'Dukes of Hazzard' Actor Richard Hurst Dead at Age 79originally appeared onParade. FormerDukes of Hazzardstar Richard Hurst has died at the age of 79, his ex-wife confirmed. Hurst's first wife,Candace Kaniecki,toldTMZthat Hurst passed away on Thursday, June 26, in Los Angeles. His cause of death is currently unclear, and Kaniecki said that his passing was unexpected. Hurst was best known for playing Boss Hogg's cousin Deputy Cletus Hogg on the CBS seriesThe Dukes of Hazzardfrom 1980 until 1983. He also reprised the role inThe Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!in 1997 andThe Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzardin Hollywoodin 2000. The late actor's other memorable roles include Earl on Bea Arthur's short-lived seriesAmanda's, as well as appearances in films includingThe Karate Kid Part III(1989),Steel Magnolias(1989),Venomous(2001) andReturn of the Killer Shrews(2012). Hurst is survived by his sonsRyan HurstandCollin Hurst. Parade Daily🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 He previously reunited with hisDukes of Hazzardco-starsJohn Schneider, Catherine Bach, Tom Wopat,Byron CherryandJeff Altmanat the Gallatin Comic Con 2023 in Tennessee in 2023. At the time, the group seemed open to revisiting their characters from the beloved show in a potential revival. "As far as a Dukes reunion, anything is possible," Bach, 71, toldFox News Digitalat the time. TheDukes of Hazzardhas had a lasting legacy since the last time the original cast worked together. In fact, the series inspiredThe Dukes of Hazzardmovie in 2005 and a direct-to-video prequel calledThe Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginningin 2007. Shortly after news broke his his passing, several fans took to social media to express their sadness. "We're heartbroken to announce that Rick Hurst, Cletus, has passed away," aDukes of Hazzardfan accountwrote via X. "He was so kind to me when I visited the reunion sets and whenever we saw him at events. Please share your memories and keep the family in your thoughts and prayers." 'Dukes of Hazzard' Actor Richard Hurst Dead at Age 79first appeared on Parade on Jun 27, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
