Fans of The Dukes of Hazzard knew Rick Hurst as the lovable, though clumsy, Deputy Sheriff Cletus Hogg on the show. He was the one who wore a flat-brimmed hat, was easily manipulated, regularly crashed his patrol car, and was almost apologetic every time he had to arrest Bo and Luke Duke.
Hurst unexpectedly passed away on Thursday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 79.
Ben Jones – Cooter to the show’s fans – confirmed his death. Jones had expected to see Hurst next week at a meet-and-greet at his Cooter’s Place, a Dukes of Hazzard-themed store and museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Jones and his wife, Alma Viator, run the store and told The New York Times that Hurst recently canceled his appearance because he wasn’t feeling well. Viator said that even though she and Jones knew Hurst was ill, his passing was still “shocking to all of us.”
“When something so unexpected happens, it is ‘harder to process,’ as the current expression goes,” Jones said in a statement. “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 fit right in and never stopped making people smile until this afternoon.”
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Second Cousin Twice Removed To Boss Hogg
Hurst’s character, Cletus, was a second cousin twice removed to Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke), a crooked politician in Hazzard County. Other beloved characters on the seven-season series included Bo Duke (John Schneider), Luke Duke (Tom Wopat), Daisy Duke (Catherine Bach), Uncle Jesse (Denver Pyle), Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane (James Best), and the famous high-flying 1969 Dodge Charger, General Lee.
Country legend Waylon Jennings narrated the show and sang the theme, “Good Ol’ Boys.”
The Dukes of Hazzard ended 40 years ago in 1985, but Hurst wasn’t ready to quit Cletus. Hurst reprised his role in 1997’s The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! and 2000’s The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood, both of which aired on CBS.
Schneider emotionally commented on Hurst’s death.
He wrote: “I just this moment heard about the passing of dear Rick Hurst, a.k.a. Cletus Hogg. You were [a] 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.”
While Cletus Hogg might have been Hurst’s most popular character, it was far from his only acting job. His first screen time came at the age of five when someone spotted him in the Houston Public Library and asked him to be in a commercial. He was paid with chocolate and soda.
Hurst earned his bachelor’s degree from Tulane University in 1968. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Temple University two years later. He took acting lessons from Cecil Pickett, a drama teacher at the University of Houston. His daughter is St. Elsewhere actress Cindy Pickett.
Rick Hurst’s Resume
Hurst made his onscreen debut in 1971 on an episode of The Doris Day Show. From there, his career blossomed to include a police officer on NBC’s Sanford and Son, a police officer on The Partridge Family, and appearances on The Bob Newhart Show, MASH*, Gunsmoke, and Kojak.
Rick Hurst was born Richard Douglas Hurst on Jan. 1, 1946, in Houston. Acting became a family occupation. He is survived by his two sons, Ryan and Collin, both actors, and a granddaughter. Ryan is most famous for his roles on the television series “Sons of Anarchy” and “The Walking Dead.”
A tribute posted on The Dukes of Hazzard‘s Instagram account. It read: To fans, he was more than a character—he was family. His gentle smile, impeccable comedic timing, and kind-hearted spirit made every scene brighter. 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.”
Photo by Carla Van Wagoner/Shutterstock
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