Ben Jones, the actor best known for playing Cooter Davenport on the hit television series “The Dukes of Hazzard” who later served in Congress, has died. He was 84.
Jones died Sunday after suffering a massive heart attack at his home in Virginia, according to his wife, Alma Viator.
“I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart attack,” Viator wrote on Facebook, according to NBC News.
Jones was reportedly resting in his favorite chair and waiting to watch the Atlanta Braves play the New York Yankees when he died.
“Ben had the most amazing rich full life,” Viator wrote. “He loved and was loved by so many. He will be missed. I loved him so so much.”
Jones became a familiar face to millions of Americans through his role as mechanic Cooter Davenport on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” which aired on CBS from 1979 until 1985.
The popular action-comedy followed cousins Bo and Luke Duke and their adventures in fictional Hazzard County, Georgia. Jones’ Cooter operated the local garage and frequently helped the Duke family.
Jones remained with the series throughout its seven-season run and later returned to the franchise for reunion productions.
Following news of his death, “Dukes of Hazzard” co-star Tom Wopat paid tribute to his longtime friend.
“The Dukes of Hazzard lost another integral part of their cast today,” Wopat wrote on Instagram, according to NBC News.
Wopat described Jones as a “fine friend” who would be deeply missed.
Jones’ career eventually took an unusual turn from television to national politics.
After “The Dukes of Hazzard” ended, Jones launched a campaign for the US House of Representatives as a Democrat in Georgia.
He first challenged Republican Rep. Pat Swindall in 1986 but narrowly lost the race.
Jones ran against Swindall again two years later and won after the incumbent was indicted on perjury charges. Jones represented Georgia’s 4th Congressional District beginning in 1989 and won reelection in 1990, ultimately serving two terms in Congress, per NBC News.
Following redistricting, Jones later challenged Newt Gingrich in 1994 but lost the race.
After leaving politics, Jones returned to entertainment and continued embracing his connection to “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
He appeared in reunion programs connected to the series and took roles in other productions, including the 1998 political film “Primary Colors” and the 2000 film “Joe Gould’s Secret.”
Jones and Viator also opened Cooter’s, a museum and store dedicated to memorabilia from “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
Jones discussed another major chapter of his life in his 2007 memoir, “Redneck Boy in the Promised Land,” including his battle with alcoholism.
He remained closely associated with the show that made him famous decades after it left the air.
Jones also attracted attention in 2015 when he publicly defended the Confederate flag following a decision by Warner Bros. to stop producing “Dukes of Hazzard” merchandise featuring the symbol.
His death marks the loss of another prominent member of the cast of one of television’s most recognizable shows of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Jones was 84.
