Ben Jones, Cooter Davenport on 'The Dukes of Hazzard' and former Georgia congressman, dead at 84
Ben Jones, who played mechanic Cooter Davenport across more than 140 episodes of "The Dukes of Hazzard" from 1979 to 1985, died Sunday at his Washington, Virginia home. He was 84. His wife, Alma Viator, confirmed on…
Key takeaways
- Ben Jones, who played mechanic Cooter Davenport on 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' died Sunday at his Washington, Virginia home at age 84.
- His wife, Alma Viator, said Jones suffered a massive heart attack while seated in his favorite chair waiting to watch the Atlanta Braves play the Yankees.
- Jones played Cooter across more than 140 episodes from 1979 to 1985 and reprised the role in two reunion films in 1997 and 2000.
- Beyond acting, Jones represented Georgia's fourth congressional district in the U.S. House from 1989 to 1993, serving two terms.
- Co-star Tom Wopat and musician Whey Jennings paid tribute, with Jennings noting Jones had helped finance his first recorded live album.
Ben Jones, who played mechanic Cooter Davenport across more than 140 episodes of "The Dukes of Hazzard" from 1979 to 1985, died Sunday at his Washington, Virginia home. He was 84. His wife, Alma Viator, confirmed on social media that Jones suffered a massive heart attack while seated in his favorite chair waiting to watch the Atlanta Braves take on the Yankees. Rappahannock County Sheriff Connie Compton also confirmed the death.
A career that started before Hazzard County
Jones was born August 30, 1941, in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. He came up through stage work before making his film debut in 1972 in "Together For Days." Roles in "Moonrunners" in 1975 and "The Lincoln Conspiracy" in 1977 followed. His television debut came in 1976, playing a thief in an episode of "Movin' On." He also appeared in the 1977 series "Nashville 99" and in "The Magical World of Disney" in 1978, before landing the Cooter role.
The Dukes of Hazzard and what came after
The series ran from 1979 to 1985. Jones reprised Cooter twice in reunion films: "The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!" in 1997 and "The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood" in 2000. His final television credit was "Surface" in 2005. His last film was "Unbreakable" in 2021.
Between those projects, Jones held elected office. He represented Georgia's fourth congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1989 to 1993, serving two terms.
Tributes from cast and collaborators
Tom Wopat, who played Luke Duke opposite Jones through the original series, called him "a fine friend and a fierce advocate of all the best things we can offer in the entertainment business." Wopat posted the statement to his Instagram on Sunday.
Whey Jennings, grandson of country music legend Waylon Jennings, lost both a friend and a career supporter. Jones had helped finance Jennings' first recorded live album. "You have been a true friend when I needed one most," Jennings told Fox News Digital.
Jones and Viator had been married since 1992. He was at home, in his chair, waiting for the Braves.
Filed via foxnews.com