After the loss of their spouses in the last two years, John Schneider and Dee Dee Sorvino never expected to find love again. However, in an unexpected twist, the pair discovered each other during their moments of sorrow. They immediately clicked and celebrated their marriage in a surprise ceremony in Las Vegas last month.
“I never imagined I would hold another hand or share a laugh again,” the “Dukes of Hazzard” star, 64, shared exclusively with Fox News Digital during their wedding festivities at the Hollywood Museum in Los Angeles on August 1.
John’s former wife, Alicia Allain Schneider, passed away in 2023 at the age of 53 following a four-year struggle with breast cancer. Meanwhile, Dee Dee’s late husband, esteemed actor Paul Sorvino, passed away in 2022 due to health complications, at the age of 83.
‘DUKES OF HAZZARD’ STAR JOHN SCHNEIDER DISCOVERING LOVE ONE YEAR AFTER HIS WIFE’S PASSING: ‘GOD SENT A WIDOWER TO A WIDOW’
“Dukes of Hazzard” star John Schneider and Dee Dee Sorvino had a surprise wedding in Las Vegas. (Getty Images)
“There’s something profound about connecting with someone who has shared similar experiences because it was unexpected,” John remarked, referring to his first encounter with Dee Dee as pure “magic.”
“I don’t believe Dee Dee anticipated being able to express her sadness because she often conceals her feelings and acts strong. So, it became a surprising, somewhat foreign, and mildly intimidating experience.”
As they provided solace to one another, a sense of “guilt” lingered for the couple.
“I think due to the fact that we both lost our former spouses and were content in those unions, guilt is unavoidable,” Dee Dee reflected.
John Schneider and Dee Dee Sorvino had a formal wedding celebration on August 1. (Getty Images)
“I genuinely felt guilty,” John confessed. “It felt strange, like, ‘What am I doing?’ I was harsher on myself than perhaps anyone else. But ultimately, what helped me was laughter. It might seem trivial, but laughter is truly essential.”
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“I honestly never believed I would find love again,” Dee Dee shared. “I thought I was finished. I was convinced that it was over for me. I had my soulmate, and I figured I would just remain single and work. Then, John appeared and changed everything. We instantly clicked and laughed together. I was further along in my recovery than John, which led him to feel more guilt.”
During his journey through grief, John realized that people often impose “timelines” on healing processes and have set expectations about how and when one should move on.
The couple has both faced the loss of their spouses in the past two years. (Getty Images)
“People are eager to define the pace of your healing,” he expressed. “Grief is unique and cannot be rushed. You don’t simply stop missing your spouse after their death. It’s not like a divorce where you move on. Yet, while some insist you need to continue, others claim that it’s too soon.”
PAUL SORVINO AND WIFE DEE DEE SORVINO ENJOYED A ‘WONDERFUL LIFE’ TOGETHER: ‘WE WERE HAPPY EVERY SINGLE DAY’
“[Grief] is a challenging path to traverse. If you find someone who can assist you through it and ultimately fall in love with that person who aids in your healing, that is a magical experience.”
“We love each other. And loving each other doesn’t… diminish Paul or Alicia in any regard. In fact, I believe it draws us all closer.”
As they both navigate their losses while relishing their newfound married bliss, they agree on one fundamental truth – their deceased spouses guided them to one another.
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“Paul had said, ‘I want you to find love again after I’m gone. Please, I implore you.’ I firmly replied, ‘No chance, that’s not happening.’ But, I did find it,” Dee Dee recounted. “I genuinely feel that Paul led John to me, and I’m grateful for that.”
JOHN SCHNEIDER AND DEE DEE SORVINO BELIEVE THEIR LATE SPOUSES ‘BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER’
“I truly believe that both Alicia and Paul played pivotal roles in our union,” John stated. “I must believe this. I suspect that Alicia is pleased… because I was in a tough spot. And here comes this wonderful person who is not just funny and lovely, but also very organized, and I’m like an overwhelming jigsaw puzzle in need of assembly, and she’s the one who can do it.”
While some may view this courtship as hasty, the couple has allowed themselves ample grace.
“It’s daunting when your entire future is upended,” John reflected. “It’s difficult to accept that you deserve to dream again. But then you meet someone who brings laughter back into your life, and you realize that it’s permissible to want to embrace life again, which I had lost hope for. Dee Dee understands that.”
The couple emphasizes the importance of laughter in their relationship. (Getty Images)
“Honestly, if it weren’t for her, if she hadn’t come into my life… I didn’t want to be here anymore,” he expressed. “Finding someone who makes it okay to keep going is monumental. We both carry our losses. Yet, we lean on each other. Our love does not decrease the impact of Paul or Alicia in any way. In fact, I believe it brings us all closer together.”
As they embark on their journey together, John and Dee Dee vow to cherish each other and their time together.
“We have a great deal of fun, and we are a fantastic partnership,” John stated. “We plan to accomplish many things and savor every moment from now on. It’s all about laughter, adventure, and success. If you don’t fit within that framework, you’re not in our circle.”
