Alva Review-Courier -

Most of us idolize some famous people whom we will likely never meet. We appreciate them because they entertain us and make our lives better.

But, as we saw last week, the price of stardom can be enormous for those who become celebrities. Being famous means that they are constantly in the public eye.

Moreover, if they do something that brings negative attention to themselves, the publicity can be brutal. In short, it's not easy being famous.

Back in the early 1980s two young actors came seemingly out of nowhere to become instant celebrities as stars of a comical television show called “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

Tom Wopat was rugged as Luke Duke while John Schneider was handsome and charming as Luke's brother Bo. The two men became so famous they once went on strike – asking for more money.

Once the series ended in 1985, both Wopat and Schneider moved on to other projects. The Internet Movie Data Base website shows that both men have had lots of acting jobs over the years – but not the stardom they had in the 1980s.

Schneider also became a country singer of some note, recording three songs that went to No. 1 on the country charts.

Yet both performers recently found themselves in trouble with the criminal justice system. Schneider's woes have to do with money, proof that acting jobs and singing gigs for those who aren't stars don't necessarily pay well.

Schneider owes his ex-wife over $150,000 in alimony that he says he cannot pay. He told the judge in his case that he is deeply in debt and is unable to borrow more money.

Meanwhile, Wopat's legal problems have to do with inappropriately touching young women including a 16-year-old girl with whom he was acting in a play.

His troubles only worsened when arresting police officers found cocaine in his possession. He pled guilty to all charges and was put on probation for a year.

As these two sad cases illustrate, the price of fame is often extremely high.