became famous as Cooter Davenport, left entertainment for a career in Congress, returned to public life after politics and ultimately became one of the most recognizable representatives of *The Dukes of Hazzard* fan community.
He died at 84 on August 9, 2026, after a heart attack at his Virginia home, according to reports citing his family. ([AP News][1])
For many people, the first image that comes to mind will be Cooter standing in his garage, ready to help the Duke boys repair a car or get out of trouble.
But Ben Jones’ story was considerably larger.
He crossed the boundaries between Hollywood and Washington, between entertainment and politics, and between a television character and a real-life public figure.
For fans of *The Dukes of Hazzard*, his passing represents the loss of one of the show’s most familiar faces. For those who knew his political
