Ben Jones passes away at 84: How did the actor who played Cooter Davenport on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ die? Check cause of death

Ben Jones died at the age of 84. The actor-turned-politician, best known for playing Cooter Davenport on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” passed away on Sunday (August 9, 2026) after suffering a heart attack, according to his wife, Alma Viator.

In a Facebook post, Viator announced her husband’s death on Sunday afternoon. She shared a photo of Jones holding his dog and 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 took on the role of Cooter Davenport, the county’s trusted mechanic and a close ally of the Duke family. Over the course of 142 episodes, he shared the screen with Tom Wopat, John Schneider, Catherine Bach, Denver Pyle, Sorrell Brooke, and Waylon Jennings.

'Dukes' star Wopat pays tribute

“Dukes” star Wopat paid tribute to Jones on social media. “’The Dukes of Hazzard’ lost another integral part of their cast today. Ben Jones was a fine friend and a fierce advocate of all the best things we can offer in the entertainment business. He will be sorely missed… Denver Pyle frequently said to Ben, ‘I’m not your Uncle Jesse!’ But I feel like we lost a Duke cousin today,” he wrote in an Instagram post.

Jones entered the congressional race in Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District in 1988 and secured a 20-point victory. He won reelection in 1990, but his seat was eliminated following redistricting four years later. He subsequently ran against Newt Gingrich and was defeated.


ALSO READ: Nancy Guthrie Case: Surge in tips after ransom notes release, Pima County Sheriff’s Office shares update