Richard Hurst, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Star, Dead at 79
Published June 26, 2025 6:41 PM PDT
Richard Hurst – best known for playing Cletus Hogg on “The Dukes of Hazzard” – has died … TMZ has learned.
His ex-wife, Candace Kaniecki, tells TMZ that Rick passed away Thursday in Los Angeles. She says his death was unexpected and the cause is currently unknown.
Rick was scheduled to appear at Cooter’s Place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on July 3. Thursday morning, the venue announced on Facebook that due to unforeseen circumstances, Rick would not be able to attend and they would reschedule.
Fans of the classic TV series will remember Rick’s role as Boss Hogg’s nephew on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” a character he first portrayed in the late 1970s and continued playing throughout the 1980s.
Rick had an extensive list of television and film credits, appearing in shows like “Sanford and Son,” “The Partridge Family,” “MAS*H,” “Gunsmoke,” and “The Bob Newhart Show.” In films, he appeared in classics such as “The Cat from Outer Space” and “History of the World: Part I.”
His son, actor Ryan Hurst, is best known for his roles in “Sons of Anarchy” and “Remember the Titans.”
Rick was 79.
RIP.
