Ben Jones, Actor Turned Politician Who Played Cooter Davenport in ‘The Dukes of Hazzard,’ Dies at 84

Variety ^ | August 9, 2026 | Jack Dunn

[Ciaphas Cain]

Ben Jones, the actor turned politician best known for playing Cooter Davenport on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” died on Sunday from a heart attack, according to his wife Alma Viator. He was 84.

Viator announced her husband’s death in a Facebook post on Sunday afternoon. With a photo of Jones holding his dog, she wrote, “I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart attack. He was home resting in his favorite chair waiting for the Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees. Ben had the most amazing, rich, full life. He loved and was loved by so many. He will be missed. I loved him so much.”

In “The Dukes of Hazzard,” Jones played Cooter Davenport, the Hazzard County mechanic and an honorary member of the Duke clan. Appearing in 142 episodes, Jones starred alongside Tom Wopat, John Schneider, Catherine Bach, Denver Pyle, Sorrell Brooke and Waylon Jennings.

[BusterDog]

Come on, baby
Kick them Daisies

Look at them girls with the Daisy Dukes on
I want you to
Look at them girls with the Daisy Dukes on
Everybody
Look at them girls with the Daisy Dukes on
I want you to
Look at them girls with the Daisy Dukes on

Say, look at them girls with the Daisy Dukes on
They really got it goin′ on
Lookin’ all nice and sweet
Showin′ tan
And them butt cheeks
I do like it a lot
When they be showin’ some of what you got
Yo, girls that be lookin’ real cute
The way y′all kickin′ them Daisy Dukes

Come on, baby
Kick them Daisies

[Organic Panic]

I still have a set of Dukes of Hazzard plastic dishes from way back in the day.

Those were such fun shows.