Christopher Mayer, an actor best known as one of the two performers tapped to replace the stars of the popular CBS series Dukes of Hazzard during a contract dispute with the show’s leads in the early 1980s, died July 23, 2011, in Sherman Oaks, California. He was 57.

According to initial news reports, Mayer died of natural causes.

At the start of the 1982-83 season, when Hazzard leads John Schneider and Tom Wopat held out for higher pay and merchandising royalties, Mayer and fellow performer Byron Cherry, Mayer stepped into the show as Vance and Coy Duke.

When Hazzard dropped in the ratings, Warner Bros. renegotiated with Wopat and Schneider, and they returned with four episodes left in the season. Mayer and Cherry’s characters were written out of the show after 19 episodes.

Mayer also contributed his voice to an animated series called The Dukes.

Mayer, who was born in New York City and grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey, continued to work in the years that followed. His television credits included such series as Glitter, Weird Science, Silk Stalkings and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, as well as a regular role on the daytime drama Santa Barbara. Feature credits included the 1997 comedy Liar, Liar, starring Jim Carrey.

At the time of his death, Mayer was engaged to be married for a fourth time. Previously, he was married to actresses Teri Copley, Eileen Davidson and Shauna Sullivan.

Survivors include a daughter from his marriage to Copley, two daughters from his marriage to Sullivan and two grandchildren.