Who is Dog the Bounty Hunter and what does he do?

DOG the Bounty Hunter made headlines in 2021 after he announced he was joining the search for Brian Laundrie.

The famed bounty hunter is recognized by American audiences from his reality television series.

Who is Dog the Bounty Hunter, and what does he do?

Dog the Bounty Hunter, born Duane Lee Chapman, is an American television personality star, bounty hunter, and former bail bondsman.

Chapman, 69, rose to fame as a bounty hunter in 2003, after his successful capture of Max Factor heir Andrew Luster in .

Factor fled the United States in the middle of his trial on charges of drugging and raping several women.

Luster had been convicted in absentia on 86 counts, including multiple rape charges connected to assaults in 1996, 1997, and 2000.

Chapman was assisted by his "hunt team," which consisted of his son, Leland, and an associate, Tim.

The three bounty hunters captured Luster in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where they had been living under assumed names.

The following year, Chapman was given his series, Dog The Bounty Hunter, on A&E.

After Dog The Bounty Hunter ended in 2014, Chapman appeared in Dog And Beth: On The Hunt, a similarly formatted TV show, alongside his then-wife and business partner, Beth Chapman, on CMT.

His series Dog's Most Wanted debuted on WGN America in late 2019.

Dog married Beth in 2006 but had been dating on and off since meeting in 1986.

The pair were together until her death on June 26, 2019.

Between them, the couple had two children together, Bonnie and Garry, but their family included another 10 children from previous marriages.

The reality television star has been married five times.

His previous marriages were to La Fonda Sue Honeycutt, Anne Tengell, Lyssa Rae Brittain, and Tawny Marie.

In September 2021 he married his sixth wife, Francie Frane.

Did Dog the Bounty Hunter find Brian Laundrie?

Footage captured on September 25, 2021, showed Dog the Bounty Hunter at Laundrie's family home as he joined the search to track the now-deceased 23-year-old.

At the time, the TV star said that his “heart goes out” to the family of homicide victim Gabby Petito, and he “wants to help bring justice for her death".

In an interview with the , Dog promised to catch Laundrie before his 24th birthday on November 18, 2021.

The search for Laundrie later came to an end on October 20, 2021, after his personal items and remains were found in Myakkahatchee Creek Park.

The FBI made the announcement in a statement saying, "On October 21, 2021, a comparison of dental records confirmed that the human remains found at the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve and Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park are those of Brian Laundrie."

Dog called off his search for Laundrie following the announcement that his personal items were found.

Chapman told The Sun as he expressed gratitude towards authorities working the case: “We are praying for Gabby’s family as yet another day ends with seemingly more questions than answers though it does seem the search for Brian is indeed over.” 

What is Dog the Bounty Hunter doing now?

After Laundrie's remains were found, Chapman stayed out of the spotlight until April 13, 2022, when he made a surprise appearance on The Masked Singer.

During season seven, he competed as the Armadillo and was the seventh performer to be eliminated.

Chapman told host Nick Cannon after he was unmasked: “I saw the first season and I was like, man, they are having fun.

“Then, when I got here they said, ‘You gotta sing,’ I’m like, ‘What?’ Sing? I don’t even sing in the shower.”

Judges Jenny McCarthy and Nicole Scherzinger both guessed Chapman prior to his unmasking.

Guest judge Leslie Jordan guessed actor Gary Busey while Robin Thicke and Ken Jeong said Stone Cone Steve Austin and Al Pacino.

Fans online also thought it could have been Friends alum David Schwimmer, referencing his iconic "Holiday Armadillo" costume in season seven of the show.