Ben Jones, the actor who portrayed the energetic mechanic Cooter on the classic television series Dukes of Hazzard, died Sunday, August 9, 2026, at age 84 following a massive heart attack.
His wife, Alma Viator, shared the news of his passing through social media, revealing that Jones died at home while anticipating a baseball game between the Braves and Yankees.
"I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart attack. He was home resting in his favorite chair waiting for the Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees," Viator wrote via Facebook on Sunday. "Ben had the most amazing, rich, full life. He loved and was loved by so many. He will be missed. I loved him so, so much."
Jones and Viator shared nearly 34 years of marriage together.
The actor became a household name during the 1980s through his portrayal of the wild-spirited mechanic on the action-comedy series, which concluded its run in 1985. His character, known for unbridled enthusiasm and loyalty to the Duke family, resonated with audiences throughout the show's original broadcast.
Following his television career, Jones transitioned into public service. He successfully campaigned for Georgia's Fourth Congressional District in 1988 and secured reelection in 1990, according to reporting by Deadline on Sunday.
His contributions to Georgia's entertainment sector extended beyond his acting work. Jones held leadership positions as president of SAG's Georgia branch and chairman of the Georgia Film Commission, according to the outlet. His writing credits include work on 1987's CBS Summer Playhouse and 1998's Primary Colors, which featured John Travolta and Emma Thompson, per IMDB.
During a 2023 interview with Georgia Public Broadcasting, Jones displayed his characteristic humor while discussing his varied professional accomplishments.
"Sounds like a guy who can't hold [down] a job to me," he joked at the time.
Reflecting on his signature role, Jones described the creative freedom he enjoyed on set and his natural fit for the character's eccentric personality.
"When we started filming that show, I was a child actor at the time. Actually, I was a childish actor. We were just making it up," he recalled. "It was a wild, crazy show and I was cast for it because I was what they were looking for physically and … I just made it up. I had fun with it, it was hard not to have fun doing what we were doing. I am crazy Cooter."
Jones worked alongside Catherine Bach, who portrayed Daisy Duke, John Schneider as Bo Duke, and Tom Wopat as Luke Duke during the series' original run.
Wopat, 74, honored his former colleague through Instagram on Sunday, sharing memories of their friendship and professional relationship.
"Ben Jones was a fine friend and a fierce advocate of all the best things we can offer in the entertainment business. He will be sorely missed … Denver Pyle [who played Uncle Jesse Duke on the show] frequently said to Ben, 'I'm not your Uncle Jesse!' But I feel like we lost a Duke cousin today," he wrote.