Ben Jones (American actor and politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ben Jones
Jones in 1989
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 4th district
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Pat Swindall
Succeeded by	Don Johnson (redistricted)
Personal details
Born	Benjamin Lewis Jones (1941-08-30)August 30, 1941 Tarboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	August 9, 2026(2026-08-09) (aged 84) Washington, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	East Carolina University (attended) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (attended)

Benjamin Lewis Jones (August 30, 1941 – August 9, 2026) was an American actor, writer, and politician. Many people knew him best as Cooter Davenport from the popular TV show The Dukes of Hazzard. He also served as a representative in the United States House of Representatives for four years.

Early Life and Education

Ben Jones with the General Lee car outside his store in Virginia in 1999.

Ben Jones was born in North Carolina on August 30, 1941. His father worked for the railroad, and his mother's father also worked for the railroad. When Ben was very young, his family moved to Portsmouth, Virginia. They lived in a simple house near a busy train yard.

He finished high school in 1959. He worked hard at different jobs to save money for college. In 1960, he attended East Carolina University. The next year, he was accepted into the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill because of his writing talent.

During his college summers, Ben Jones worked on trains for the railroad. In 1962, he started acting with a group called the Carolina Playmakers. He soon began earning money by acting in plays, including outdoor shows in North Carolina.

Ben Jones was also involved in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s. He worked to ensure equal rights for all people.

Ben Jones's Career Journey

Acting on Stage and Screen

Ben Jones was a very busy actor. He appeared in more than 100 plays. He performed in famous places like the Kennedy Center. In 1969, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia. There, he continued acting in plays and many television and radio commercials.

He also started getting roles in movies. Some of these included Smokey and the Bandit and The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings. He worked alongside well-known actors like Burt Reynolds and James Earl Jones.

Becoming Cooter Davenport

In the 1970s, Ben Jones acted in a film called The Moonrunners. This movie later inspired the popular TV show The Dukes of Hazzard. In 1978, Ben Jones was chosen to play Cooter Davenport. Cooter was the friendly mechanic who helped the main characters, Bo and Luke Duke.

The show quickly became very popular, with millions of people watching it every week. While filming The Dukes of Hazzard, Ben Jones also helped lead the Georgia branch of the Screen Actors Guild, which is a union for actors. He also chaired the Georgia Film Commission, helping to promote filmmaking in his state.

Serving in the United States Congress

In 1986, Ben Jones decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress to represent Georgia. He didn't win that first time, but he tried again in 1988 and won! He was re-elected in 1990, serving a total of four years in Congress.

While in Congress, he worked on committees that helped veterans and improved public transportation. After some changes to district boundaries, he ran for Congress again in 1994 but did not win. He later became an independent politician, meaning he didn't belong to a specific political party.

Later, after moving to Virginia, he ran for Congress one more time in 2002 but was not elected.

Life After Congress

After his time in Congress, Ben Jones went back to acting. He appeared in movies like Primary Colors and Meet Joe Black. He also played Cooter again in two special Dukes of Hazzard reunion shows.

In 1998, Ben Jones and his wife, Alma Viator, bought a farm in Virginia. In 1999, they opened a Dukes of Hazzard museum and store called "Cooter's Place." It became very popular! They later opened more "Cooter's Place" stores in Tennessee and Virginia.

They also organized big Dukes of Hazzard fan festivals, which attracted many thousands of fans. Ben Jones even toured with his band, Cooter's Garage Band, and recorded several music albums.

In 2007, Ben Jones wrote a book about his life called Redneck Boy in the Promised Land. As a writer, Ben Jones also published stories, poems, and articles in many well-known newspapers and magazines. He often shared his unique political ideas on TV and radio.

Death

Ben Jones passed away from a heart attack at his home in Virginia on August 9, 2026, at the age of 84.

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

Video games