{"id":2642571,"date":"2026-08-10T09:49:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T13:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wife-announces-dukes-of-hazzard-star-who-played-cooter-has-passed-away\/"},"modified":"2026-08-10T09:53:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T13:53:48","slug":"wife-announces-dukes-of-hazzard-star-who-played-cooter-has-passed-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wife-announces-dukes-of-hazzard-star-who-played-cooter-has-passed-away\/","title":{"rendered":"Wife Announces &#8216;Dukes of Hazzard&#8217; Star Who Played &#8216;Cooter&#8217; Has Passed Away"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwife-announces-dukes-of-hazzard-star-who-played-cooter-has-passed-away%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2642571&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>benjamin Lewis Jones, an actor best known for playing Cooter Davenport on \u201cTeh Dukes of Hazzard,\u201d passed away suddenly at age 84 due to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/black-friday-panic-cnn-airs-possible-path-for-trump-2020-win\/\" title=\"BLACK FRIDAY PANIC: CNN Airs Possible Path for Trump 2020 Win\">heart attack<\/a>. His wife, Alma Viator, announced his death, noting he was at home resting and had a full, rich life. Jones was born in 1941 and appeared in movies like \u201cMoonrunners,\u201d \u201cThe Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars &#038; Motor Kings,\u201d and \u201cSmokey and the Bandit.\u201d His most prominent role was on the popular TV series \u201cThe Dukes of Hazzard,\u201d which aired from 1979 to 1985, and he later expanded this fame into a business selling \u201cDukes of Hazzard\u201d merchandise through his stores, Cooter\u2019s Place.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond acting, Jones had a accomplished political career, serving as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Georgia\u2019s 4th District from 1989 to 1993. He was known for his conservative stance, especially regarding the Confederate flag, which he defended as a symbol of independence. Despite controversy, especially surrounding the flag&#8217;s association with race, he maintained his position, including his decision to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-mob-is-still-coming-for-abigail-shriers-book-on-transgenderism-and-teen-girls\/\" title=\"The Mob Is Still Coming For Abigail Shrier\u2019s Book On Transgenderism And Teen Girls\">continue selling<\/a> Confederate flags at his stores during the 2015 debate.<\/p>\n<p>Jones&#8217;s career also included stances that opposed the left&#8217;s efforts to demonize \u201cThe Dukes of Hazzard\u201d for allegedly being racist. His legacy combines acting, entrepreneurship, and public service.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Benjamin Lewis Jones, the actor who played the friendly mechanic Cooter Davenport on \u201cThe Dukes of Hazzard,\u201d died on Sunday at the age of 84.<\/p>\n<p>Jones\u2019 wife, Alma Viator, announced his sudden passing on Sunday afternoon in a post.<\/p>\n<p>She said the businessman, actor, and former member of Congress died from a massive heart attack while at home.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI lost the love of my life today,\u201d she announced. \u201cBen passed from a massive heart attack.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She added, \u201cHe was home resting in his favorite chair waiting for the Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees. Ben had the most amazing rich full life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Viator concluded, \u201cHe loved and was loved by so many. He will be missed. I loved him so so much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Falma.viator%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02BaA4qUbrSudE3EBJsmB2dEeVq3b9Wbqq1hVf4pzi6u2Kp7dKEd3CqWjWWMEnannfl&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"646\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Jones was born in 1941 and appeared in \u201cMoonrunners\u201d in 1975 and \u201cThe Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars &#038; Motor Kings\u201d in 1976.<\/p>\n<p>He also appeared in \u201cSmokey and the Bandit\u201d in 1977.<\/p>\n<p>His biggest acting role came with the smash hit \u201cThe Dukes of Hazzard,\u201d which ran from 1979 to 1985.<\/p>\n<p>The role later followed him into a business career.<\/p>\n<p>Jones opened stores called <a href=\"https:\/\/cootersplace.com\/about-ben-jones\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cooter\u2019s Place<\/a>. The businesses sold merchandise for \u201cDukes of Hazzard\u201d fans.<\/p>\n<p>Jones also had a successful career in politics, winning two elections as a Democrat to the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n<p>He represented Georgia\u2019s 4th Congressional District from 1989 to 1993.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKOAT7%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0z9gtk6NxxWbmJodzuDa9Nwo73Wz4is1UvQVjC5MfcAkb4Ph8j75TK3yXc1b88Jwzl&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"609\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Jones later opposed the left, particularly as it related to an attempt to portray \u201cDukes of Hazzard\u201d as racist.<\/p>\n<p>Amid an uproar over Confederate flags from the left in 2015, Jones said his stores would continue selling them.<\/p>\n<p>He also <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/crime\/dukes-of-hazzard-actor-ben-jones-cooter-defends-confederate-flag\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rejected<\/a> the idea that the flag painted on the General Lee car in \u201cDukes of Hazzard\u201d was in any way connected to race.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think all of Hazzard nation understands that the Confederate battle flag is the symbol that represents the indomitable spirit of independence,\u201d Jones stated.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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