RICK Hurst, who was best known for his role in the top TV series The Dukes of Hazzard, has died at the age of 79.
The actor's death comes just days before he was set to make an appearance at a fan event.
Hurst died unexpectedly in Los Angeles on June 26, his family told TMZ
He played the cop Cletus Hogg in the show – the brother of the villain Boss Hogg – between 1979 and 1982.
The Dukes of Hazzard aired from 1979 to 1985 and there are seven seasons of the comedy series.
Hurst appeared in the 1997 movie The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!, and the 2000 flick The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood.
He was due to show up at Cooter's Place, a museum home to Dukes of Hazzard memorabilia, on July 3 for a fan event but the venue had announced his appearance had been canceled.
Cooter's has since paid tribute to Hurst.
"It doesn't seem right that Rick Hurst passed away this afternoon," Ben Jones, one of the proprietors of the museum, wrote on Facebook.
"When something so unexpected happens, it is "harder to process", as the current expression goes."
Jones then paid tribute to Hurst's acting and comedy skills.
"Sure he was a professional comedian, but mostly he just had a heart as big as Texas," he said.
"He was a fine actor, a splendid comic, and a wonderful supportive colleague."
During his TV and film career that spanned decades, Texas-born Hurst also appeared in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, and the 1993 flick In the Line of Fire.
During the 1980s, Hurst also appeared in shows such as Amanda's and Murder, She Wrote.
Rick Hurst's acting credits
RICK Hurst, who was best known for appearing in The Dukes of Hazzard, has died at the age of 79. He starred in 55 episodes of the series between 1979 and 1982.
Here are some of his other acting credits:
- Kojak – 1973
- Happy Days – 1974
- Little House on the Prairie – 1974
- W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings – 1975
- M*A*S*H – 1977
- The Dukes of Hazzard – 1979-1982
- Amanda's – 1983
- Blue City – 1986
- Sidekicks – 1987
- Murder, She Wrote – 1988
- Perfect Strangers – 1990
- Family Matters – 1993
- Melrose Place – 1993
- The Jeff Foxworthy Show – 1997
- The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! – 1997
- The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood – 2000
Source: IMDB
Hurst made cameo appearances in shows such as Family Matters, Melrose Place and the Jeff Foxworthy Show during the 1990s.
He starred in the 1997 movie Runaway Car, which was directed by Jack Sholder.
One of Hurst's last acting credits was in the 2012 movie Return of the Killer Shrews, which starred John Schneider.
Schneider played the character Bo Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard.
Schneider has led the tributes to Hurst following his death.
"You were remarkable force for humanity, sanity and comedy my friend," he wrote on Facebook.
"Heaven is a safer and more organized place with you in it.
"We'll keep the race going and people laughing until we meet again!"
Hurst is survived by his son, Ryan, who is an actor in his own right.
Ryan has starred in hit series such as Sons of Anarchy, Bates Motel, and The Walking Dead.
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