American actors (left to right) John Schneider, Tom Wopat and Ben Jones as Bo Duke, Luke Duke and Cooter, respectively, in the TV series ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’, circa 1983. They are posing with the General Lee, a 1969 Dodge Charger prominently featured in the series. (Photo by Fotos International/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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Ben Jones, who portrayed Cooter Davenport on the television series *The Dukes of Hazzard* and later served two terms as a U.S. Representative from Georgia, died on Sunday at the age of 84.
His wife, Alma Viator, announced his passing on Sunday, confirming that he was 84 years old.
In a Facebook post, Viator wrote, “I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart attack. He was at home, resting in his favorite chair waiting for the Braves to defeat the Yankees. Ben led an incredibly rich and fulfilling life, loved by many and loving in return. He will be deeply missed.”
On *The Dukes of Hazzard*, Cooter (played by Jones) was the cousin of Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat). He appeared as Cooter throughout the show’s seven‑season run from 1979 to 1985.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Tom Wopat said, “The *Dukes of Hazzard* lost another integral member of its cast today. Ben Jones was a wonderful friend and a passionate advocate for the best aspects of the entertainment industry. He will be sorely missed… Denver Pyle often reminded Ben, ‘I’m not your Uncle Jesse!’ — yet today we feel we have lost a Duke cousin.”
UNITED STATES – MARCH 23: Former Rep. Ben “Cooter” Jones, D-Ga., speaks with reporters outside of the U.S. Supreme Court following arguments in the Walker v. Sons of Confederate Veterans case in Washington on Monday, March 23, 2015. Jones, a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, came to the court to support the Texas division of the group suing to allow the Confederate battle flag on license plates. Jones starred as Cooter in the “Dukes of Hazzard” television show, and ran against Newt Gingrich in 1994. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
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Four years after the series ended, Jones was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat, representing Georgia’s 4th District from 1989 to 1993. During his tenure, he served as a Democratic whip and sat on the Committee on Public Works and Transportation as well as the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
After losing his seat due to redistricting, Jones attempted a third term but was defeated by Republican Newt Gingrich in 1994. Seven years later, after moving to Virginia, he ran unsuccessfully for a Virginia seat to unseat incumbent Republican Eric Cantor for the 7th District.
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Ben Jones Featured in More Than 30 Screen Credits
Born Benjamin Lewis Jones on August 30, 1941, in Tarboro, North Carolina, he earned his first credited screen role in the 1972 drama *Together for Days*, starring Clifton Davis and Lois Chiles.
A minor role in the 1975 action comedy *Moonrunners*, written and directed by Guy Waldron, led to Jones’s audition for *The Dukes of Hazzard*, which Waldron created. The series became a CBS ratings hit.
