- Ben Jones died on August 9 at age 84 after suffering a massive heart attack at his Virginia home, just three weeks before his 85th birthday.
- Jones was best known as mechanic Cooter Davenport on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard,’ appearing throughout the beloved CBS show’s seven-season run.
- After acting, Jones served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and later kept ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ legacy alive through his Cooter’s Place museums and fan events.
Ben Jones, the actor who played beloved mechanic Cooter Davenport on The Dukes of Hazzard before going on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, has died. He was 84. Jones died on August 9 after suffering a massive heart attack at his home in Virginia, according to his wife, Alma Viator. He was just three weeks away from celebrating his 85th birthday.
Born Benjamin Lewis Jones on August 30, 1941, in North Carolina, Jones became a familiar face to millions of television viewers when The Dukes of Hazzard premiered on CBS in 1979. He played Cooter Davenport, the good-natured mechanic and close friend of Bo and Luke Duke who could usually be counted on to keep the General Lee running. Jones appeared throughout the show’s seven-season run, which ended in 1985, and his character became an enduring part of the Hazzard County family.
Ben Jones has passed away
According to Viator, Jones was at home resting in his favorite chair and waiting to watch the Atlanta Braves play the New York Yankees when he suffered the heart attack. In announcing his death, she reflected on the remarkably full life her husband had led and the many people who loved him. News of his passing also brought tributes from his former Dukes of Hazzard co-stars, including Tom Wopat, who played Luke Duke and remembered Jones as a close friend and passionate advocate for the entertainment industry.
Jones’ life took an unusual turn after The Dukes of Hazzard. He entered politics and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1988, representing Georgia’s 4th Congressional District. A Democrat, he served two terms in Congress from 1989 until 1993. He later sought elected office again and remained active in political commentary, writing and public life, giving him the rare distinction of achieving national recognition in both entertainment and politics.
Life beyond Hazzard County
Before becoming Cooter, Jones worked as an actor on stage and screen, with credits that included Smokey and the Bandit and the soap opera As the World Turns. But he never distanced himself from the role that made him famous. Instead, Jones and his wife embraced the enormous and enduring Dukes of Hazzard fan community, opening Cooter’s Place museums and stores dedicated to the series. With locations in Virginia and Tennessee, the attractions became gathering places for fans and regularly hosted cast appearances, reunions and other events.
Jones remained closely involved with The Dukes of Hazzard and its fans until the end of his life. He regularly appeared at Cooter’s Place and performed with Cooter’s Garage Band, helping keep the spirit of Hazzard County alive more than four decades after the series first premiered. He had even been scheduled to celebrate his upcoming 85th birthday with fans at Cooter’s Place in Luray later in August. For generations who grew up watching Bo and Luke race across Hazzard County, Jones remained inseparable from the friendly mechanic who was always ready to lend the Duke family a hand.
