La Fonda Sue Honeycutt, born in 1953 in Pampa, Texas, is best known as the first wife of Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman, but her life story is one of resilience, love, and family beyond that connection. She married Duane in 1972 and became the mother of two sons, Duane Lee II and Leland, before their marriage ended in 1977 after his legal troubles. Soon after, she found stability with her second husband, Jim Darnell, and welcomed two daughters, Britney and Hannah, building the peaceful family life she had always hoped for.
Unlike her famous ex-husband, who lived in the spotlight, La Fonda chose privacy, dedicating her life to raising her children and later enjoying her role as a grandmother, leaving behind a legacy of strength, dignity, and devotion to family.
Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | La Fonda Sue Honeycutt |
| Date of Birth | January 20, 1953 |
| Age (2025) | 72 years old |
| Birthplace | Pampa, Texas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Weight | ~55 kg (121 lbs) |
| Father | Glenn Honeycutt |
| Mother | Elwanda Ioan Honeycutt |
| Education | Pampa High School (Graduated 1971) |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Profession | Beautician, Homemaker |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Ex-Husband | Duane “Dog” Chapman (m. 1972–1977) |
| Current Husband | Jim Darnell (m. 1977–present) |
| Children | Duane Lee Chapman II, Leland Chapman, Britney Lynn Darnell, Hannah Dawn Darnell |
| Grandchildren | Dakota Chapman, Dylan Chapman, Cobie Chapman, Leiah Chapman |
| Net Worth (Approx.) | $500,000 – $1 million |
| Known For | First wife of Duane “Dog” Chapman |
| Social Media | Not active |
Early Life and Background
La Fonda Sue Honeycutt was born on January 20, 1953, in the small town of Pampa, Texas. Her parents, Glenn and Elwanda Ioan Honeycutt, raised her in a large family surrounded by love and small-town values. Growing up in Pampa shaped her life in many ways because it was a place where community was important, neighbors knew each other, and family bonds were strong. She attended Pampa High School and graduated in 1971, preparing to step into adulthood with the hope of building a stable and happy future. People who knew her during her youth often described her as warm, down-to-earth, and approachable, traits that she carried with her throughout her life.
Age and Looks
La Fonda Sue Honeycutt was born on January 20, 1953, which makes her 72 years old in 2025. She is described as standing around five feet six inches tall, with a weight of about 55 kilograms, and has always carried herself with grace and a warm presence. Unlike many people connected to famous figures, she has chosen to keep her life private, so recent photos of her are very rare, but those who know her say she has always kept a simple, natural, and approachable appearance.
Relationship with Duane Chapman
In the early 1970s, La Fonda’s life changed when she crossed paths with Duane Chapman, a young man who at the time was far from the well-known bounty hunter he would later become. Their meeting was almost by chance, at a shopping mall where La Fonda was visiting her brother, who was a police officer. Duane later admitted that he was immediately drawn to her the moment he saw her, and he wasted no time asking her out. Their connection grew quickly, and soon they were in love. On April 1, 1972, they were married in Texas, surrounded by family and friends, beginning what La Fonda thought would be the start of a long and happy life together.
Marriage and Family Life
The first years of their marriage were filled with the normal joys and struggles of young couples. Duane and La Fonda started a family, welcoming their first son, Duane Lee Chapman II, in January 1973. Just a few years later, in December 1976, their second son, Leland Chapman, was born. Becoming a mother brought great joy to La Fonda, and she devoted herself to her children, creating as stable a home as possible while her husband struggled to find his path. She worked as a homemaker and beautician, keeping the household together while also caring deeply for the boys. However, life with Duane was far from easy, and the marriage faced serious challenges almost from the beginning.
About Duane Chapman
Duane Chapman, widely known as “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” is an American television personality and former bail bondsman who gained fame for tracking down fugitives. He was born on February 2, 1953, in Denver, Colorado, and became a household name through his hit reality TV series Dog the Bounty Hunter, which showed his work in bounty hunting along with his family.
Over the years, Duane’s tough personality, unique style, and dramatic life story made him one of the most recognizable figures in reality television. Despite his fame, his early life was filled with struggles, including time in prison, and his personal life has often been in the public eye due to his many marriages and children.
Marriage Struggles and Divorce
La Fonda Sue Honeycutt’s marriage to Duane Chapman faced many problems, as his troubled past, infidelity, and inability to keep steady work made family life difficult. In 1976, Duane was arrested and later convicted for his role in a crime that led to a man’s death, which resulted in a five-year prison sentence, though he served about eighteen months. With two young sons to raise and a future filled with uncertainty, La Fonda made the hard decision to end the marriage. In October 1977, while Duane was still in prison, she filed for divorce and was granted full custody of their children, choosing to focus on giving them a safer and more stable life.
New Beginnings with Jim Darnell
After her divorce from Duane Chapman, La Fonda Sue Honeycutt found comfort and stability when she married Jim Darnell in 1977, beginning a new chapter that was far more peaceful than her first marriage. With Jim, she created a supportive home and welcomed two daughters, Britney Lynn and Hannah Dawn, while he also became a steady father figure to her sons, Duane Lee II and Leland. This new marriage gave La Fonda the family life she had always wanted, allowing her to raise her children in a stable and loving environment away from the struggles and chaos she had faced in the past.
Her Children and Grandchildren
La Fonda Sue Honeycutt is a proud mother of four children and grandmother to several grandchildren who bring joy to her life. With her first husband, Duane “Dog” Chapman, she had two sons, Duane Lee Chapman II, born in 1973, who later worked in bail bonds, and Leland Chapman, born in 1976, who became known through his father’s TV show Dog the Bounty Hunter.
After marrying Jim Darnell in 1977, she welcomed two daughters, Britney Lynn and Hannah Dawn, both of whom live private lives away from the spotlight. Over the years, her family grew with grandchildren, including Dakota, Dylan, Cobie, and Leiah, and while La Fonda has always chosen privacy, her greatest pride comes from her children and the growing family she lovingly raised.
Life Away from Fame
Unlike her ex-husband, who embraced fame through reality television, La Fonda Sue Honeycutt has always chosen a quiet and private life focused on her family. She worked as a beautician and homemaker, dedicating most of her time to raising her children and later enjoying the role of grandmother. She has never appeared on television, avoids interviews, and does not use social media, preferring peace and privacy over public attention. Her decision to stay out of the spotlight has made her life very different from Duane’s, showing her strong belief that true happiness comes from family, stability, and living simply rather than from fame or recognition.
Appearance and Traits
Though La Fonda has stayed out of the spotlight for many years, sources describe her as standing around five feet six inches tall, with a simple but graceful presence. Unlike many connected to celebrities, she has very few recent photos available, and this lack of images is not because people are not curious but because she has chosen to protect her privacy. She has carried herself with quiet dignity throughout her life, maintaining the warmth and approachability she was known for as a young woman.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
Compared to the millions that her ex-husband earned through television and public appearances, La Fonda has lived a modest life financially. Her net worth is estimated to be between $500,000 and $1 million, an amount that reflects steady living, divorce settlements, and the stable home she built with Jim Darnell rather than any pursuit of fame or fortune. While Duane Chapman’s net worth is reported to be much higher, La Fonda has never measured success in wealth. For her, true value lies in family, peace, and a life lived on her own terms.
Where She Is Today
As of 2025, La Fonda is seventy-two years old and continues to live a quiet life with her husband Jim Darnell. She spends her days surrounded by her children and grandchildren, embracing her role as a mother and grandmother with pride. She has chosen not to step back into the public eye, and her decision to live privately remains firm. Even though her name is still often connected to Duane Chapman, she has created her own story—one that is about resilience, dignity, and the love of family.
Her Legacy
La Fonda Sue Honeycutt’s legacy is not built on fame or television but on the life she created for her family. She is remembered as a strong and caring mother who raised four children with love and guided them through both good and difficult times. Even though she is often mentioned as the first wife of Duane “Dog” Chapman, her true legacy is the stability and values she passed down to her children and grandchildren. By choosing a private life instead of chasing attention, she showed that strength can be found in quiet resilience and that lasting impact comes from family, love, and dignity.
Conclusion
La Fonda Sue Honeycutt’s life is a story of love, challenges, and resilience, but above all, it is a story of family. From her early years in Pampa, Texas, to her marriage with Duane Chapman and later her new life with Jim Darnell, she has shown strength in the face of hardship and the wisdom to choose peace over chaos. While her name will always be tied to Dog the Bounty Hunter, her true identity rests in the values she lived by—devotion to her children, pride in her grandchildren, and the quiet dignity of a private life.
Her journey reminds us that success is not always measured by fame or wealth but by the love and stability we give to those closest to us.
FAQs About La Fonda Sue Honeycutt
1. Who is La Fonda Sue Honeycutt?
La Fonda Sue Honeycutt is best known as the first wife of Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman. She is the mother of his two sons, Duane Lee II and Leland Chapman, and later built a private life with her second husband, Jim Darnell.
2. How old is La Fonda Sue Honeycutt?
She was born on January 20, 1953, in Pampa, Texas. As of 2025, she is 72 years old.
3. How many children does La Fonda Sue Honeycutt have?
She has four children: Duane Lee Chapman II and Leland Chapman with Duane Chapman, and Britney Lynn Darnell and Hannah Dawn Darnell with Jim Darnell.
4. What is La Fonda Sue Honeycutt’s net worth?
Her net worth is estimated to be between $500,000 and $1 million. Unlike her ex-husband, she has chosen a modest and private lifestyle.
5. Where is La Fonda Sue Honeycutt now?
As of now, she lives a quiet life in the United States with her husband Jim Darnell, staying away from media attention and focusing on her family and grandchildren.