Richard (Rick) Hurst, an actor known for his role as the endearing Deputy Cletus Hogg in “The Dukes of Hazzard” is dead. He was 79.News of Hurst’s death was confirmed to Fox News Digital by his co-star Ben Jones, who played Cooter Davenport in the popular series. Hurst died on Thursday afternoon.”Rick was a great guy,” Jones shared in his statement. “Our show has been an ongoing success for 40 years or so, and Rick was a big part of that … it was very shocking and hurtful to hear his passing. He was just with us last week, and it was unexpected.”
He was a great human being … good-hearted… generous … always a friend I would stick up for… he was in the business of making people happy. He was a wonderful comic and comic actor.”The cause of death is unknown at this time.
“It doesn’t seem right that Rick Hurst passed away this afternoon. When something so unexpected happens, it is ‘harder to process’, as the current expression goes,” Jones wrote.”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. Sure, he was a professional comedian, but mostly he just had a heart as big as Texas,” his heartfelt tribute continued.RIck Hurst, “Dukes of Hazzard” cast”The Dukes of Hazzard” cast members (front row, L-R) Rick Hurst as Deputy Cletus Hogg, John Schneider as Bo Duke, Catherine Bach as Daisy Duke, Tom Wopat as Luke Duke and James Best as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltraine, Basset hound Sandy as Flash, (back row, L-R) Sorrell Booke as Jefferson Davis (J.D.) Hogg, Denver Pyle as Uncle Jesse Duke and Ben Jones as Cooter Davenport. (Getty Images)The statement continued in part, “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!”
