Born in 1942 in Vallejo, California, Buddy Joe Hooker made his mark in the gritty world of cult cinema. He appears as a key character in The Night Stalker (1972), a film that helped define the horror genre's exploration of the supernatural. His work in Melinda (1972) and White Lightning (1973) showcases his versatility in roles that blend action and drama. Hooker's contributions to films like Take a Hard Ride (1975) further solidify his place in the annals of exploitation cinema, where his performances resonate with fans of the genre.
White Lightning
Bobby "Gator" McKlusky is serving time in an Arkansas prison for running moonshine when he learns that his younger brother Donny was murdered and that Sheriff J.C. Connors was the one behind it. Gator knows the sheriff is taking money from local moonshiners, so he agrees to go undercover for an unnamed federal agency (presumably the IRS or BATF) to try to expose the sheriff. His handlers force him onto Dude Watson, a local stock car racer and low-level whiskey runner. Watson has no choice but to cooperate because he himself is on federal probation or parole. To infiltrate the local moonshine industry, Gator lands a job running moonshine with Roy Boone. He also starts an affair with Boone's girlfriend, Lou. When the sheriff discovers Gator is working for the federal government, Connors sends his enforcer, Big Bear, after him. Gator decides to go after the sheriff, leading to a car chase, in the course of which the sheriff is killed, thereby completing Gator's revenge.
