# Ben Jones, Actor Turned Politician Who Played Cooter Davenport in ‘The Dukes of Hazzard,’ Dies at 84

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-10 02:29 UTC · Category: Entertainment · Sources: 17 · Current Velocity: 24.74

## Executive Summary
Ben Jones, beloved ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ star and former Georgia lawmaker, dies at 84, sparking tributes across TV and politics.

## Intelligence Brief
Ben Jones died at 84, the former actor and Georgia lawmaker best known for playing Cooter Davenport on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard.’ His death marks the loss of a figure who blended entertainment with public service, having served in the state legislature after his television career. Regional stations WSB‑TV and 9News echoed the news, underscoring his prominence in both Georgia politics and classic television.


Fans of the long‑running series, former legislative colleagues, and Georgia’s entertainment community are poised to issue tributes. Coverage indicates that memorial details will be released by his family, and public statements are expected from former fellow lawmakers.


The combined remembrance from television and political circles reflects the dual legacy he left behind.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### When was Ben Jones’ death reported?
Reports published on August 9, 2026 announced that he died at age 84.

### What roles made Ben Jones notable?
He was known for portraying Cooter Davenport on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ and for serving as a Georgia state legislator.

### Which media outlets covered his passing?
Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, FOX 5 Atlanta, WSB‑TV and 9News reported on his death.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Georgia, Dukes, Ben Jones Actor Turned Politician Who Played Cooter Davenport, Ben Jones, Ben Jones Cooter Davenport, Dukes of Hazzard, Ben Jones Dukes of Hazzard, Cooter

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yahoo | Beloved actor’s death at 84 leaves fans, friends heartbroken: ‘He’ll be sorely missed’ | 2026-08-11 01:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxOc0dqTV9QMGJ3VVRlMHRWakdtZmhINWt0XzROQ01Dd0g4czgzY05qblIwb3pSeC1yTHJNRVZSYm5oaU9LZ05QUzBTRndlR1lSV3QzeEpMSTV4eDNMNXN6Q3BRZWlmZ0dLZWhrXzJhWnV4TFpxRWpPN2p5dXltZ2VZbmNjRGF0M1pEY2ZITHFLLVBndUttRS1WaVY5cEpjN1ot?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Ben Jones, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Star Who Later Served in Congress, Dies at 84 | 2026-08-10 19:10 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxPWE9vajQxVFZOclNtQmMtc2s3ZS1pQzRha29pczMzZUt2NXRXOHdJcDNnT3UyYXJkbWMzdkNUeWFUZ0R0cVlKcjN2V2o1Z1VSb3VRTmV0MTJmOHpQdElEeVFoRzZiMnB4TWVhMGlNM1hXNTh3T0tTbFE0c002MmF5STRtT0pCVFFaRE93cTB6RjRqaG5lU2c?oc=5) |
| Fox News | Ben Jones, 'Dukes of Hazzard' actor and former congressman, dead at 84 | 2026-08-10 19:10 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxPbkRrUEZRZFUzMUJrNFhMSUthdnVnQ24yX1RrMU5wMnNWZm9XSkVOOE9nejlod3dUSFBSYkNqeDBsVDVDd2U0WHB1Ul94NnJEY0dCYjRYU1dEMHU4OENfWEhWZ2RoT1R3a3dGOTlQLXZIZHBaZEZLeWI2eVhoZVlvMzl0bjlWWHZfQml5NUgzdmZHazVZQU5ldWJn0gGfAUFVX3lxTE1iemt1MUJzMWdnSzhzTGZlNXFjVm1kZW5wdFdRdS00dXpaMnBpNGZaNDVDalBvbWw0NnBGSlBSZXZWZzhwZlFmNVE4MUNfQ1hFTkFmLXVxeldVRkxmNEphcEpQSjRoMUtMN0NYY0pYa3pFTXhpLTBwWDNValBncnF6czY3V0g3LUZSY3FLTGdTQmF0S0FldFZrbG1PTXRxbw?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | Ben Jones, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Actor and Congressman, Dies at 84 | 2026-08-10 19:10 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiekFVX3lxTE1jM2Zqd01SRVc4Y2VFS2V1bGNNbFhnRUhQaG1DX2dvR3pkOU1Edk5GQWtsMGVqRjEwdW1IcVRpWF90RnBEc1AzbkgxVVhwYnJ2bkVVVExXTXpxNUUzZEtHczlzUlFOcnljbF9MNXZ1VWx6UDEzR0hCbGFn?oc=5) |
| apnews.com | Ben Jones, good ol’ boy ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ actor and 2-term US House member, dies at 84 | 2026-08-10 13:13 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxNODgzWG9yZlFfS2MxVHYwa3RqbVZWbzgzOVF3OTdLYlNSU2pPcGIzdmNZQUpVVGhPbXNseWo3aVRxUG1abnNrcnk2b0dhQTRaVXdSY0VSUU1RZzItNWJNdEdOcDBQNmFISE9WcDFKbGlKbThIY09pU3FlQjBsZUZIUEM1NVZLNlkxSVppa2VXMXV2aVcyQWpJ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Ben Jones, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Star Who Turned Cooter’s Garage Into a Real-Life Car Museum, Dies at 84 | 2026-08-10 13:13 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxOaEdmZWwxMkxncVB2MXkxMW1OenVJdXhrTWE1cC1ZV0tybEZTOTlIcTRveUhtd0ljUURod0dWZHNjNTBSUFQ1WUp2c0d1d1FYRGtpX3Raak0xUjI1c2lXamJ0bXc3SEJyOGNUVmpjOFBSb2R4Z2t2UTV0SjhTeURlQVJFTWNYU0lhLVk2TjBvbjhoOFNuVnc?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Ben Jones, “Dukes of Hazzard” Star and Former Congressman, Dies at 84 from ‘Massive’ Heart Attack | 2026-08-10 10:04 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxOc05jVkg4SkFvTEpGVkVsRnVNOVRKbzZPSHQzd01ydndJQ2JpX3dJeWVzRWxBOE1UcmdHamUwXzVNRmxwbG0ySndZd21HSzY5a0EtRnVMYUFsOVNrdUlQMkJfeTB6cngyTmxSWXhjOTZQTjFJR09TSnptdWJNRU1ER0Q5UVd6WDVKc01yeGh3ZzdqcjdwWWpBNVVpeDF2SW8?oc=5) |
| WHIO TV | ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ cast member dies at 84 | 2026-08-10 10:04 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFBVV95cUxNOUkzZXRWNmw4V29iYThzZFg2RjJhbFRPX2E3cm4xaWtwWVJaTmRTejR0cjRYbUx0LXRxUkxTbVVhamljQ25FQzdxbzJJdE0ybXVtZ1VBODRlNXVhcHBRMXNMTEhmMmRRQXNPVUVEZ2RHcFR5eFNGN0w4V3RSOHIzTS1mRE9XWmJ5OG1NOGx3TElOcWxLSHNxaNIBrAFBVV95cUxPV18wTEFEekw2T2VheTFVNVlRdHZkRllQdG9YVl9jeGRuYkxEM2t6UHE0M0tac1lRdWNUTllIWXFILTlURVZiaEE0dXhjSndpNHZ0M1FOanZiZGc3YkQ3YlZaVlFuMm9iYVNiZ3RqQUFKdFp3UGpoNWlHMF9ma2VFcDZtcnJpMUh1Uy1NSDNLYkNTeG1DdzU5SHVacEdsT1RDM1JOM0JWN1c4bjJF?oc=5) |
| cnn.com | Ben Jones, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ star and former Congressman, dies at 84 | 2026-08-10 10:04 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxOU1Rvblg4VVBFeDBmRi11am9NNmpIVHoxb2xyYnhLNko3X0Z2cldDRXZHZndoTmx6cy1fTmUtSjBONXlOYmIycWNLcW1POUY5SWlqNEsxTS03VlFvSUoyanluZTVmdENhZ3FsWGdkanBpQjZHeDlyS01zOFRNc0d6MU13TEs?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | 'Dukes of Hazzard' Star Ben Jones Dead, Cause of Death Revealed | 2026-08-10 06:28 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxPSTFHcG9uY2M0MjZJZWY0M09abVpBM3FwRlhtZ191NnBJZGpMZnhiTXc0c0R0c2x0LThmc29HcTVKa19rM2xsNFJUeWw4ZmFmdkhLLU5GQWUwc0dBblNLb0JibDhBaEs4RFRoZTQzdjVwQVJURGVFN2V5b1hSaF9ZNHhLNUR0LVdfbG02Z3BZYnZCQVRGZXFXOVRYWFhNUUU?oc=5) |
| WIVB News 4 | Ben Jones, former ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ actor and politician, dies at 84 | 2026-08-10 00:29 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxOaG9KX1I4dWtwcHdWRmJDSVFUckVnRFhLRTRheDd5bW9TTVNzU0FVaFgzYnNXVVlCWnBJSldXdFZwa1c1YTRKRHlqUlp2NzVtMkgxbXBMX3QwQ216VGtmNUpaQmZtRk1uaDgwZmJuWGx0a2FWd2wwbDlTVEw5LTR2T0pydnJNXzlXcTByWVlZOWhpc3R0SnFGYmlGZmdSQVQ1UDdB0gGoAUFVX3lxTE9HV3ZTeld4V19jdlNXeTg0WEV3TWxvcmR6S2piSFZDd3VpMHdkMGNNOFROanBsME41bFlVQUVkeXRncVNpRXVCZ1pRMURzQnBvckhCNk5lVmFnUTNSZWYyRWRJUGRLczk5T2JnczFQRm5NR1VUamtyblpaci1CTHd3b01xM0Z4LUFLT1JFM1BDcEI1ZEtSTFNQZ0ExOEpBWEdtZUJ2b0VDcg?oc=5) |
| ABC7 Chicago | Ben Jones, 'Dukes of Hazzard' star and former Georgia Congressman, dies at 84 | 2026-08-10 00:29 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxPSGFjUUI2MnBXNFZXSllSX1VWeHhMRERwOVprd0k0S1dvZ3hvenRUTl80ei1WRGg1dk0yUzFBNmFKNE5hLXhZLV9nblVxUEpYMUdEUzRhZng5cC1KdmJ5VWVfX1NJekRmRHE5blRzeUZlb2NJaU9NRWN2bWY2V2NlV1lqQ0w5MXlCV0l0UzZwOXpDdHQ5V0ltdWxqaTBRRThMamhNaNIBqgFBVV95cUxNNVY0OFlsQXg1LVNMdmZFQUJTLXM3RkVyNWVYU0puak93NFkzby1aUWRBdVR2UGlGYktNV3dQRzZaNlZkNzVxTGN3azBwVEpwdHhXVS16WG9aT1g1WjdSR2c2S092UGZYNkFzSmNCV2FobDFMa0VSMHFjX3ZGejM3NkxVRFFpZ01sLWJPaGg2QlV3NXFkcEdMR3pNSnRUeGRhQ0g2S05hcjhZUQ?oc=5) |
| USA Today | Ben Jones, 'Dukes of Hazzard' star and former congressman, dies at 84 | 2026-08-10 00:29 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixAFBVV95cUxQX0N0R0VxTlpTR3k4ZDRRX2xaY1VlcUxQS0NZb3lPV2wyNGZwU0NVVlNrcWZKUnJVSmlaWWNzd2Yxa2dDLUZjZkRGYWNhb2pDR2pkbm5PWFQ0YThZZWhEZGRwMlIyM19rVERJOVVYeVFLTmw0ZmZXWmFnU1dxdWxKRDZjemVFVHNjUHFKLTBjZTYxUTQxd1VzT0dRaTQ3c05waE8wRGJ1blpzbHhpQzVxQngtT3JRSkRGb2RYeHROSEJnVXpG?oc=5) |
| Variety | Ben Jones, Actor Turned Politician Who Played Cooter Davenport in ‘The Dukes of Hazzard,’ Dies at 84 | 2026-08-09 23:50 | [Source Link](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/ben-jones-dead-cooter-davenport-the-dukes-of-hazzard-1236831024/) |
| The New York Times | Ben Jones, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Actor and Congressman, Dies at 84 | 2026-08-09 23:50 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMic0FVX3lxTE1HRDg1TkN0dktoNkEyVHFRNDVhNFI1X0tWTkFuSkpHM0QyVTd2Z2hMWmEycy1TRThjbnMzZGxudEdDNDRWeWM1cmdGTWMtWFl6bUtOZnBmTGpfMWVuZGUxd3pLZkxQVm9PUURVNFJud04ta1k?oc=5) |

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