Dukes of Hazzard star dies suddenly at 84

Ben Jones, best known for playing Cooter Davenport on the classic television series The Dukes of Hazzard, has died aged 84.

The actor and former U.S. congressman passed away on Sunday after suffering a massive heart attack, his wife, Alma Viator, confirmed in an emotional tribute on Facebook.

“I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart attack,” Alma wrote alongside a touching photograph of her husband with his dog.

She revealed that Ben was at home when he died, spending his final moments doing something he loved.

“He was home resting in his favorite chair waiting for the Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees,” she continued.

“Ben had the most amazing rich full life. He loved and was loved by so many. He will be missed. I loved him so so much.”

Cooter Davenport on The Dukes of Hazzard

Ben became a familiar face to millions of viewers as Cooter Davenport, the good-natured mechanic who regularly helped cousins Bo and Luke Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard.

He appeared throughout all seven seasons of the hugely popular CBS series, which ran from 1979 until 1985.

Cooter operated the local garage and was a close ally of the Duke family, frequently becoming caught up in their adventures around the fictional Hazzard County.

Ben starred alongside John Schneider as Bo Duke, Tom Wopat as Luke Duke and Denver Pyle as the family’s patriarch, Uncle Jesse.

Although The Dukes of Hazzard became his defining screen role, Ben’s acting career also included appearances in Smokey and the Bandit, Moonrunners and long-running soap As the World Turns.

The Dukes of Hazzard star Tom Wopat pays tribute to Ben Jones

Following news of Ben’s death, his former co-star Tom Wopat was among the first members of the Dukes of Hazzard family to pay tribute.

“The Dukes of Hazzard lost another integral part of their cast today,” Tom wrote on Facebook.

“Ben Jones was a fine friend and a fierce advocate of all the best things we can offer in the entertainment business. He will be sorely missed.”

Remembering the close relationship between the cast, Tom added: “Denver Pyle frequently said to Ben, ‘I’m not your Uncle Jesse!’ But I feel like we lost a Duke cousin today.”

Ben Jones became a U.S. congressman after The Dukes of Hazzard

Ben’s life took an unusual turn following his success in Hollywood when he embarked upon a second career in politics.

In 1988, three years after The Dukes of Hazzard came to an end, he successfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District.

He was re-elected in 1990 and ultimately served two terms in Congress before later losing a race against Newt Gingrich.

His transition from one of television’s most recognizable mechanics to an elected politician gave Ben a career unlike many of his Hollywood contemporaries.

The enduring legacy of The Dukes of Hazzard

The Dukes of Hazzard ran for seven seasons on CBS and became one of the era’s most popular television shows, following the adventures of the Duke cousins and their famous orange 1969 Dodge Charger, the General Lee.

Two decades after the original series ended, the story was revived for the big screen in 2005.

The action comedy starred Johnny Knoxville as Luke Duke and Seann William Scott as Bo, while Jessica Simpson took on the role of their cousin Daisy Duke.

For fans of the original series, however, Ben remained synonymous with Cooter, the mechanic at the heart of Hazzard County who was always ready to lend the Duke boys a hand.

His wife Alma’s tribute perhaps best summed up the man behind the much-loved television character: “Ben had the most amazing rich full life. He loved and was loved by so many.”