Ben Jones, the actor who became a television favorite as Cooter Davenport on “The Dukes of Hazzard” before winning a seat in Congress, has died at the age of 84. Jones suffered a massive heart attack Sunday while at his home in Virginia, according to his wife, Alma Viator. His death brought tributes from those who remembered him from both his years in Hazzard County and his later career in public office.
Jones was best known for playing the wisecracking mechanic who kept the General Lee running and regularly helped Bo and Luke Duke escape trouble. He joined the hit CBS series during the late 1970s and remained a member of the main cast until the show concluded in 1985. The role made Jones a familiar face in American households before he made the jump from Hollywood to congressional politics.
Viator said her husband was resting in his favorite chair when he suffered the heart attack. He had been waiting to watch the Atlanta Braves play the New York Yankees, giving his final hours a fittingly Southern and ordinary character. Viator announced the news in a Facebook post Sunday evening, writing, “I lost the love of my life today.”
As Trending Politics reported, Viator described her husband as having lived an “amazing rich full life.” She said Jones had loved many people and had been loved by many in return. Her announcement quickly drew condolences from fans and people who had worked alongside him during his decades in television, politics, and public life.
Tom Wopat, who played Luke Duke on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” was among the former cast members who publicly mourned Jones. Wopat described him as an essential part of the cast, a close friend, and a determined advocate for what he believed was best about the entertainment business. “He will be sorely missed,” Wopat wrote in his tribute.
Jones’ Cooter Davenport served as one of the Duke cousins’ most trusted allies throughout the series. The character operated the local garage, handled repairs on the General Lee, and frequently became involved in the cousins’ battles with Boss Hogg and Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane. Jones’ performance helped turn Cooter into one of the program’s most recognizable supporting characters during its seven-season run.
After the series ended, Jones entered politics as a Democrat and campaigned for Georgia’s 4th Congressional District. He first challenged Republican Rep. Pat Swindall in 1986, running a close race but failing to unseat the incumbent. The television actor returned two years later after Swindall was indicted on perjury charges, creating an opening for Jones to make another bid for the seat.
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Jones won the congressional election in 1988 and then secured reelection in 1990, allowing him to serve two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. His victory gave him a second national career far removed from the fictional garage where millions of viewers had first come to know him.
Redistricting later reshaped Jones’s political future and placed him on a collision course with Republican Newt Gingrich. Jones’s tenure in Congress ended after two terms, and he was defeated by Gingrich during a subsequent race. His years in Washington nevertheless made him one of the few television actors to move from a long-running Hollywood role into elected federal office.
Viator said Jones would be deeply missed by the many people who knew him during his life. Her announcement focused on the husband she knew away from the television cameras and political campaigns, at home in Virginia. “I loved him so so much,” she wrote.