As Dog the Bounty Hunter’s 70th birthday arrives, fans can reflect on the jam-packed life the former TV star has lived. From spending time behind bars to losing the love of his life, finding long-lost kids, and competing on The Masked Singer – there have been many highs and lows.
Dog the Bounty Hunter, AKA Duane Lee Chapman, was born on February 2, 1953, in Colorado. He gained fame as a bounty hunter in the early 2000s and made his reality TV debut on his own A&E show in 2004. Dog’s bounty hunting business was a family operation. But, when his partner passed away, his days on TV dwindled.
Dog spent time in jail
In the late seventies, Dog was found guilty of first-degree murder and spent five years in a Texas jail.
He wasn’t directly involved in a murder. But, “he was tried for the crime under Texas rules that anyone involved indirectly in a killing can be held responsible,” writes The Sun.
His friend accidentally shot and killed a man when Dog was sat in a car waiting for him.
Later in life, Dog found himself arrested again.
He successfully managed to hunt Andrew Luster in 2003. But, because bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, he was arrested for “serious kidnapping” along with his son and his brother. The three were eventually released.
Beth Chapman’s passing
Another life-changing moment for Dog came when his partner, Beth Chapman sadly passed away.
Dog and Beth were married for 13 years until her untimely death in 2019.
The two operated Da’Kine Bail Bonds together and appeared on TV shows Dog the Bounty Hunter, and Dog and Beth: On the Hunt.
Beth was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 and was 51 years old at the time of her death.
He’s a father of 13
Dog and his late wife, Beth, shared two children together. But, the famous bounty hunter actually has 13 in total from six relationships.
He welcomed his first child, Christopher Michael Hecht, in 1972 with his then-girlfriend Debbie White, reports People.
He later welcomed two sons with his first wife La Fonda Sue Darnell – Duane Lee Chapman II, born in January 1973, and Leland Blane Chapman, born in December 1976. Dog then welcomed three more children with his second wife Anne Tegnall. The TV star also had a daughter in June 1982 with his third wife Lyssa Rae Brittain.
Dog and Lyssa also welcomed a son and and daughter during their marriage. Dog and his late wife Beth welcomed two children together and he also adopted Beth’s daughter, Cecily Barmore-Chapman. Later in life, the TV personality also found out he had a long-lost son, named Jon.
Living our best life on vacation with the best kids 🤍😂
Happy New Year 🪩
— Duane Dog Chapman (@DogBountyHunter) December 31, 2023
Dog met Francie
After suffering the loss of Beth in 2019, Dog thankfully found love again in life.
He married Francie Frane in 2021 and the two appear to still be super happy together.
Francie is also a widower like Dog, to her late husband, Bob Frane.
She’s a speaker and author. And the two now live together in Florida.
Dog’s family tragedy
Duane has been through a lot in his life. And, his family has suffered many losses.
In 2006, one day before his wedding day, Dog’s daughter, Barbara Katie Chapman, sadly passed away.
Barbara was involved in a fatal car accident near Fairbanks Alaska at the age of 23. She was a passenger in an SUV driven by a friend.
View this post on Instagram
Discovers long-lost son
Taking to Instagram last June (@duanedogchapman), Dog revealed he found out he had a long-lost son named Jon.
He shared a photograph of Jon and his wife, Jodi, and captioned the post:
“For the last four years, this day was a terrible reminder of one of the greatest losses of my life. But God redeemed this day when I discovered my son Jon, who I just met recently, was born on this day…”
Beth Chapman passed away on June 26, 2019, which is the date Dog refers to in his post. Thankfully, Jon gave his father a new meaning for the day in another life-changing moment.
He brings out a book
In Dog’s seventieth year, he’s still working hard and announces via the ‘gram, he’s bringing out a book.
This January he explains his book, Nine Lives and Counting, is coming out on April 16.
The bounty hunter gives some insight into what’s inside: “This book is filled with new and never shared before stories about my life and more, it shows the power of God in my life!!”
Excited fans were looking to get their hands on signed copies of Dog’s book, as he plans on “breaking all records” with his book sales.
