It is with great sadness that we at HazzardNet mark the passing of Rick Hurst, best known to Dukes of Hazzard fans as the lovable and bumbling Deputy Cletus Hogg. He passed away on June 26, 2025, at the age of 79.
Rick brought heart, humor, and humanity to the role of Cletus, making him a fan favorite across generations. But beyond the screen, Rick was every bit as warm and genuine as the character he played. He wasn’t just an actor we admired—he was a man we were lucky to meet in person.
I had the honor of meeting Rick on the set of the first Dukes of Hazzard reunion movie and again on the set of the second. Over the years, I also had the pleasure of speaking with him at several fan events. Each time, he greeted me with a big smile and an open heart. We shared wonderful conversations, and I always walked away feeling like I’d just caught up with an old friend.
Rick had a special way of making fans feel seen and appreciated. He loved being part of the Dukes family and was deeply grateful for the fans who kept its spirit alive. Whether on a convention stage or just chatting in the autograph line, he gave his full attention, always ready with a story or a laugh.
His passing is a loss to the Dukes of Hazzard community and to all who knew him. But his kindness, his talent, and the joy he brought to so many lives will never be forgotten.
Rest easy, Rick. Hazzard County won’t be the same without you.
The Dukes of Hazzard Family Reunion in Livingston Parish, LA had 20,000 fans show up on Sept. 29, which exceeded the hoped-for attendance by promoters. The event offered free admission to the public, though nominal autograph fees were charged by Dukes of Hazzard cast members. You can read a local write-up about it in The Daily Reveille. By all accounts thus far from fans, promoters and cast members, the event was a great success, and there is already talk of another Hazzard Family Reunion for 2013.
Meanwhile, Dukes of Hazzard shindigs continue during 2012! Owners of General Lee replicas can join cast member Ben Jones, a/k/a “Cooter Davenport”, for the annual Hazzard Run on Oct. 13 & 14! Rick Hurst, “Deputy Cletus Hogg” will be joining the fun. If you’ve never seen this parade of General Lees roll into town, it’s a sight worth the trip! To register your General Lee for the Hazzard Run, or to obtain spectator info, visit Cooter’s Place.
Unless you’ve been hiding out in the mountains with your moonshine still, you’ve probably heard that Hazzard Homecoming is taking place August 11 & 12! It’s located at the Ben Venue Racecourse, intersection of Hwy 211 and Route 729 in Amissville, VA. This is just down the road from Sperryville.
Hazzard Homecoming will feature personal appearances by the surviving principal cast of The Dukes of Hazzard. Yes, both John Schneider and Tom Wopat – Bo and Luke Duke – will be there! As will the charming Catherine Bach.
We’ll also have the intrepid presence of the Hazzard County Sheriff’s Department; James Best, Sonny Shroyer and Rick Hurst. Hosting the shindig is Ben Jones, ol’ Cooter himself, with help from his wife, the lovely Miss Alma.
Of course, you can expect to see lots of General Lees too! Along with Daisy’s Jeep, Uncle Jesse’s pickup and Hazzard County patrol cars.
There’s literally too much going on for us to list, so head over to Cootersplace.com for the complete details. There’s a long lineup of concerts, BMX bike stunts, professional wrestling and whatever else they pull out of the hat.
Best of all, you’ll be surrounded by thousands of other Dukes fans just like you, who can’t get enough of the Dukes of Hazzard!
It’s been hinted by the organizers that this could be “the last time the entire cast is together.” We’re not going to read into that too deeply or speak anything negative into existence. What we will say, however, is that we know just how much time, work and expense go into putting these events together. There’s been some form of DukesFest/Hazzard Homecoming for so long now that we’ve come to expect them.
But you never know.
So, clear your calendar, gas up the car, pack a cooler and make the pilgrimage to Hazzard Homecoming! Oh, and before we forget – YEEEHAAAA!!
We’re closing in on “Hazzard Comes to Galax” on June 2nd! This Dukes of Hazzard fan gathering is affordable fun, with tickets at the gate running $10 for adults and a mere $5 for kids 12 and younger. Scheduled cast appearances include John Schneider, James Best, Sonny Shroyer, Rick Hurst, and Ben Jones.
If that doesn’t already grab ya, then go for the Stunt Show performed by our crazy friends, the Northeast Ohio Dukes! If you have never seen the General Lee fly in person, you won’t want to miss it!
This is a one-day only event, Saturday June 2nd from 9:00 a.m. to about 7:00 p.m. Free up your Friday and hit the road! For directions, hotel information and all the details we were too lazy to spell out, visit their official website!
Despite appearing in 47 episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard, we’ve noticed that Rick Hurst doesn’t have his own website. At least not one that we can find! This seems an injustice, even for Hazzard County.
Now, we know that Deputy Cletus Hogg was the low man on the totem pole in the Hazzard County Sheriff’s Department. He was ranked somewhere below Rosco’s basset hound in terms of authority. We also know that as a relative of Boss Hogg, Cletus didn’t get any automatic sympathy. His I.Q. was pegged to be somewhere between dipstick and lug nut. Cletus also lacked the innocence of his predecessor, Deputy Enos Strate.
All in all, Cletus was clumsy, dense, easily distracted, and possessed questionable driving skills. Naturally, he fit right in with the Hazzard County Sheriff’s Department.
Rick Hurst’s talent for physical comedy and comedic timing made Cletus a memorable part of The Dukes of Hazzard. Cletus had his first appearance in the episode “Money to Burn” as an armored car driver. Cletus appeared in later episodes as a reserve Deputy, filling in for the temporary absence of Enos in “The Meeting” and “Road Pirates.”
Cletus takes a bite out of crime in “The Meeting”
During the third season, Sonny Shroyer was offered his own show in the spin-off series Enos. The translation in Hazzard County was that Boss fired Enos, prompting Enos to accept a position with the L.A. police department. Cletus, already trained in the skills of automotive snorkeling and landscaping with cop cars, threw himself bodily into the position of full-time Deputy.
Rick Hurst’s reliable portrayal of Cletus would eventually earn him the spotlight in the fourth season episode, “Cletus Falls in Love.” Watching Cletus stumble his way through his newfound feelings while Daisy becomes more and more flustered is hilarious. When Daisy said, “We need to talk,” Cletus spoke for men everywhere when he responded with, “I’d rather smooch!”
Alas, the good times for Cletus wouldn’t last. During the fateful fifth season, when Coy and Vance temporarily replaced Bo and Luke, the Enos series was cancelled. Deputy Enos Strate subsequently returned to Hazzard County. Cletus would remain part of the Hazzard County law for only a few more episodes, sharing an awkward co-dipstick duty with Enos.
After receiving an offer in another series, Rick Hurst bowed out from the Dukes of Hazzard. In Hazzard County, Cletus’s abrupt absence was explained once as a “vacation” and then never mentioned again. Enos returned to prominence as Hazzard’s only honest lawman and dipstick extraordinaire.
Cletus did find his way back to Hazzard for the TV reunion movies. And while Rick Hurst has had other roles since his Dukes days, he remains fond of The Dukes of Hazzard and its fans. Rick has made many personal appearances at DukesFest and Cooter’s Place.
All this being said, it’s incredible that Cletus looks homeless out there on the internet. So we’re gonna keep a place for him here on HazzardNet! You can view Rick’s upcoming appearances in our Forums. We’ll also beef up (Hogg up?) our cast and character pages and give this wayward son of Hazzard County his share of attention.
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