Fans are wondering what happened to Duane "Dog" Chapman after his long-running series, Dog The Bounty Hunter, ended. The notorious crime fighter has had a contentious public perception since he first appeared on the screen. Duane has been in and out of reality television since the A+E series concluded, though he still maintains his brazen lifestyle when the cameras aren't rolling.
For 9 years, fans watched as Duane hunted down perps in Hawaii and Colorado alongside a team of his family members and other bail bondsmen. Kicking down doors, using pepper spray, and even chasing people down were all just part of a normal workday for the team. The dogged persistence Duane showed when searching for offenders is partly how he earned his nickname. However, as much as he was relentless when seeking out a target, once they were captured, a different side of him came out. He made sure they were taken care of if they sustained any injuries during the capture and checked to see if they needed any food or water. Even further, Duane would have sincere conversations with many of the perps to find out why they turned to crime and encouraged them to change their life for the better. That "renegade with a heart" personality seems to be what really drew viewers in.
The road to television was not an easy one for Duane. He had a rather traumatic childhood, facing abuse from his father. Duane ran away from home to join a biker gang at age 15. He was convicted of first-degree murder in 1976 after being in the getaway car of a drug deal gone wrong. Once it was revealed that Duane was not the one who killed the victim, he was released after a little over a year locked away. Duane's time in prison shaped his perspective on justice. Having served time, Duane could relate to what the people he hunted down were going through. That underlying compassion kept Dog The Bounty Hunter running strong from 2003 to 2012.
Duane's Television Career Continued After The Show
The end of Dog the Bounty Hunter was far from the end of Duane's time on screen. His signature blonde mullet and leather outfits earned Duane cameos in a few movies. Dog and Beth: On the Hunt began soon after the original series concluded, following Duane and his wife Beth as they tracked down perps. That ran through 2015, with several other short-lived spin-offs and TV specials in the years following. Duane's larger-than-life personality also garnered him some guest spots on quite a few talk shows.
The Passing Of Duane's Wife Beth Took A Toll
Fans grew to love Duane's wife Beth Chapman on Dog the Bounty Hunter for her fiery personality. She ferociously talked down perps and kept the entire bounty hunting team in line while simultaneously showing a lot of love for Duane and her family. After enduring a long battle with throat cancer, Beth passed away in 2019 at just 51 years old. The couple had been filming a new series, Dog's Most Wanted, on WGN when Beth went into the hospital. When the series premiered later in 2019, it included footage of Beth's battle with cancer as a tribute to her.
Duane was very torn up about the loss of Beth. Though Beth was his fifth wife, they were together for the longest out of all his marriages. Their extremely close bond was clear to the viewers of any of their shows. Attempting to cope with her death led Duane to make some questionable decisions. Most concerning of all was a proposal on The Dr. Oz Show to Beth's maid of honor, Moon Angell. The two had grown close as Moon helped Duane through a dark time. While the engagement turned out to be just a stunt, Duane's children criticized their father's antics so soon after their mother's passing.
Duane Launched A CBD Product Line
Duane's entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond the entertainment world when he announced he was launching a line of CBD products entitled Dog Unleashed. He has long been open about the physical and mental struggles he has faced through his line of work. Duane claims the CBD has helped him to alleviate some of that pain. Having previously been an addict, Duane saw CBD as a safer alternative to other pain management options. "I was always wary of using over-the-counter or prescription painkillers as I had seen firsthand the way these drugs ruin the lives of individuals and entire communities," he said on the product website. The line is made through a partnership with CBD Global Sciences, a company based out of Colorado, Duane's home state.
Duane Found New Love
Although Duane said he was going to take a break from romantic relationships after Beth passed away, someone special moved into his life. Francie Frane met Duane through a strange twist of fate when Duane called and left a message for her previous husband Bob to do some work on his property. Duane didn't know that Bob, like Beth, had recently died after a battle with cancer. Francie called him back to explain the situation and the two quickly formed a connection. After just a short time together, Duane proposed to Francie in May 2020 at their home in Colorado. "Both of us have spent three years walking alongside our spouses sick and we know that God brought us together and that's why we don't believe that it's too soon," Duane said to The Sun. Fans were concerned at how hastily this engagement came after losing Beth. The pair hasn't settled on a date for their big day, but Francie has posted on Instagram looking for wedding dresses. Ever the entertainer, Duane posted about possibly letting fans come to the ceremony.
Duane May Have A New Show In The Works
A return to the screen appears imminent for Duane. He shared promotional photos and even a trailer on social media for an upcoming streaming series, Dog Unleashed, intended to be released in April 2021. Before it aired, the production company behind the series, Unleashed Entertainment, dropped a press release saying the show was canceled (via Taste of Country). The release stated Duane had taken actions during production that violated contractual agreements. Specifics of the breaches in the contract were not divulged in the statement.
With the cancellation of Dog Unleashed, Duane had some financial troubles. Despite quite a few bumps in the road, he still seems to be in the midst of creating another show. He has posted multiple photos on Instagram alongside individuals with camera equipment, and shared a post in July with the caption "Another show in the can!" Duane also recently released a video series on his Facebook and YouTube channel entitled Dog Walking. This series follows Duane as he walks around downtown Denver and talks with individuals on the street about why people return to jail. It's unclear whether the social media posts about filming were in regards to Dog Walking or a separate project. Either way, fans of Dog The Bounty Hunter can be sure to see some new content from Duane in the near future.
Source: Dog Unleashed, Francie Frane/Instagram, The Sun, Dog The Bounty Hunter YouTube Channel, Taste of Country, Duane Chapman/Instagram