Hollywood is mourning the loss of a familiar face as actor Rick Hurst, best known for bringing the kind-hearted Deputy Cletus Hogg to life on the iconic CBS series ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’, has passed away. Hurst died unexpectedly on Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 79 years old.
Hurst’s death was confirmed by his first wife, Candace Kaniecki, according to reports. As of the time of the announcement, his cause of death had not been publicly disclosed.
The news was shared by Hurst’s friend and former co-star, Ben Jones, who played Cooter Davenport on the popular 1979-1985 sitcom. Jones posted a heartfelt tribute on the Cooter’s Place Facebook page, noting the suddenness of the loss.
“It doesn’t seem right that Rick Hurst passed away this afternoon,” Jones wrote. “When something so unexpected happens, it is ‘harder to process,’ as the current expression goes… 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.”
Jones praised Hurst not only as a “professional comedian” but as a man with a “heart as big as Texas.” He described him as a “fine actor, a splendid comic, and a wonderfully supportive colleague” who “fit right in” with the ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ cast and crew. “He never stopped making people smile until this afternoon,” Jones added.
Coincidentally, Hurst had been scheduled to make an appearance at Cooter’s Place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in July but had to cancel on Thursday due to unforeseen circumstances – the same day he passed away.
Jones concluded his tribute by reflecting on Hurst’s lasting impact through the show’s continued popularity. “And since the Dukes is still playing all over the planet, he will continue to make us laugh!” he said. Expressing belief in an afterlife, Jones imagined Hurst joining fellow departed ‘Dukes’ stars Jimmy Best, Sorrell Booke, and Denver Pyle in Heaven for “the funniest show inside those Pearly Gates.” He acknowledged that “Hazzard Nation,” the show’s devoted fanbase, will “sure going to miss Rick Hurst down here around Cooter’s, but his presence will always be near us.”
An official tribute posted on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ Instagram account echoed these sentiments, stating that “To fans, he was more than a character — he was family.” The post highlighted his “gentle smile, impeccable comedic timing and kind-hearted spirit” and remembered him offscreen for his “generosity, humility and love for connecting with fans at events across the country.”
Remembering a Hazzard County Favorite
Born Richard Douglas Hurst on January 1, 1946, in Houston, Texas, Hurst’s role as Deputy Cletus Hogg became his most defining. He first appeared as Boss Hogg’s second cousin twice removed in 1979 and became a recurring character. Cletus initially served as a temporary deputy when Enos Strate (Sonny Shroyer) was absent but became a permanent fixture in the Sheriff’s department in season three. He appeared in 55 episodes, often characterized as kind-hearted, sometimes clumsy, and frequently involved in comedic car chases, often ending up in ponds while pursuing the Duke boys in the General Lee. He reprised the role in the television movies ‘The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!’ (1997) and ‘The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazard in Hollywood’ (2000).
Beyond Hazzard: A Prolific Career
While Cletus Hogg remains his most iconic role, Rick Hurst had an extensive career spanning over 70 film and television credits across several decades. After studying acting and earning degrees from Tulane and Temple Universities, he began his onscreen career in the early 1970s.
He held a recurring role as a prisoner named Cleaver in the 1975-76 sitcom ‘On the Rocks’. He also briefly starred in ‘Amanda’s’ (1983), an ABC remake of ‘Fawlty Towers’, playing bumbling chef Earl Nash, though the show was short-lived.
His long list of guest appearances reads like a history of classic television, including roles on ‘Sanford and Son’, ‘The Partridge Family’, ‘Gunsmoke’, ‘Happy Days’, ‘Little House on the Prairie’, ‘MASH‘, ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’, ‘The Bob Newhart Show’, ‘Kojak’, ‘Baretta’, ‘Murder She Wrote’, ‘227’, ‘The Wonder Years’, ‘Highway to Heaven’, ‘Evening Shade’, ‘Family Matters’, and ‘Melrose Place’.
In film, Hurst appeared in movies such as ‘W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings’ (1975), ‘Tunnel Vision’ (1976), ‘The Cat From Outer Space’ (1978), ‘Earth Girls Are Easy’ (1988), ‘The Karate Kid Part III’ (1989), the beloved ‘Steel Magnolias’ (1989), ‘In the Line of Fire’ (1993), and ‘Anywhere But Here’ (1999). His last credited project was the 2016 horror film ‘Return of the Killer Shrews’, where he reunited with ‘Dukes’ co-star John Schneider.
Rick Hurst is survived by his first wife, Candace Kaniecki, and their sons, Collin Hurst and Ryan Hurst. Ryan Hurst is also a successful actor, known for prominent roles in films like ‘Remember the Titans’ and TV series such as ‘Sons of Anarchy’. Ryan shared a touching tribute to his father on Instagram following the news.
Rick Hurst’s legacy endures through his memorable portrayal of Deputy Cletus Hogg and his extensive body of work that brought smiles to audiences for decades.
