together, Chapman’s children referred to her as their mother during their relationship. Chapman described the marriage as “a disaster from the start” in his autobiography, alleging that she was addicted to amphetamines.

His fifth marriage was to Alice Elizabeth “Beth” Barmore, with whom he had an on-again-off-again relationship before marrying in 2006. They had two children together and Chapman adopted Beth’s daughter from her previous marriage.

Tragically, Beth passed away in 2019 due to throat cancer, and the family appeared in a series titled Dog and Beth: Fight of Their Lives to chronicle the experience.

After Beth’s passing, Chapman got engaged to Francie Frane, who had also recently lost her husband. They announced their engagement in May 2020 and got married in Colorado on September 2, 2021.

Chapman also has one child out of wedlock, his eldest child Christopher Michael Hecht, who was born to his ex-girlfriend, Debbie White.

Career

On June 18, 2003, Chapman gained international attention when he apprehended Andrew Luster, the heir to Max Factor cosmetics, who had fled the United States during his trial for drugging and raping multiple women.

With the assistance of his son Leland and associate Tim Chapman, they captured Luster in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. However, they were all jailed by Mexican police on their way to San Diego, with Dog and Leland also being arrested under suspicion of drug use.

After being granted bail due to media attention, they fled the jurisdiction, becoming international bail-jumpers.

Eventually, they were arrested by United States Marshals in Honolulu on behalf of the Mexican government, who charged them with “deprivation of liberty” for their illegal bounty hunting activities. Despite facing extradition to Mexico, they were treated with respect during their time in federal detention.

After many years of tracking down fugitives, Chapman was featured on the show Take This Job, which focused on people with unique careers.

This led to a spin-off series that highlighted his efforts in capturing bail fugitives, particularly his pursuit of Andrew Luster in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Chapman’s profile gained attention from the American public, leading A&E to create a reality series about his bounty hunting job.

The first season of Dog the Bounty Hunter premiered on August 30, 2004, and ran for eight seasons before being canceled in 2012. In early October 2007, Chapman faced criticism after a private conversation with his son was leaked to the media, leading to the suspension of his TV series. After issuing a public apology and reaching out to African American organizations, the show eventually returned to production.

Awards

• Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Male Reality Star (2009)
• Nominated for Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Male Reality Star (2007, 2008)

Net Worth

As per sources, Duane Chapman’s net worth is estimated to be around $6 million, a wealth primarily amassed from his career as an actor.

Controversy

Duane Chapman has been embroiled in several controversies over the years. He has faced accusations of racism, homophobia, and making controversial statements.

In 2021, his daughter Bonnie claimed he was racist and homophobic, and in 2022 he made comments about the 2020 US presidential election that were criticized as conspiracy theories.

Chapman has also faced legal issues, including a lawsuit in 2021 from his former production company, which claimed he had breached his contract by making racist and homophobic statements. He has also been accused of illegally wearing a taser device during filming in Virginia, which is illegal in that state.

In addition to his public controversies, Chapman has also faced personal and family-related issues, including bitter feuds with his own family members and the revelation of a secret son. These controversies have all contributed to his scandal-ridden public image over the years.

Social Media

• Instagram: @duanedogchapman
• Twitter: @DogBountyHunter

Filmography

• Dog the Bounty Hunter
• Dog and Beth: On the Hunt
• Dog’s Most Wanted

Books

• You Can Run But You Can’t Hide (2007)
• Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given (2010)