From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv



Ben Jones, Actor Turned Politician
Who Played Cooter Davenport in 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' Dies at 84
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Ben Jones, the actor turned politician best known for playing
Cooter Davenport on "The Dukes of Hazzard," died on Sunday from a
heart attack, according to his wife Alma Viator. He was 84.

Viator announced her husband's death in a Facebook post on Sunday
afternoon. With a photo of Jones holding his dog, she wrote,
"I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart
attack. He was home resting in his favorite chair waiting for the
Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees. Ben had the most amazing,
rich, full life. He loved and was loved by so many. He will be
missed. I loved him so much."

In "The Dukes of Hazzard," Jones played Cooter Davenport, the
Hazzard County mechanic and an honorary member of the Duke clan.
Appearing in 142 episodes, Jones starred alongside Tom Wopat, John
Schneider, Catherine Bach, Denver Pyle, Sorrell Brooke and Waylon
Jennings.

"Dukes" star Wopat paid tribute to Jones on social media. He wrote
in an Instagram post, "'The Dukes of Hazzard' lost another integral
part of their cast today. 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... Denver Pyle frequently said to
Ben, 'I'm not your Uncle Jesse!' But I feel like we lost a Duke
cousin today."

In 1988, Jones ran for Congress in Georgia's Fourth Congressional
District and won by 20 points. He was reelected in 1990. Four years
later, redistricting took his seat, and he lost his next race
against Newt Gingrich.



<https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/ben-jones-dead-cooter-davenport-the-dukes-of-hazzard-1236831024/>





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