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Richard Hurst, best known for his role as Deputy Cletus Hogg on the classic TV series The Dukes of Hazzard, has passed away at age 79. His ex-wife, Candace Kaniecki, confirmed his death on Thursday, June 26th in Los Angeles. The cause of death is currently unknown, and his passing was unexpected.
Hurst warmed the hearts of audiences as Boss Hogg’s bumbling but lovable cousin, Cletus, from 1980 to 1983. He later reprised the role for the reunion movies *The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!
- in 1997 and The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood in 2000. Beyond his iconic Dukes role, Hurst also appeared in the sitcom Amanda’s and had roles in films such as The Karate Kid Part III, Steel Magnolias, Venomous, and Return of the Killer Shrews.
Earlier this year, Hurst reunited with several of his Dukes of Hazzard co-stars at the Gallatin Comic Con in Tennessee. At the time, the cast expressed openness to a potential revival of the beloved series.
Hurst is survived by his two sons, Ryan and Collin. Following the news of his passing, fans took to social media to share their condolences and memories of the actor.