Ben Jones: 5 Reasons the Calgary Flames Prospect Is the NHL’s Surprise Breakout of 2026

Veteran actor and former U.S. Congressman Ben Jones—beloved by millions as “Cooter Davenport” on the hit series The Dukes of Hazzard—has died at his Virginia home at the age of 84, according to statements released on 9 August 2026 by family representatives and fan pages dedicated to the show. Born Benjamin Lewis Jones on 30 August 1941 in North Carolina, the actor rose to national fame between 1979 and 1985 for his role as the witty Hazzard County mechanic whose tow truck—and quick thinking—regularly saved cousins Bo and Luke Duke from trouble. After television stardom, Jones served two terms in Congress representing Georgia’s 4th District, making him one of the rare performers to transition successfully from Hollywood to Capitol Hill. Family members have not disclosed an official cause of death, but they confirmed that Jones passed peacefully with wife Alma Viator at his side. Arrangements for a public memorial are expected to be announced in the coming days. Tributes poured in overnight from co-stars, country musicians and political colleagues, many recalling Jones’s trademark Southern charm and his decades-long effort to preserve classic-car culture through his “Cooter’s Place” museums and annual Dukes Fest fan conventions. Jones’s legacy spans entertainment, public service and small-town philanthropy: reruns of The Dukes of Hazzard continue to attract new viewers on streaming platforms, while his congressional speeches on civil rights and rural infrastructure are still cited in policy debates. Fans have begun gathering outside Cooter’s Place in Luray, Virginia, leaving General Lee model cars, orange hats and handwritten notes celebrating “the best mechanic in Hazzard.” In lieu of flowers, the family is asking supporters to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a cause Jones championed after surviving cancer in the 1990s. A full obituary, along with livestream details for the forthcoming service, will be posted on the official Cooter’s Place website later this week.