# ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ cast member, former Georgia congressman, dies - WSB-TV

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-10 07:07 UTC · Category: Entertainment

## Executive Summary
Ben Jones, known as Cooter on The Dukes of Hazzard and as a former U.S. House member, dies at 84.

## Intelligence Brief
Recent media reports establish that Ben Jones, widely recognized for his role as Cooter on the television series The Dukes of Hazzard and as a former United States House member, has passed away at the age of eighty-four. According to the available coverage, his death has drawn widespread attention across various news outlets due to his dual career in both the entertainment industry and American politics, where he served as a two-term member of the United States House of Representatives and represented the state of Georgia. These outlets detail his life and career, noting both his acting contributions—specifically transforming his character's garage into a real-life car museum—and his political background as a former Georgia congressman.


Specific details regarding the timing and circumstances of his death are noted in individual reports, with people.com mentioning a massive heart attack. The biographical context provided in the headlines emphasizes the unusual combination of a Hollywood television career and a Washington political tenure. Viewers and readers are reminded of his long association with the iconic television show, where he played the character known as a good ol' boy mechanic, alongside his transition into elected federal office representing constituents in Congress for two terms.


As the story continues to develop in the news cycle, audiences and researchers will be looking to subsequent reports for any further announcements regarding memorials, tributes, or formal statements from colleagues and family members. At this stage, current reporting focuses entirely on summarizing his extensive television and political achievements as well as confirming his passing at age eighty-four.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland.com | Beloved actor’s death at 84 leaves fans, friends heartbroken: ‘He’ll be sorely missed’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizgFBVV95cUxPdVl1a0lNbTRMODFyTDZfU2RTVGNsTnVqWjFnYmt2RWdfQXR6RzV2NkZlLWNkRHZ1UXdMV3Fxa1FEcnJOUlp3eTlOdk5HQVFsMXNWU0RFR3I5TW92eWs5Qnp4ZlljeE04LVlYR1NYdUhvOW5uamYxMkY0MENZcDd2Z0VBR3kzZlZnMUprVWNjeE41S1hBd1loOHpZUEh6OXRHRGZzcG5DNTRKcTRLSXVHUjhLTEVFcTR2Q2hwU3gtRTY0RzRNZENvLU1MTWtUQdIB4gFBVV95cUxQUDVMYzZWcmhVVTFPa1pvUDVtWjdneTkxbURaSTEyRFBfbjFPLVdzSUVYM3dzYnl4N1FhckdueG52cGswYzA4am9mUW5rUzJrc3U1SjBLRDhEQXBzYmxRVEFxYnZ4aTYyMmxxTDV6Ul96WE1WSU51WnlDLTNYTldLSm54ME9) |
| Stuff | Ben Jones, good ol' boy 'Dukes of Hazzard' actor and 2-term US House member, dies at 84 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxONFZCdWhwcnQwd3RoRV9kbXJadjFSQWo2WkRoZnVMTV9pamtzUVhuSHRWRjQzY2tiYVhVNmNQcWRPczU5X2NVRERNU1h2QVZzZDZZU0lvUWh6S0VlOWs2bnowWGczaWVHRElpRzY2dHNPd29UVlpjTlJQOXRZNmFQdFg3TGZGOTJaNk9yVXZFN3lZX2Fwek0yZkNVRVBYMmxf?oc=5) |
| Fox News | Ben Jones, 'Dukes of Hazzard' actor and former congressman, dead at 84 | [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 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiekFVX3lxTE1jM2Zqd01SRVc4Y2VFS2V1bGNNbFhnRUhQaG1DX2dvR3pkOU1Edk5GQWtsMGVqRjEwdW1IcVRpWF90RnBEc1AzbkgxVVhwYnJ2bkVVVExXTXpxNUUzZEtHczlzUlFOcnljbF9MNXZ1VWx6UDEzR0hCbGFn?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Ben Jones, good ol' boy 'Dukes of Hazzard' actor and 2-term US House member, dies at 84 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxNcWtsdDR0Q0FhbTZ0cVhzYVc5OC13dWlXaWxEU3VjbTBqeGxlQVNWT0hLbi1Lb3FJRndtbWJVZVpXb1ppTEEtMjZiWXJqNkRVZUs5M1ByUE5rdXpmT1BZRFN1TFpETzJkOWxlcXN4MVBFUVFUZnpnWk1xYzluT2U0UlBQcV96ZHJRaXJfLQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Ben Jones, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Star Who Turned Cooter’s Garage Into a Real-Life Car Museum, Dies at 84 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxOaEdmZWwxMkxncVB2MXkxMW1OenVJdXhrTWE1cC1ZV0tybEZTOTlIcTRveUhtd0ljUURod0dWZHNjNTBSUFQ1WUp2c0d1d1FYRGtpX3Raak0xUjI1c2lXamJ0bXc3SEJyOGNUVmpjOFBSb2R4Z2t2UTV0SjhTeURlQVJFTWNYU0lhLVk2TjBvbjhoOFNuVnc?oc=5) |
| KATU | 'The Dukes of Hazzard' star and former congressman Ben Joes dies at 84 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi5AJBVV95cUxPS0N4QTFVSGpiYWl4SXVDRW9QU2NQVEl2OWdvR1FiRU9XaHlkMlFDeEJBbGUyT3F1eVM0MHg1c0JSZzA2aElZcUVKeGxDdkt1blkyWHQ2aUhTNC1ib2hOM3JfZUJBckpsRFVJR1JhRERlYlVkXy1PQVlscm90OXZuRVdUZHFnTVhRYXZEWllySjZvZlhQQXJmZ0dKcURtN0lIRTRJRk9TZFFOeUdMUlo5bzFiZ19BVzZRaWRMWjJIQjBGRXlBeS0xeXI3TnBUTFVZUVdoQ2lFZm4wZkVVc3JHV041NlctaG5oNHdMRnVtR2RFVzE3anA5OGxrZDQyZUh4SzF3Um93ckFhVC0wX2hwRzQtMFZ4V190bWtGcWg4NkJfMkRSSzNDeEktdDYwREhnY19CXzlZMTVCN2kxcGRJbE1PNV9QQ2VoRTVzZzZidXNpU2tWWTR) |
| nbcnews.com | Ben Jones, Cooter on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ and former congressman, dies at 84 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxNTWxnSVprWkNuMzhzdTJQT1lPTXVrRkI3c1Q0V3BaQ1pIWmpiVHRkUEI5RGpTYlRNZ29ValBGSVRWX2M4eklIbG5VMlVvTnlmelVBWVpPUmZrU0EwTUFFUThIeS01Z1lGdXpyYUw1UVpDX3NWa2oxN0N6bGdkZ1NDSFRSa0tpNGNTajJ5YnZjVV9XSDhucFZ2cUhYQWdPX2VZQW5GekZxMkk1d0tn?oc=5) |
| people.com | Ben Jones, Dukes of Hazzard Star and Former Congressman, Dies at 84 from ‘Massive’ Heart Attack | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxPQlZvRUdpSC03VEdtdjFYUnBKSlZNdzcyYWVYWDEwTnpPU3Y2c3BNa1dJMjlhWjJESkFIRUdPNkoyUzUyQW5xa0dWSFJsRTJTb0oyR1NydHVfMHBjczBKQ2xpUE9NMHhZM21oNkVUZmtseDg2OWxjazNxRlJGYlVyQ2pqYkhzcHVsU3ZiSVR3QUEtckUt?oc=5) |
| ABC7 Los Angeles | Ben Jones, 'Dukes of Hazzard' star and former Georgia Congressman, dies at 84 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxPcFVMZUpVNWV3SDFvZGhwTkliQnZ4bFYyS2VKR0gxSWdUUjhYS1Y4VVBaTjc0b0NGXzdVcFVPUFFzZ0MtMm9fRHc0RjZrUFVWeWpNUWduT3hSNkRPT28wc04zQTFLM25pWGlGTmhfWFF4Qk1HQnlzNEJwbzBmVlRQRXdJMlJmbU1HTGNZZFJXdm1HOTQ4OVNEVm1yMNIBoAFBVV95cUxPV2tMakFPclg1MWRlNHc4bGYxeElKclYyckxmeVJTc09TT29WZ0VWUlVuckdSRHFrY0puc2hoUjAyZXg2NjIzU0lYM2J3Q2hRUm5BXzNtSjBFMmF5R3FhOFN0NlFXSHJLdnZ4aVU3YWV5amlOcVBXbXJaWUxPdUE4NUI5MTkyMHlsTk1IbHpGS1B3ZjBxZXpQMmtJeV9lOVdX?oc=5) |
| AL.com | ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ star dead at 84: ‘He loved and was loved by so many’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxNempNemhQdmpYM0xYb3B0NkwwZE1IOEpmRXRYMXlmdUtONldQYThQblJnWF80V1RmWEQ2djI5NVRtQmhteDEyUDBlT1ZPVkpSd19xdUZSZ19STFl1dU9YRkEwWEEzZy0tVDlWemNmdk9XUjFxbERrclFHVXhKc3pXY3RMOGhYZjhPNThINVRKNUhocm5GdklkanpERy1HRGpOdnR4Rmp30gG6AUFVX3lxTE81QzQxTTROWU5LVjYtUS1RLWFXSDhTX1I2NEl3Wmh4RDBXUXJfRmtCeHhVR3FHVGtTSHlYcTlUM05zUURLYlRBVGJuOWtxSXVfZ1BZWGpvdjRiLVdCUkswVEkzRFMzU0lUMWpKOFFFc1NqbVRyLTJPeUY4SDUyZ0o1aHVrNzdKTGlxOFhDSFplWFFrTlVVNzZuSGI5YjFKcFhUUTVOcVl0dDAxb1Y) |

---
*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-08-10/dukes-of-hazzard-cast-member-former-georgia-congressman-dies-wsb-tv*