Ben Jones, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Actor Who Played Cooter, Dies at 84

Ben Jones, best known for playing mechanic Cooter Davenport on the television series “The Dukes of Hazzard,” has died at 84.

Jones’ wife, Alma Viator, announced his death on Sunday. She said he suffered a massive heart attack while waiting to watch an Atlanta Braves game against the New York Yankees.

“Ben had the most amazing rich full life,” Viator wrote on Facebook. “He loved and was loved by so many. He will be missed. I loved him so so much.”

Jones appeared in 141 episodes of “The Dukes of Hazzard” from 1979 to 1985. His character, Cooter, was a friendly mechanic and a close ally of cousins Bo and Luke Duke.

Before the series, Jones worked mainly as a stage actor and had small roles in films including “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Moonrunners.” The latter helped inspire “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

Jones later appeared in films and television shows including “Jack,” “Primary Colors,” “Sliders” and “The Magical World of Disney.”

In the late 1980s, Jones entered politics and won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served two terms.

In later years, Jones drew controversy for defending the Confederate battle flag, which was prominently featured in “The Dukes of Hazzard.” He argued that the flag was not connected to slavery, a position that drew criticism because of the symbol’s historical association with the Confederacy.