Rick Hurst, beloved Dukes Of Hazzard actor, passes away at 79 just before scheduled fan event

Rick Hurst, who was recognized primarily for his role in the original version of The Dukes Of Hazzard during the late 1970s and early ’80s, passed away at the age of 79.

Hurst’s wife, Candace Kaniecki, shared the news with TMZ on Thursday. 

According to her, the television star died unexpectedly earlier on Thursday. 

So far, no cause of death has been reported.

Hurst rose to fame on The Dukes Of Hazzard as Deputy Cletus Hogg, who was the cousin of the show’s villain, Boss Hogg.

His passing occurred following a period where one of the show’s main actors, John Schneider, criticized ‘woke’ critics and Warner Bros. for the removal of the series from multiple TV networks and the suspension of toy production featuring the show’s famous vehicle, The General Lee. These actions were a response to objections regarding the show’s substantial use of imagery and nostalgia related to the Confederate legacy of supporting slavery.

Rick Hurst, who was best known for starring on the original version of The Dukes Of Hazzard from in the late 1970s and early ’80s, has died at 79; Hurst (L) is pictured with fellow Dukes Of Hazzard stars (L–R) John Schneider, Catherine Bach, Ben Jones and Tom Wopat

Hurst rose to fame on The Dukes Of Hazzard as Deputy Cletus Hogg, who was the cousin of the show’s villain, Boss Hogg; pictured in 1999 for The Dukes Of Hazzard: Hazzard In Hollywood

His death comes months after star John Schneider lashed out at ‘woke’ critics and Warner Bros. after the series was taken off the air and production of toy versions of The General Lee were halted due to criticism of the series’ use of Confederate imagery and nostalgia; a version of the iconic Doge muscle car built by Schneider is pictured in 2015

Hurst’s died just one week before he was scheduled to make an appearance at a fan event at the Dukes Of Hazzard–themed museum and store Cooter’s Place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on Thursday, July 3, according to the venue’s website.

But the museum posted a message to its Facebook page on Thursday morning indicating that the event would have to be rescheduled after Hurst wasn’t able to attend due to unforeseen circumstances, according to TMZ.

The post appears to have been taken down now, and the Nashville-based location of Cooter’s Place posted a brief tribute honoring Hurst.

Hurst was part of The Dukes Of Hazzard from its first season in early 1979, though he was only a recurring character for the first two seasons. 

He played second fiddle to Sonny Shroyer’s deputy Enos Strate, who was downgraded to a recurring cast member in the third and fourth seasons when he left to launch his own short-lived spinoff Enos.

Shroyer only had occasional guest appearances in the third season and was completely absent from the fourth, so Hurst was bumped up to the main cast to replace him. 

However, Shroyer rejoined the show as part of the main cast in 1982 for the fifth season, while Hurst was downgraded to a guest actor. 

He didn’t appear in the final two Dukes Of Hazzard seasons, but he and Shroyer were both part of the main cast of the 1997 TV movie The Dukes Of Hazzard: Reunion! and its 2000 follow-up The Dukes Of Hazzard: Hazzard In Hollywood.

Hurst’s died one week before he was scheduled to make an appearance at a fan event at the Dukes Of Hazzard–themed museum Cooter’s Place in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., on July 3; (L–R) Byron Cherry, Jeff Altman, Hurst, Catherine Bach, Schneider and Tom Wopat seen in 2023

Shroyer began as a recurring character behind Sonny Shroyer’s deputy Enos Strate, but when Shroyer left for a short-lived spinoff, Hurst gained main-cast billing. He was absent from the final two seasons after Shroyer returned in 1982; Wopat and Schneider pictured

Hurst’s character Cletus was originally just a henchman for his cousin Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) in the first season, and he was only deputized beginning in the second season of The Dukes Of Hazzard.

After he was downgraded on his flagship series, Hurst joined the Bea Arthur–led sitcom Amanda’s, which was an American remake of John Cleese and Connie Booth’s classic British series Fawlty Towers. 

The series marked Arthur’s return to television five years after the end of Maude and was a stop gap before she began appearing on Golden Girls.

However, it was canceled after airing only 10 episodes, though the remaining three that were filmed were later shown in reruns. 

Hust played the comical chef Earl Nash. 

Hurst often played police officers or detectives, including in small roles on The Doris Day Show, Sanford And Son, The Partridge Family, Get Christie Love! and The Blue Knight.

He also played soldiers multiple times, as on M*A*S*H and the 1979 miniseries version of From Here To Eternity. 

Hurst appeared on a bevy of other major shows, including The Bob Newhart Show, Gunsmoke, Kojak, Happy Days, Little House On The Prairie, The Six Million Dollar Man, Baretta and Murder, She Wrote.

Hurst (2nd to left) rejoined Dukes Of Hazzard for its 1997 Reunion! (pictured) and 2000’s Hazzard In Hollywood TV movies; (L–R) James Best, Hurst, Tom Wopat, Catherine Bach, Schneider and Ben Jones

Hurst was an in-demand guest star who appeared on numerous classic shows in the ’70s and ’80s. He was often cast as a police officer or detective; pictured (center) on the unaired pilot of Madam Sheriff with Conchata Ferrell (L) in 1979

Hurst is survived by his wife Candace and his son Ryan Hurst (center; pictured with future wife Molly Cookson in 2002 in LA).

Although he was best known for his numerous television roles, Hurst also appeared in several high-profile films, including the conspiracy thriller Executive Action (1973), the Burt Reynolds–starring W.W. And The Dixie Dancekings (1975), The Cat From Outer Space (1978), 1984’s The Karate Kid and its first two sequels, Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), Steel Magnolias (1989) and In The Line Of Fire (1993). 

Hurst is survived by his wife Candace and his son Ryan Hurst, who also went on to become an actor.

Ryan is best known for playing Gerry in the inspirational high school football drama Remember The Titans (2000) and for starring as Opie Winston in FX’s series Sons Of Anarchy from 2008 to 2012. 

He had other major roles on Bates Motel, Bosch and The Walking Dead.