Veteran actor Richard "Rick" Hurst, famed for his portrayal of Deputy Cletus Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard, has died at the age of 79. Rick's former wife, Candace Kaniecki, broke the news to TMZ, revealing that Rick had passed away unexpectedly in Los Angeles on Thursday,

Actor Rick Hurst, beloved for his role as Deputy Cletus Hogg in "The Dukes of Hazzard," has died at the age of 79. Hurst is survived by two sons, Ryan and Collin, who followed in his acting footsteps.

Hurst’s passing was confirmed by his long-time friend and Dukes co-star, Ben Jones, who shared a message with the Cooter’s Pigeon Forge Facebook page. Jones had been scheduled to make a meet-and-greet appearance at the Cooter’s Place museum from July 3 to July 7. A cause of death was not provided.