Beloved ‘Dukes Of Hazzard’ Star Passes Away

Actor Richard Hurst, best known for playing the role of Deputy Cletus Hogg on the hit television classic “The Dukes of Hazzard,” passed away unexpectedly on Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 79 years old.

News of Hurst’s death was announced on the Cooter’s Pigeon Forge Facebook page, which is dedicated to a “Dukes of Hazzard” museum owned by Ben Jones, another star of the hit series, who played the part of Cooter Davenport in over 140 episodes of the show.

As of this writing, no cause of death has been revealed.

A report from The New York Post stated that Hurst was supposed to attend a meet-and-greet at Cooter’s Place, located just outside Knoxville, Tennessee, on July 3rd. The appearance was postponed to Thursday morning. According to the museum page, the reason for the delay was due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

“I have known Rick for over 45 years and there wasn’t a minute of that time that he didn’t leave me smiling or laughing,” Jones said in a post Thursday night. “Sure he was a professional comedian, but mostly he just had a heart as big as Texas. He was a fine actor, a splendid comic, and a wonderfully supportive colleague.”

The pair worked together on the Emmy-nominated series during the 1970s and 1980s.

“We have always thought of our Cooter’s friends as ‘Hazzard Nation,’ Well, Hazzard Nation is sure going to miss Rick Hurst down here around ‘Cooters,’ but his presence will always be near us. Rest in Peace, old friend,” Jones continued.

Hurst began his acting career with a series of minor guest appearances on television shows in the 1970s. He appeared in an episode of “Gunsmoke” and played a cook in “Happy Days.”

What really launched his career was a recurring role as Cleaver in the 70s sitcom “On the Rocks.” In 1979, Hurst got the part of Cletus Hogg and appeared in 55 episodes of the program.

The actor continued to make appearances in series such as “Steel Magnolias,” “Melrose Place,” and “Family Matters.” In 1997, he got an opportunity to reprise his role as Hogg for a television movie called, “The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!” and then again in another TV movie in 2000, “The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood.”

Hurst’s latest project was in 2016. He starred in a horror movie called “Return of the Killer Shrews” alongside former “Dukes” co-star John Schneider.

He is survived in death by his first wife, Candace Kaniecki, his sons, Collin Hurst and actor Ryan Hurst.