American actors (left to right) John Schneider, Tom Wopat and Ben Jones as Bo Duke, Luke Duke and Cooter, respectively, in the TV series ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’, circa 1983. They are posing with the General Lee, a 1969 Dodge Charger prominently featured in the series. (Photo by Fotos International/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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Ben Jones, who starred as Cooter Davenport on the TV series Dukes of Hazzard and later served two terms as a U.S. Representative from Geogia, died Sunday.
Jones’ death was announced by his wife, Alma Viator, on Sunday.
“I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart attack,” Viator wrote in a Facebook post. 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 so much.”
Jones was a Democratic Congressman who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia’s 4th district from 1989 to 1993.
On The Dukes of Hazzard, Jones’ character, the mechanic Cooter, was the cousin of Bo (John Schneider) and Luke Duke (Tom Wopat). Jones played Cooter over the show’s seven seasons from 1979 to 1985.
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