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Richard Hurst, recognized for his role as Deputy Cletus Hogg on the beloved “The Dukes of Hazzard” television show, passed away suddenly in Los Angeles at the age of 79.
The news of his passing was shared on the Cooter’s Pigeon Forge Facebook page. The page belongs to a museum based on “Dukes Of Hazzard,” co-owned by his former colleague Ben Jones, known for his character Cooter Davenport in more than 140 episodes of the iconic series.
No cause of death has been revealed.
Hurst was set to make an appearance at Cooter’s Place near Knoxville, Tenn., on July 3rd but had to postpone due to unexpected events announced on the museum’s Facebook page.
“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,” Jones wrote Thursday night.
“Sure he was a professional comedian, but mostly he just had a heart as big as Texas. He was a fine actor, a splendid comic, and a wonderfully supportive colleague.”
The duo worked on the Emmy Award-nominated show during the 1970s and 1980s.
“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,” Jones added.
Hurst was born in 1946 on New Year’s Day in Houston, Texas.
The comedic actor got his start by acting in a series of small guest roles on TV shows in the 70s, appearing in one episode of “Gunsmoke” and playing a cook on “Happy Days.”
Hurst’s career started to take off when he landed a recurring role as Cleaver in the mid-70s sitcom “On The Rocks.”
By 1979, he was cast as Cletus Hogg, a kind-hearted but clumsy deputy, on “The Dukes of Hazzard” and appeared in 55 episodes of the show.
Hurst continued to appear as a guest star through the 1980s and 1990s in shows like “Steel Magnolias,” “Melrose Place” and “Family Matters.”
He revised his role as Hogg in the 1997 television movie “The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!” and the 2000 TV movie “The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazard in Hollywood.”
His most recent project was the 2016 horror flick “Return of the Killer Shrews” alongside John Schneider, his former “Dukes” cast mate.
Hurst is survived by his first wife, Candace Kaniecki, and his sons, Collin Hurst and “Remember the Titans” actor Ryan Hurst.
