John Schneider says feeling OK is a long way away as he continues to process his grief over the death of his wife, Alicia Allain Schneider, earlier this year.

In an emotional interview, the Dukes of Hazzard actor recalled his final conversation with Alicia, who died Feb. 21 at age 53. As it turns out, his last words with her werent entirely honest, possibly to her benefit.

I of course told her it was OK, Schneider recalled to People this week. If youre tired, if you want to go see your grandma, you want to go see your grandpa, if you want to go, then its OK. You go. And that was all the truth.

But then I lied, because I said, Dont worry about me; Ill be OK, he added. That was a lie I had to tell, but she knew it. OK is a long way away.

Schneider and Alicia, a filmmaker and music producer, began dating in 2015 and were married four years later in Louisiana. In addition to their romantic partnership, the couple worked together on music and numerous films, including 2021s Poker Run and 2022s Tres Leches.