Latest news with #CletusHogg
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Dukes of Hazzard star dies unexpectedly at 79 as co-stars pay tribute
The Dukes of Hazzard star Rick Hurst, who played Deputy Cletus Hogg on the popular TV show, has died at the age of 79, his ex-wife has confirmed Veteran actor Richard "Rick" Hurst, famed for his portrayal of Deputy Cletus Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard, has died at the age of 79. Rick's former wife, Candace Kaniecki, broke the news to TMZ, revealing that Rick had passed away unexpectedly in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 26. At this moment in time, the cause of Rick's death remains a mystery, according to Candace. Confirmation of his passing came through Cooter's in Luray, VA's Facebook page on June 26 – a museum and shop dedicated to The Dukes of Hazzard, run by Ben Jones aka Cooter Daveport from the beloved CBS series, and his spouse, Alma Viator. Cooter paid homage to Rick with an emotional funeral picture tribute showcasing Deputy Hogg. The image featured a sepia-toned Rick encircled by white doves against clouds on a black backdrop, complete with his full name, the respectful 'RIP', and marking his lifetime from Jan. 1, 1946, to June 26, 2025. A heartfelt quote accompanied the image: "Gone from our sight but never from our hearts. Your love and memories will forever remain.", reports the Mirror US. Their Facebook post expressed their profound sorrow, adding: "Our hearts are broken! ! You will be missed! ! ! !". Just last month, Rick was seen celebrating at Ben's retirement party held at Cooter's, and he was scheduled to appear for a Meet and Greet event at the Cooter's location in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, slated for July 3-7. Rick's co-star from The Dukes of Hazzard, John Schneider, who played one of the iconic "Duke boys," Bo Duke, penned a heartfelt tribute to Rick following the news of his passing. John shared a funeral tribute poster photo of Rick on Facebook and wrote: "I just this moment heard about the passing of dear Rick Hurst, a.k.a. Cletus Hogg. You were remarkable force for humanity, sanity and comedy my friend. Heaven is a safer and more organised place with you in it. We'll keep the race going and people laughing until we meet again! Love you. John." Rick was best known for his role as Deputy Cletus Hogg, Boss Hogg's (Sorrell Brooke) cousin, on The Dukes of Hazzards. He portrayed the character from 1980 to 1983 and reprised his role in the films The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! (1997) and The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood (2000), which followed the show's conclusion in 1985. Throughout his career, Rick appeared in numerous TV shows and films including The Partridge Family, MASH*, The Guardian, The Karate Kid Part III and Steel Magnolias. His last acting credit was a TV short called Be My Guest in 2016. Rick is survived by his sons, actors Ryan Hurst and Collin Hurst. His first wife Candace is the mother of Ryan, while he shares Colin with Shelly Weir, to whom he was married.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘The Dukes of Hazzard' actor Rick Hurst dead at 79
Richard (Rick) Hurst, an actor known for his role as the endearing Deputy Cletus Hogg in "The Dukes of Hazzard" is dead. He was 79. News of Hurst's death was confirmed to Fox News Digital by his co-star Ben Jones, who played Cooter Davenport in the popular series. Hurst died on Thursday afternoon. "Rick was a great guy," Jones shared in his statement. "Our show has been an ongoing success for 40 years or so, and Rick was a big part of that … it was very shocking and hurtful to hear his passing. He was just with us last week, and it was unexpected." 'DUKES OF HAZZARD' ACTOR PROTECTED CO-STAR CATHERINE BACH ON RISE TO FAMEJones continued, "He was a great human being … good-hearted… generous … always a friend I would stick up for… he was in the business of making people happy. He was a wonderful comic and comic actor." The cause of death is unknown at this time. He also shared a statement on Cooter's Pigeon Forge Facebook page – a "Dukes of Hazzard" themed museum owned by Jones. "It doesn't seem right that Rick Hurst passed away this afternoon. When something so unexpected happens, it is 'harder to process', as the current expression goes," Jones wrote."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. Sure, he was a professional comedian, but mostly he just had a heart as big as Texas," his heartfelt tribute continued. The statement continued in part, "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!" "The Dukes of Hazzard" actor's death comes one week before he was set to make an appearance at a fan event in Tennessee, Fox News Digital has learned. Tributes continue to pour in, including from Hurst's "Dukes of Hazzard" co-star John Schneider. "I just this moment heard about the passing of dear Rick Hurst, a.k.a. Cletus Hogg. You were remarkable force for humanity, sanity and comedy my friend. Heaven is a safer and more organized place with you in it. We'll keep the race going and people laughing until we meet again! Love you," he wrote about his dear friend on Facebook. Hurst was born in Houston, Texas, and played the role of Deputy Cletus Hogg in "The Dukes of Hazzard" in the late 1970s. He later reprised his role throughout the 1980s. His other film credits include "Steel Magnolias" and "In the Line of Fire." Hurst has several television show appearances, including "Sanford and Son," "The Partridge Family," "M*A*S*H," "Gunsmoke" and "The Bob Newhart Show." The actor was married to Katherine Shelley Weir from 1981 until 1991, and his first wife, Catherine Kaniecki, from 1969 until 1979. Hurst is survived by two sons, Ryan and Collin. Ryan was born in June 1976 and is the son of Hurst and Kaniecki. Hurst welcomed Collin later with his second wife, Weir. Both sons followed in their father's acting footsteps, as Ryan appeared in "Sons of Anarchy" and Collin reprised his role in "Dukes" in 1997 and 2000.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Rick Hurst, ‘The Dukes of Hazzard' star, dead at 79
Actor Rick Hurst, best known for playing Deputy Cletus Hogg in the hit sitcom 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' has died at age 79. His death was confirmed by Ben Jones, his co-star on the show, who posted a message on the Facebook page of the Cooter's Place museum, which is dedicated to the show, on Thursday. 'It doesn't seem right that Rick Hurst passed away this afternoon. When something so unexpected happens, it is 'harder to process,' as the current expression goes,' wrote Jones. '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. Sure he was a professional comedian, but mostly he just had a heart as big as Texas,' he added. 'He was a fine actor, a splendid comic, and a wonderfully supportive colleague,' said Jones, who recalled how 'everything clicked' when Hurst joined the 'Dukes of Hazzard' cast. 'He fit right in and never stopped making people smile until this afternoon. And since the Dukes is still playing all over the planet, he will continue to make us laugh!' he wrote. 'I don't know about y'all but I believe in an afterlife, and I can see Rick up there in Heaven with Jimmy Best and Sorrell Booke and Denver Pyle, putting on the funniest show inside those Pearly Gates,' he said, referring to other 'Dukes of Hazzard' cast members who have died. 'Rest in Peace, old friend!' added Jones. Hurst had some success early in his acting career, including appearing in 24 episodes of TV series 'On the Rocks' from 1975 to 1976, but it was 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' which follows the fast-driving Duke brothers as they attempt to outrun the authorities in the fictional Hazzard County, that made him a household name. 'The Dukes of Hazzard' cast "The Dukes of Hazzard "stars, left to right, Byron Cherry, Jeff Altman, Rick Hurst, Catherine Bach, John Schneider, and Tom Wopat, pictured in November 2023 (AFF-USA/Shutterstock via CNN Newsource) Hurst appeared in 55 episodes of the CBS series from 1979 to 1982, before leaving to appear in 'Amanda's,' a US remake of the popular British TV series 'Fawlty Towers.' In the decades that followed, he appeared in various TV shows and movies, making his last appearance in a TV short called 'B My Guest' in 2016. By Jack Guy, CNN
CNN
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Rick Hurst, ‘The Dukes of Hazzard' star, dead at 79
Actor Rick Hurst, best known for playing Deputy Cletus Hogg in the hit sitcom 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' has died at age 79. His death was confirmed by Ben Jones, his co-star on the show, who posted a message on the Facebook page of the Cooter's Place museum, which is dedicated to the show, on Thursday. 'It doesn't seem right that Rick Hurst passed away this afternoon. When something so unexpected happens, it is 'harder to process,' as the current expression goes,' wrote Jones. '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. Sure he was a professional comedian, but mostly he just had a heart as big as Texas,' he added. 'He was a fine actor, a splendid comic, and a wonderfully supportive colleague,' said Jones, who recalled how 'everything clicked' when Hurst joined the 'Dukes of Hazzard' cast. 'He fit right in and never stopped making people smile until this afternoon. And since the Dukes is still playing all over the planet, he will continue to make us laugh!' he wrote. 'I don't know about y'all but I believe in an afterlife, and I can see Rick up there in Heaven with Jimmy Best and Sorrell Booke and Denver Pyle, putting on the funniest show inside those Pearly Gates,' he said, referring to other 'Dukes of Hazzard' cast members who have died. 'Rest in Peace, old friend!' added Jones. Hurst had some success early in his acting career, including appearing in 24 episodes of TV series 'On the Rocks' from 1975 to 1976, but it was 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' which follows the fast-driving Duke brothers as they attempt to outrun the authorities in the fictional Hazzard County, that made him a household name. Hurst appeared in 55 episodes of the CBS series from 1979 to 1982, before leaving to appear in 'Amanda's,' a US remake of the popular British TV series 'Fawlty Towers.' In the decades that followed, he appeared in various TV shows and movies, making his last appearance in a TV short called 'B My Guest' in 2016.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Rick Hurst, Dukes of Hazzard actor, dies at 79
Actor Rick Hurst, known for his role as Deputy Cletus Hogg on the television series The Dukes of Hazzard, has died at the age of 79. His family confirmed that he passed away on June 26 in Los Angeles. The cause of death has not been made public. Born on January 1, 1946, in Houston, Texas, Hurst studied at Tulane University and Temple University before pursuing a career in acting. He appeared in various television shows from the 1970s onward, including Happy Days, MASH*, Gunsmoke, and The Wonder Years. His film credits include Steel Magnolias, The Karate Kid Part III, and In the Line of Fire. Hurst played Deputy Cletus Hogg in over 50 episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard from 1979 to 1983. He later reprised the role in two reunion television films released in 1997 and 2000. In recent years, he remained involved in fan events related to the series. At the time of his death, Hurst had been scheduled to attend a fan gathering at Cooter's Place, a venue dedicated to the Dukes of Hazzard franchise. Fellow cast members and former colleagues acknowledged his passing through public statements. He is survived by two sons, including actor Ryan Hurst, who is known for his roles in Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead. Memorial details have not yet been announced.
