Actor Ben Jones, who portrayed mechanic Cooter Davenport across 141 episodes of CBS’s “The Dukes of Hazzard” before serving two terms representing Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives, died Sunday, August 9, 2026, at age 84.
The cause was a massive heart attack at his home in Virginia, according to his wife Alma Viator. She revealed on Facebook that Jones had been sitting in his favorite chair waiting to watch the Atlanta Braves take on the New York Yankees when the fatal medical event occurred.
Viator said, “I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart attack.” The couple had been married since 1992. She described her late husband as someone who lived generously and earned affection from countless people who will miss him profoundly.
From Grease Monkey to Congressional Representative
Jones launched his acting career during the early 1970s with small parts in “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Moonrunners,” the film that provided the creative blueprint for “The Dukes of Hazzard.” When the CBS comedy-adventure debuted in 1979, he landed the role of Cooter Davenport, the dependable garage owner who helped Bo and Luke Duke navigate their scrapes with authority. The series ran seven seasons through 1985.
His castmates included John Schneider as Bo Duke and Tom Wopat as Luke Duke. After learning of Jones’ death, Wopat paid tribute on social media, calling him a wonderful friend and dedicated advocate for the best aspects of show business. Wopat remarked that “The Dukes of Hazzard” family had lost yet another vital member.
Jones reprised his signature character in two television reunion films: “The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!” in 1997 and “The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood” in 2000. His broader credits included “The Magical World of Disney,” “Sliders,” “Jack,” “Primary Colors,” and “Joe Gould’s Secret.”
Political Career and Washington Service
The transition from soundstage to statehouse began in 1985 when Jones ran as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Pat Swindall for Georgia’s 4th Congressional District. Swindall narrowly defeated him in 1986, but the rematch in 1988 went Jones’ way after the Republican was indicted on perjury charges. Voters returned Jones to office in 1990.
During his tenure in Congress from January 1989 through January 1993, Jones served as a Democratic whip and held seats on the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation. Redistricting ended his congressional run, and he unsuccessfully challenged Newton “Newt” Gingrich in 1994.
Many saw Jones as carrying the same blue-collar authenticity to Capitol Hill that he had brought to television screens nationwide. That straightforward manner defined both his screen persona and his political communication style.
Museum Owner and Memoirist
After relocating to Virginia with Viator in 1999, Jones opened Cooter’s, combining a shop and museum celebrating “The Dukes of Hazzard.” The business demonstrated his lasting connection to the program and its devotees.
His 2007 memoir “Redneck Boy in the Promised Land” offered frank discussion of his struggles with alcoholism. Jones remained outspoken on subjects tied to the show, including a 2015 essay in The New York Times defending the Confederate Battle Flag displayed on the General Lee after Warner Bros. stopped producing related merchandise. That stance generated sharp criticism from many quarters.
Jones recently marked the passing of Rick Hurst, who played Deputy Cletus Hogg on the series. Writing about his colleague of more than 45 years, Jones said Hurst never failed to make him smile or laugh and possessed a heart as big as Texas.
Remembering a Dual Legacy
In her Facebook announcement, Viator memorialized a man whose influence stretched across entertainment and public service. She emphasized how extensively he had been loved throughout his decades in the spotlight.
The death leaves a void among fans who remember Jones as the genial mechanic fixing cars in Hazzard County and constituents who knew him as their voice in Washington.