Rick Hurst, ‘Dukes Of Hazzard’ Actor, Dies At 79

Rick Hurst, who is remembered as Deputy Clutus Hogg, Bogg Hogg’s (Sorrell Booke) bumbling cousin on The Dukes of Hazzard, died on Thursday of unknown causes. He was 79.

Hurst’s first wife, Candace Kaniecki, told TMZ that his passing was unexpected.

“We’re heartbroken to announce that Rick Hurst, Cletus, has passed away. 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,” read a post of The Dukes of Hazzard fan site HazzardNet.com on Twitter.

Hurst appeared in the 1979 to 1982 seasons of The Dukes of Hazzard and in the TV movies The Dukes of Hazzard Reunion in 1997 and The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard of Hollywood in 2002.

Born January 1, 1946, Hurst began on television as a guest star in numerous series in the early 1970s including The Doris Day Show, Sanford and Son, The Partridge Family, The Bob Newhart Show, Kung Fu and Love, American Style. His first regularly scheduled role on a television show was Cleaver in the 1975 to 1976 comedy On the Rocks. Next were more guest spots, including M*A*S*H and crime drama Baretta, followed by the 1979 miniseries From Here to Eternity.

When Sonny Shroyer temporarily exited The Dukes of Hazzard for his spinoff Enos, Rick Hurst as Cletus Hogg was upgraded to a series regular.

Following The Dukes of Hazzard, Hurst appeared as Earl Nash, a chef, in the 13-episode Bea Arthur sitcom Amanda’s in 1983. Later guest TV appearances included Michael Landon’s Highway to Heaven, The Last Precinct, Murder, She Wrote, 227, Family Matters and Melrose Place. His film roles included Steel Magnolias and The Karate Kid Part III, both in 1989.

Hurst is survived by his sons Ryan Hurst and Collin Hurst.