Rick Hurst, Cletus Hogg on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard,' Dies at 79
Rick Hurst, who portrayed the friendly but bumbling deputy sheriff Cletus Hogg on the comedy series 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' died at his home in Los Angeles on Thursday. He was 79.
His death was confirmed by Alma Viator, the wife of his friend and former colleague Ben Jones, who played Cooter on 'The Dukes of Hazzard.'
Mr. Hurst had been scheduled to appear at a meet-and-greet on July 3 at the Cooter's Place in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., a shop and museum dedicated to the TV show run by Ms. Viator and Mr. Jones, but Mr. Hurst had canceled because he was not feeling well.
Ms. Viator said in a phone interview on Friday that Mr. Hurst's death was 'shocking to all of us, even though we knew he wasn't feeling well.'
Mr. Hurst appeared as Cletus, the cousin of Boss Hogg, the commissioner of the fictional Hazzard County, in 55 episodes of 'The Dukes of Hazzard' from 1979 until 1982. The show ran for seven seasons on CBS.
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Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Rick Hurst, Cletus Hogg on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard' and father of actor Ryan Hurst, dies at 79
Actor Rick Hurst, best known as dim-witted Deputy Cletus Hogg on the TV show 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' has died unexpectedly in Los Angeles. He was 79. '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,' actor and politician Ben Jones, who played Cooter Davenport on 'Hazzard,' wrote Thursday evening on the Facebook page for Cooter's Place, a business themed to the show. 'I just this moment heard about the passing of dear Rick Hurst, a.k.a. Cletus Hogg,' co-star John Schneider, who played Bo Duke on 'Hazzard,' wrote Thursday night on Facebook. 'You were [a] remarkable force for humanity, sanity and comedy my friend. Heaven is a safer and more organized place with you in it. We'll keep the race going and people laughing until we meet again! Love you.' Hurst had been scheduled for fan meet-and-greet appearances July 3-7 at the Cooter's in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., according to the website for the store and restaurant, which has three locations. Cooter's called off the visit in a Facebook post early Thursday, saying the visit would be rescheduled due to 'unforeseen circumstances.' Born Jan. 1, 1946, in Houston and raised there, Hurst got started in acting quite early. 'When I was 5 or 6, acting kind of tapped me on the shoulder — literally,' he said on a COVID-era podcast a few years back with pop culture enthusiast Scott Romine. Hurst said he was at a Houston Public Library location with his mom when a man tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he wanted to be in a commercial for the library system. He did the spot, he said, 'and my pay was a chocolate soda.' After high school in Houston, Hurst studied theater at Tulane University in New Orleans, then got a master's in fine arts from Temple University in Philadelphia. All of his experience was on stage until he moved to Los Angeles. His first TV credit was for 'Sanford and Son' in 1972 and his final credit was for 'B My Guest,' a 2016 TV short. In addition to working on the first five seasons of 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' which ran from 1979 to 1985, Hurst appeared on myriad shows including 'The Six Million Dollar Man,' 'Little House on the Prairie,' 'MASH,' 'Baretta' and '227' and the miniseries 'From Here to Eternity.' Hurst said on that podcast that he 'thanked God all the time' for the success of 'The Dukes of Hazzard' and its fandom. 'The stunt guys were the heroes of the show,' he said, 'and all of us in the cast knew that the first star on the show was the General Lee,' the orange 1969 Dodge Charger with a Confederate battle flag emblazoned on top, driven by characters Bo and Luke Duke, the latter played by Tom Wopat. Hurst was married twice, first to acting coach Candace Kaniecki, mother of actor Ryan Hurst, and then to Shelly Weir, mother of Collin Hurst. Ryan Hurst is best known for his roles as Opie on 'Sons of Anarchy' and Beta on 'The Walking Dead.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rick Hurst, Actor on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard,' Dies at 79
Rick Hurst, who portrayed the good-hearted Deputy Cletus Hogg on the long-running CBS action comedy The Dukes of Hazzard, died Thursday. He was 79. Hurst's death was announced by the Cooter's Place museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. He had just canceled a scheduled July 3-7 appearance there. More from The Hollywood Reporter Lalo Schifrin, Acclaimed Composer of 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Mannix' Themes, Dies at 93 Bill Moyers, Longtime PBS and CBS Journalist and Documentarian, Dies at 91 Lea Massari, Italian Cinema's Anti-Diva, Dies at 91 'To fans, he was more than a character — he was family,' reads a Dukes of Hazzard post on Instagram. 'His gentle smile, impeccable comedic timing and kind-hearted spirit made every scene brighter. 'Offscreen, Rick was known for his generosity, humility and love for connecting with fans at events across the country. Whether it was a reunion special or a meet-and-greet at Cooter's, he never stopped sharing his joy with the people who adored him.' Before his most famous role, Hurst played a prisoner named Cleaver alongside Tom Poston and Hal Williams on the 1975-76 ABC sitcom On the Rocks, which revolved around inmates at a minimum security facility. Hurst also guest-starred on lots of TV programs, from The Bob Newhart Show, Gunsmoke, Kojak, Happy Days and Little House on the Prairie to M*A*S*H, Baretta, Highway to Heaven, Evening Shade and The Wonder Years. Survivors include his son Ryan Hurst, an actor perhaps best known for his turn as Opie Winston on the FX drama Sons of Anarchy. Hurst first showed up as Cletus — the second cousin twice removed of corrupt county commissioner Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) — in 1979 on the 11th episode of The Dukes of Hazzard, starring Tom Wopat, John Schneider, Catherine Bach and a 1969 Dodge Charger nicknamed the General Lee. The series was a big hit for CBS on Friday nights. Cletus becomes temporary deputy when Enos Strate (Sonny Shroyer) is away during the second season, and he leaves his junkyard job to become permanent during season three, when Shroyer starred in his own spinoff series, Enos. After Enos returns to Hazzard County, Georgia, from his assignment in Los Angeles — the spinoff lasted just one season — he and Cletus share deputy duty and a patrol car through season five (1982-83). Hurst, who frequently ended up landing in a pond while pursuing those bedeviling Duke boys (Wopat and Schneider) in one of those great car chases, then returned for reunion telefilms in 1997 and 2000. Born in Houston on New Year's Day in 1946, Richard Douglas Hurst earned his bachelor's degree from Tulane University in 1968 and his master's in fine arts from Temple University in 1970. He received acting lessons from Cecil Pickett, a drama teacher at the University of Houston and the father of future St. Elsewhere actress Cindy Pickett. He made his onscreen debut on a 1971 episode of The Doris Day Show, then appeared the next year on Sanford and Son and The Partridge Family and in the movie The Unholy Rollers. He exited Dukes to play bumbling chef Earl Nash on Amanda's, an ill-advised 1983 ABC remake of fabled British hit sitcom Fawlty Towers that starred Bea Arthur as the owner of a seaside hotel (it was her first series after Maude). However, the show aired just 10 episodes before being canceled. Hurst's big-screen body of work also included W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975), Tunnel Vision (1976), The Cat From Outer Space (1978), Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), In the Line of Fire (1993) and Steel Magnolias (1989). Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Rick Hurst Tributes Pour in Following 'Dukes of Hazzard' Actor's Death
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Tributes have poured in for Rick Hurst, best known for playing Deputy Cletus Hogg on the hit series The Dukes of Hazzard, after he died at the age of 79. Hurst's ex-wife, Candace Kaniecki, confirmed his death in Los Angeles on June 26 to TMZ, calling it "unexpected." The cause of death is not yet known—Newsweek has contacted the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) via email for comment. Why It Matters Hurst played an integral role in a television series that remains a cultural touchstone for fans of 1970s and 1980s American television. His character, Deputy Cletus Hogg, was a comedic and endearing fixture of The Dukes of Hazzard, remembered for his hapless attempts to catch Bo and Luke Duke and for the show's signature car chases and stunts. His unexpected passing also highlights the end of an era for a show that, despite its controversies, continues to draw nostalgic viewership around the world. What To Know Born in 1946, in Houston, Texas, Hurst's acting career gained momentum with roles in sitcoms and dramas throughout the 1970s. He joined The Dukes of Hazzard in 1979 during a time of transition in the cast, fitting in seamlessly and becoming a beloved figure both on-screen and at fan events across the country. Hurst is survived by two sons, including Ryan Hurst, known for his role on Sons of Anarchy. The actor was married twice, most recently to Katherine Shelley Weir, until their divorce in 1991. He had been scheduled to appear at Cooter's Place, a museum dedicated to The Dukes of Hazzard, on July 3. What People Are Saying Ben Jones, who played Cooter Davenport on The Dukes of Hazzard, paid tribute to Hurst in a heartfelt Facebook post shared by Cooter's Place: "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," he added: "He was a fine actor, a splendid comic, and a wonderfully supportive colleague." The official Dukes of Hazzard fanpage wrote: "With heavy hearts, we say goodbye to Rick Hurst, the beloved actor who brought warmth, humor, and unforgettable charm to the role of Deputy Cletus Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard. "Rick passed away today, leaving behind a legacy that stretches far beyond Hazzard County." "To fans, he was more than a character—he was family. His gentle smile, impeccable comedic timing, and kind-hearted spirit made every scene brighter. Off-screen, Rick was known for his generosity, humility, and love for connecting with fans at events across the country. Whether it was a reunion special or a meet-and-greet at Cooter's, he never stopped sharing his joy with the people who adored him." Duke of Hazzards collector Larry Franks wrote on X: "Very sad news. Our great friend Rick Hurst has passed away. Please pray for his family. We will miss you Cletus!" Very sad news. Our great friend Rick Hurst has passed away. Please pray for his family. We will miss you Cletus! — Larry Franks (@larryafranks) June 27, 2025 Actor and singer John Schneider posted on Facebook: "I just this moment heard about the passing of dear Rick Hurst, a.k.a. Cletus Hogg. You were remarkable force for humanity, sanity and comedy my friend. "Heaven is a safer and more organized place with you in it. We'll keep the race going and people laughing until we meet again!" What Happens Next It is not yet known what Hurst's cause of death was—Newsweek will update this story when that information is revealed.
