Rick Hurst dead: Dukes of Hazzard star dies unexpectedly at 79 as co-stars pay tribute

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.

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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.

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