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Richard Hearst is an actor who plays the lovely deputy Cletus Hogg in The Hazzard of Hazzard. He is 79 years old.
His co-star Ben Jones confirmed the news of Hurst’s death to Fox News Digital, with his co-star Ben Jones playing Cooter Davenport in the popular series. Hurst died Thursday afternoon.
“Rick is a good guy,” Jones shared in the statement. “Our show has been ongoing success for about 40 years and Rick is a big part of it… It was shocking and painful to hear his death. He was just around us last week, which was unexpected.”
“Duke Hazard” actor protects co-star Catherine Bach
Jones continued: “He is a great man… kind… generous… always a friend I will stick with… he is what makes people happy. He is a great comic and comic actor.”
The cause of death is not yet known.
Actor Rick Hurst, who was loved by the role of Deputy Cletus Hogg in The Hazzard of Hazzard, died at the age of 79. (Getty Image)
He also shared a statement about Cooter’s Pigeon Forge Facebook page – a “Duke of Hazzard” themed museum owned by Jones.
Jones wrote: “Rick Hurst passed away this afternoon.
“I’ve known Rick for 45 years and there’s not a minute he didn’t make me smile or smile. Sure, he’s a professional comedian, but for the most part, his heart is as big as Texas,” his heart continued.
“Duke Hazzard” actor (front row, LR) Rick Hurst serves as deputy Cletus Hogg, John Schneider, Bo Duke, Bo Duke, Catherine Bach, Daisy Duke, Tom Wopat, Luke Duke and James Best as Sheriff Rosco P. Peel as Uncle Jesse Duke and Ben Jones as Cooter Davenport. (Getty Image)
The statement continued: “We have always thought that our Kurt friend was ‘Hazzard Nation’, and well, Hazzard Nation will surely miss Rick Hurst around “Cooters,” but his presence will always be around us. Rest in peace, old friend!”
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Fox News Digital learned that the death of the “Duke of Hazzard” actor came a week after he was preparing to make an appearance at a fan event in Tennessee.
Tributes continue to pour in, including John Schneider, co-star of Hurst’s “Duke of Hazard”.
Fox News Digital learned that the death of the “Duke of Hazzard” actor came a week after he was preparing to make an appearance at a fan event in Tennessee. (CBS via Getty Image)
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“I just heard about the death of my dear Rick Hurst, aka Cletus Hogg, at this moment. My friend is an extraordinary power of humanity, reason and comedy. Heaven is a safer and more organized place. Come with you. We will continue to laugh until we meet again until we meet!” He wrote on Facebook his dear friend.
Hurst was born in Houston, Texas and played the role of Deputy Cletus Hogg in the late 1970s in the Dukes of Hazzard. He later reprised his role throughout the 1980s.
“Duke Hazzard” actor, left to right: Rick Hurst (as Cletus Hogg deputy); Sonny Shroyer (as Enos strategy) in 1999. (CBS via Getty Image)
His other film honors include “Iron Magnolia” and “On the Wire”.
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Hurst has several TV appearances, including “Sandford and Sons”, “Partridge Family”, “m*a*s*h”, “gunsmoke” and “Bob Newhart Performance”.
The actor married Katherine Shelley Weir from 1981 to 1991 and married his first wife, Catherine Kaniecki from 1969 to 1979.
Hurst has two sons, Ryan and Collin. Ryan was born in June 1976 and is the son of Hurst and Kaniecki. Hurst later welcomed Colin with his second wife, Weir.
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Ryan appears in “The Son of Anarchy”, and Collin reprised his role in “The Duke” in 1997 and 2000, both of whom follow in the footsteps of his father’s performance.
