79-year-old Rick Hurst, known for his endearing portrayal of kind-hearted Deputy Cletus Hogg in the popular CBS action comedy series “The Dukes of Hazzard“, passed away on Thursday.
The Cooter’s Place museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee reported the passing of Hurst. It was unfortunate that his planned visit from July 3-7 had to be cancelled.
On Instagram, the Dukes of Hazzard paid tribute to him as not just a character, but a cherished family member. His warm smile, perfect comic delivery, and generous heart brought joy to every scene.
Behind the scenes, Rick earned a reputation for his generosity, humility, and enthusiasm for interacting with fans at events spanning the nation. Whether it was a reunion or a gathering at Cooter’s, he consistently spread his happiness towards those who admired him.
Off-camera, Rick was widely recognized for his generosity, humility, and passion for meeting fans at various events throughout the country. Be it a reunion program or an encounter at Cooter’s, he never failed to share his joy with those who cherished him.
Prior to his iconic character, Hurst portrayed a character called Cleaver in the 1975-76 ABC sitcom “On the Rocks”. This comedy series centered around the lives of inmates residing in a low-security prison.
Hurst appeared as a guest star on numerous television shows, ranging from “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Gunsmoke,” “Kojak,” and “Happy Days” to “M*A*S*H,” “Baretta,” “Highway to Heaven,” “Evening Shade,” and “The Wonder Years.
Among the survivors is Ryan Hurst, his son who gained fame as Opie Winston in the FX series “Sons of Anarchy,” a notable role in the drama.
Cletus made his debut as Hurst in 1979, appearing in the 11th episode of “The Dukes of Hazzard.” This popular television show aired on CBS and starred Tom Wopat, John Schneider, Catherine Bach, and a car known as the General Lee, a 1969 Dodge Charger. Boss Hogg’s corrupt county commissioner cousin twice removed was played by Sorrell Booke in this series that became a Friday night sensation.
(Note: I have changed “Hurst” to “Cletus” for clarity and used “appeared” instead of “showed up.”)
During the second season, Cletus temporarily takes on the role of deputy as Enos Strate (Sonny Shroyer) is absent. Later, in the third season, he gives up his job at the junkyard to become a permanent deputy when Shroyer started starring in his own spinoff series titled “Enos“.
Following Enos’s return to Hazzard County, Georgia from his work in Los Angeles – where the spin-off ran for only one season – he and Cletus take turns as deputies and share a patrol car throughout season five (1982-83).
Hurst, often finding himself in a pond during the relentless chase with the mischievous Duke brothers (Wopat and Schneider) in one of those iconic car chases, came back for reunion television movies in 1997 and 2000.
Hurst, who frequently ended up in a pond while hot on the tail of the troublesome Duke brothers (Wopat and Schneider) during those thrilling car chases, made appearances in reunion TV films in 1997 and 2000.
As a passionate admirer, let me share some fascinating details about the life of Richard Douglas Hurst. Born on the vibrant first day of the year, 1946, in the bustling city of Houston, Hurst embarked on an intellectual journey that would lead him to earn his bachelor’s degree from Tulane University in 1968. His thirst for knowledge and artistic expression didn’t stop there; he pursued further studies and earned his master’s in fine arts from Temple University in 1970.
In 1971, he first appeared on television on an episode of “The Doris Day Show.” The following year, he was seen on “Sanford and Son” and “The Partridge Family,” and in the film titled “The Unholy Rollers.
Following his role in “Dukes”, he portrayed a clumsy chef on the 1983 ABC reboot of the popular British sitcom “Fawlty Towers”, titled “Amanda’s”. This version starred Bea Arthur as the proprietor of a coastal hotel, marking her first series after “Maude”. Unfortunately, the show only managed to air ten episodes before it was canceled.
Among his extensive filmography, you’ll find titles like “Tunnel Vision” (1976), “The Alien Feline” (1978), “Easy Does It” (1988), “Karate Kid III” (1989), “In Harm’s Way” (1993), “The Legal Case” (1995), and “Magnolias of the South” (1989).
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2025-06-27 05:24