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Wales Online
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The Dukes of Hazzard star dies 'unexpectedly' as co-star pays tribute
The Dukes of Hazzard star dies 'unexpectedly' as co-star pays tribute Death of actor actor confirmed by friend in heartfelt post Actor Rick Hurst, best known for playing Deputy Cletus Hogg (bottom left) has died (Image: CBS Photo Archive, CBS via Getty Images ) Rick Hurst, famed for his portrayal of Deputy Cletus Hogg on "The Dukes of Hazzard," has died 'unexpectedly' at the age of 79. Ben Jones, a fellow cast member, revealed the heartbreaking news with a moving homage posted on Cooter's Place museum's Facebook page last Thursday. Jones shared his shock: "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," he remarked. He added: "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,". Jones noted Hurst's talents and collegial nature: "He was a fine actor, a splendid comic, and a wonderfully supportive colleague," while recalling the seamless way in which Hurst integrated into the "Dukes of Hazzard" cast. Jones highlighted Hurst's capacity to bring joy: "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!". Article continues below Actor Rick Hurst was known for his sense of humour (Image: CBS Photo Archive, CBS via Getty Images ) Reflecting on Hurst's legacy and their shared belief in life beyond, Jones mused: "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," nodding to his late co-stars from the series. Jones concluded his tribute with a touching farewell: "Rest in Peace, old friend!". Hurst's acting journey began with roles in various TV series including "On the Rocks" where he made a lasting impression with 24 episodes under his belt from 1975. His rise to stardom was fuelled by the adrenaline-pumping adventures of "The Dukes of Hazzard," where he became a household name playing one of the Duke brothers, outwitting law enforcement and cementing his status as a television icon. A beloved figure on the small screen, Hurst appeared in 55 episodes of the legendary CBS series from 1979 to 1982, before attempting to conquer American audiences with "Amanda's," the stateside counterpart to Britain's hilarious "Fawlty Towers." Article continues below After leaving the Dukes behind, Hurst continued to hop from set to set for years, culminating in his final performance in 2016 with the TV short "B My Guest".
Miami Herald
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘Dukes of Hazzard' Star Makes Emotional Tribute to Rick Hurst
Rick Hurst, the actor best known for portraying Deputy Cletus Hogg on CBS's hit sitcom The Dukes of Hazzard, has passed away at the age of 79, as reported by his ex-wife, Candace Kaniecki. While the cause of death has yet to be made clear, tributes to the late actor have continued to pour on across social media, with fans, critics and past cast members of The Dukes of Hazzard sharing their thoughts on Hurst's unexpected passing. Taking to social media to pen an emotional tribute to Hurst, Ben Jones -- best known for portraying The Dukes of Hazzard's unkempt mechanic Cooter Davenport -- shared a Facebook post highlighting his former co-star's rich personality and numerous achievements in the world of entertainment. "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," the 83-year-old actor 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." "He was a fine actor, a splendid comic, and a wonderfully supportive colleague," the former U.S. House of Representatives member went on to say. "I don't know about y'all but I believe in an afterlife, and I can see Rick up there in Heaven with [deceased Dukes of Hazzard cast members] Jimmy Best and Sorrell Booke and Denver Pyle, putting on the funniest show inside those Pearly Gates." Similarly, Dukes of Hazzard fan pages across social media have echoed Jones' sentiment, mourning the loss of Hurst for both his charming wit and extraordinary comedic timing. "To fans, he was more than a character-he was family," one Dukes of Hazzard fan page wrote on Instagram. "His gentle smile, impeccable comedic timing, and kind-hearted spirit made every scene brighter. Off-screen, Rick was known for his generosity, humility, and love for connecting with fans at events across the country. Whether it was a reunion special or a meet-and-greet at Cooter's, he never stopped sharing his joy with the people who adored him." Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
College student discovers psychedelic fungus that eluded LSD inventor
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A university student has discovered an elusive fungus that produces chemicals with similar effects to the psychedelic drug LSD. Corinne Hazel, an environmental microbiology major at West Virginia University in Morgantown, spotted the fungus growing on morning glories. These flowering plants belong to a large family with many species, and Hazel specifically found the fungus in a variety of Mexican morning glory called "Heavenly Blue." The fungus also grows on varieties called "Pearly Gates" and "Flying Saucers," according to a recent study published April 22 in the journal Mycologia. Morning glories were already known to contain a class of chemicals called ergot alkaloids. These chemicals, made exclusively by fungi, are the same class that the Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann used to create LSD in the 1930s. Hofmann worked with the fungus Claviceps purpurea, commonly found on rye, to synthesize LSD; he came to suspect that Mexican morning glories must have a similar chemical-producing fungus after learning that the plants were used for their hallucinogenic properties. However, that fungus has remained elusive — until now. Hazel made the discovery while searching for the long-hypothesized fungus with Daniel Panaccione, a plant and soil sciences professor at West Virginia University. She is now investigating the best ways to grow the fungus, which the team thinks may have medicinal value. "I'm lucky to have stumbled into this opportunity," Hazel said in a statement. "People have been looking for this fungus for years, and one day, I look in the right place, and there it is." Related: Scientists show how LSD blows open the doors of perception Indigenous Mesoamerican cultures were the first to recognize that Ipomoea tricolor — commonly called Mexican morning glory or just morning glory — has psychoactive properties. Knowing of I. tricolor's cultural significance, Hofmann identified the chemicals responsible. The chemicals he found were previously only known to come from fungi, but his attempts to observe a fungus on the plant were unsuccessful, according to the study authors. Researchers have since identified two separate fungi that make ergot alkaloids on two other morning glory species, and they've found additional, molecular evidence for the presence of ergot alkaloid-producing fungi on I. tricolor. However, the identity of the fungus itself remained a mystery. Now, with the new study, the elusive I. tricolor-associated fungus has finally been identified. Hazel spotted evidence of the fungus on the plant's seeds. "We had a ton of plants lying around and they had these tiny little seed coats," Hazel said. "We noticed a little bit of fuzz in the seed coat. That was our fungus." Hazel and Panaccione collected a DNA sample from the fungus and sent it away for sequencing. The sequencing revealed that the fungus was related to the fungi previously found on the two other morning glories. Hazel and Panaccione named the new species Periglandula clandestina, with the species name referencing the hidden, or clandestine, nature of the fungus. P. clandestina is very efficient at producing large amounts of ergot alkaloids, the researchers found. The toxic nature of these chemicals likely helps protect the plant from being eaten, so it's thought to be a symbiotic relationship. However, ergot alkaloids are a problem in agriculture, as they contaminate food humans eat and grasses used to nourish livestock, therefore posing a threat to humans and the animals people eat. C. purpurea, the fungi used to invent LSD, would contaminate grain and poison those who consumed it, triggering an illness called "ergotism" that involved gangrene, convulsions, double vision, and of course, hallucinations. RELATED STORIES —LSD alters consciousness by breaking down barriers in the brain —Microdosing with 'shrooms or LSD no better than placebo, study finds —Weed may be bad for your heart, whether you smoke or consume edibles That said, ergot alkaloids can also be used in medicines to treat conditions like migraines. The newly discovered fungus could therefore have a role in medicine and agriculture, the study authors propose. "Many things are toxic," Panaccione said. "But if you administer them in the right dosage or modify them, they can be useful pharmaceuticals. By studying them, we may be able to figure out ways to bypass the side effects. These are big issues for medicine and agriculture." Hofmann was pursuing the medicinal properties of fungus when he first synthesized LSD. He only discovered LSD's powerful psychoactive effects when he accidentally got a drop of it on his skin — and then deliberately ingested more a few days later. This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
