Veteran actor Rick Hurst, who performed Deputy Cletus Hogg on the long-running CBS motion comedy The Dukes of Hazzard, has died. He was 79.
His son is actor Ryan Hurst, who has starred in The Strolling Lifeless and Sons of Anarchy.
Hurst’s passing was confirmed by his long-time good friend and Dukes co-star, Ben Jones, who shared a message with the Cooter’s Pigeon Forge Fb web page. Jones had been scheduled to make a meet-and-greet look on the Cooter’s Place museum from July 3 to July 7. A reason behind demise was not supplied.
“It doesn’t appear proper that Rick Hurst handed away this afternoon. When one thing so sudden occurs, it’s “more durable to course of”, as the present expression goes,” Jones wrote on Thursday night time (June 26). I’ve identified Rick for over 45 years and there wasn’t a minute of that point that he didn’t depart me smilingor laughing. Positive he was an expert comic, however largely he simply had a coronary heart as massive as Texas.”
Jones’ assertion continued, “[Hurst] was a wonderful actor, a splendid comedian, and a splendidly supportive colleague… when he confirmed up in Hazzard County in the course of the time when Sonny Shroyer was doing the collection “Enos”, all the things clicked. He match proper in and by no means stopped making individuals smile till this afternoon. And for the reason that Dukes continues to be enjoying all around the planet, he’ll proceed to make us snicker!
“I don’t learn about y’all however I imagine in an afterlife, and I can see Rick up there in Heaven with Jimmy Finest and Sorrell Booke and Denver Pyle, placing on the funniest present inside these Pearly Gates,” he added. “Now we have at all times considered our Cooter’s associates as “Hazzard Nation”, Effectively, Hazzard Nation is bound going to overlook. Rick Hurst down right here round “Cooters”, however his presence will at all times be close to us. Relaxation in Peace, previous good friend!”
Hurst was born on January 1, 1946, in Houston, Texas, and earned a Bachelor’s diploma from Tulane College and a Grasp’s in wonderful arts from Temple College. His first on-screen performing function got here in an episode of The Doris Day Present in 1971 and, from there, he’d make appearances in lots of traditional TV exhibits, together with Sanford and Son, The Partridge Household, Gunsmoke, Kojak, Little Home on the Prairie, and lots of extra.
In 1979, he landed his most memorable function as Deputy Cletus Hogg in The Dukes of Hazzard, showing in 55 episodes between 1979 and 1982. Following his time on Dukes, Hurst starred within the short-lived sitcom Amanda’s, based mostly on the traditional British comedy collection Fawlty Towers.
Rick Hurst, John Schneider, Catherine Bach, Ben Jones, Tom Wopat; Dukes of Hazzard; Everett Assortment
Hurst would proceed to pop up in visitor roles on varied TV collection over the next many years, together with Homicide, She Wrote, Excellent Strangers, The Surprise Years, Melrose Place, The Guardian, and extra. He additionally reprised his function as Cletus for the 1997 The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! film and the 2000 The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood.
In more moderen years, he starred within the 2012 movie Return of the Killer Shrews alongside John Schneider, his former Dukes castmate, and the 2016 TV brief B My Visitor.
Schneider commented on the passing on his personal Fb web page, writing, “I simply this second heard concerning the passing of pricey Rick Hurst, a.ok.a. Cletus Hogg. You have been exceptional drive for humanity, sanity and comedy my good friend. Heaven is a safer and extra organized place with you in it. We’ll preserve the race going and other people laughing till we meet once more! Love you.”
Dukes fansite HazzardNet additionally shared a tribute, writing on X, “We’re heartbroken to announce that Rick Hurst, Cletus, has handed away. He was so sort to me after I visited the reunion units and at any time when we noticed him at occasions. Please share your recollections and preserve the household in your ideas and prayers.”
We’re heartbroken to announce that Rick Hurst, Cletus, has handed away. He was so sort to me after I visited the reunion units and at any time when we noticed him at occasions. Please share your recollections and preserve the household in your ideas and prayers. pic.twitter.com/RjPEKbtEka
— HazzardNet.com – A Dukes of Hazzard Fan Web site (@hazzardnet) June 27, 2025
Hurst is survived by his first spouse, Candace Kaniecki, and his sons, Collin Hurst and Ryan Hurst.
Take a look at extra tributes under.
We’re unhappy to report the passing of actor Rick Hurst. Finest identified for his function as Cletus on The Dukes of Hazzard, Mr. Hurst made one visitor look on M*A*S*H as Non-public Schaeffer within the season six episode, “Fade Out, Fade In.” He was 79.#GoodbyeFarewellandAmen pic.twitter.com/zvlsZidqiA
— MASH Issues Podcast 🍸 (@mashmatters) June 27, 2025
Through the years I turned good associates with Rick Hurst. I really feel very lucky that he thought-about me a good friend. I’ll cherish the recollections of the time I obtained to spend with Cletus Hogg. pic.twitter.com/2b3sUBRlTD
— Larry Franks (@larryafranks) June 27, 2025
RIP to #DukesOfHazzard actor Rick Hurst who performed “Deputy Cletus” on the present. I met him just a few occasions and he was a really good man. He’s one other actor who took a fast visitor shot and turned it into a number of seasons when Sonny Shroyer left for his personal spinoff. pic.twitter.com/gm75zQItOC
— KSiteTV (@KSiteTV) June 27, 2025
Honored to have met ya, previous hoss. Rick Hurst was one of many nicest fellers you would ever meet. pic.twitter.com/iUoTBzTYfk
— Seamus O’Mire (@KiltedFarter) June 27, 2025
I simply noticed the unhappy information that actor Rick Hurst handed away right now…he was greatest referred to as Cletus Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard. A present I used to be obsessive about as a child
I met him 2 occasions & he couldn’t have been nicer
I obtained him to signal these 3 packs of playing cards the final time I noticed him pic.twitter.com/bl4yApbyZa
— Ricky Housewright (@Graphboy17) June 27, 2025
The three amigos are reunited in heaven. I’m saddened to listen to of the passing of Rick hurst identified for his function as Cletus Hogg within the Dukes of Hazzard.
Sorrell Booke a.ok.a. Boss Hogg and Rosco a.ok.a. James Finest are reunited collectively once more.
My honest condolences. pic.twitter.com/MUJiTEx8OM
— Bing (@Bing_Munoz) June 27, 2025
I simply this second heard concerning the passing of pricey Rick Hurst, a.ok.a. Cletus Hogg.
You have been exceptional drive for humanity, sanity and comedy my good friend.
Heaven is a safer and extra organized place with you in it. pic.twitter.com/CWCsxWIJCN— TMcCarty (@Jatrac04) June 27, 2025