Actor Richard Hurst, best remembered for his role as Deputy Cletus Hogg on the beloved television series The Dukes of Hazzard, has died unexpectedly in Los Angeles at the age of 79. The news was announced Thursday via the official Facebook page of Cooter’s Pigeon Forge, a museum dedicated to the series and run by fellow cast member Ben Jones, who portrayed mechanic Cooter Davenport on the show.
Hurst had been scheduled to appear at a fan meet-and-greet at Cooter’s Place near Knoxville, Tennessee, on July 3. That appearance was delayed due to what organizers described as “unforeseen circumstances.” Hours later, news of his death emerged. As of Friday, no cause of death has been publicly disclosed.
Jones paid tribute to his longtime friend and colleague in a heartfelt message:
“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 wrote. “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.”
Hurst joined The Dukes of Hazzard in 1979 and appeared in 55 episodes as the affable, bumbling deputy Cletus Hogg, a cousin of the scheming Boss Hogg. His comedic timing and chemistry with the rest of the cast helped cement the show’s legacy as a pop culture staple of late-70s and early-80s American television. He later reprised the role in The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! (1997) and Hazzard in Hollywood (2000).
Before Dukes, Hurst’s early career included appearances on iconic TV series such as Gunsmoke and Happy Days, where he played a cook. He also starred in the 1970s sitcom On the Rocks, in the role of Cleaver, which helped raise his profile.
Post-Dukes, Hurst made appearances in shows like Melrose Place, Family Matters, and the classic southern drama Steel Magnolias. In 2016, he teamed up with former Dukes co-star John Schneider for the horror-comedy Return of the Killer Shrews, his last known screen appearance.
Hurst is survived by his former wife Candace Kaniecki, and two sons: Collin Hurst, and Ryan Hurst, an accomplished actor in his own right, known for roles in Sons of Anarchy, Remember the Titans, and The Walking Dead.
In closing his tribute, Ben Jones wrote:
“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.”
Richard Hurst leaves behind a legacy of laughter, warmth, and decades of memorable television. His character may have been a deputy, but in the hearts of fans, he was a cornerstone of Hazzard County.
