Ben Jones, the actor best known for his role as mechanic Cooter Davenport in the hit CBS series The Dukes of Hazzard, has died at the age of 84, faroutmagazine.co.uk reports. His wife, Alma Viator, announced in a Facebook post that he suffered a massive heart attack at home on August 9, stating she had lost the “love of my life” and that he had been waiting to watch baseball when the attack occurred.
The actor portrayed the character of Cooter Davenport across all seven series of the show, which ran from 1979 to 1985 and achieved massive popularity. Beyond this iconic role, his acting credits included the 1975 film Moonrunners and the 1978 comedy They Went That-a-Way & That-a-Way.
Following his acting career, Jones transitioned into politics, successfully running for office as a Democratic congressman in 1988 and winning a further two-year term in 1990. He reflected on his career shift in 1989, noting that his skills in communication and comfort before an audience were “invaluable in politics.”
He ran for election again in 1994 and 2002 but was defeated both times, subsequently remaining a vocal advocate for the Democratic Party. He is survived by Alma, and his two children, Rachel and Walker.
•Featured image credit: Ben Jones