Overview
- Jones died Sunday at his home in Washington, Virginia from a massive heart attack while resting and waiting to watch the Atlanta Braves, his wife Alma Viator said in a Facebook post.
- He became widely known as mechanic Cooter Davenport, appearing across the seven-season run of The Dukes of Hazzard and in later reunion films, and he ran a Dukes museum and remained active with fans.
- Jones left acting to run for office and won Georgia’s 4th Congressional District in 1988, serving two terms from 1989 to 1993 and holding roles such as Democratic whip and committee membership on veterans and public works.
- Cast members and public figures have posted tributes to Jones, who is survived by his wife and children, and funeral or public memorial plans had not been widely reported as of the latest coverage.
- After Congress he returned to entertainment, led state film and actors’ organization work, published a memoir, and drew attention for his defense of Confederate imagery, a stance that shaped parts of his later public legacy.