CNN — 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” …
