Ben Jones, Cooter on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ and former congressman, dies at 84

ObituariesBen Jones, Cooter on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ and former congressman, dies at 84He died after a “massive heart attack,” his wife said on social media. Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Ben Jones in "The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood" film in 1999.CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleAug. 10, 2026, 9:13 AM EDTBy Rebecca CohenBen Jones, the man known as both Cooter from “The Dukes of Hazzard” television series and a former U.S. congressman from Georgia, died Sunday. He was 84. Jones died after a heart attack in his home in Virginia, his wife, Alma Viator, said on Facebook. “I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart attack,” Viator wrote in her post Sunday evening. “He was home resting in his favorite chair waiting for the Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees.” Viator said, “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.”From left, actors John Schneider, Tom Wopat and Jones in 'The Dukes of Hazzard" TV series in 1983.Fotos International / Hulton Archive via Getty ImagesTom Wopat, one of Jones’ “The Dukes of Hazzard” co-stars, also shared the news in a post on Instagram. “The Dukes of Hazzard lost another integral part of their cast today,” Wopat said. “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…”Jones as Cooter with Flash the dog in "The Dukes of Hazzard" in 1984.Marianne Barcellona / Getty Images fileJones was cast in “The Dukes of Hazzard” in the late 1970s and remained a main cast member until the show’s conclusion in 1985. Shortly after, he launched a run for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1985 as a Democrat, challenging Republican Pat Swindall, who narrowly won the election in 1986. The pair faced off again for Georgia’s 4th Congressional District in 1988. This time, Jones...