Ben Jones, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ star and former Congressman, dies at 84

Ben Jones, the beloved actor who portrayed Cooter Davenport on the classic TV show "The Dukes of Hazzard," has passed away at the age of 84. The news of his death was confirmed by his wife, Alma Viator, who shared the heartbreaking information on Facebook. Viator described the loss of "the love of my life" alongside a picture of a smiling Jones.

The actor succumbed to a massive heart attack while at home, waiting to watch his favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, play against the Yankees. Viator praised Jones for leading an "amazing rich full life" and lamented his untimely passing.

Jones rose to fame when he was cast as the lovable and mischievous mechanic Cooter Davenport in "The Dukes of Hazzard," an action comedy series that aired on CBS from 1979 to 1985. The show's popularity soared, with the first three seasons ranking in the top 10 most-watched television programs in the US. Jones starred in all seven seasons and returned for two TV movie specials set in the 1990s.

His camaraderie with cast mates endured, even after the show's conclusion, as evident from Jones' message honoring his fallen colleague Rick Hurst's passing.

After bidding farewell to television, Jones ventured into politics. He was elected to the United States Congress in 1988, representing Georgia's 4th district as a Democratic representative from January 1989 to January 1993. In his congressional career, Jones held various roles, including Democratic whip, and served on the Committee on Veteran’s Affairs and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation.