Ben Jones, the actor who became a television icon as mechanic Cooter Davenport on “The Dukes of Hazzard” before going on to represent Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives, has died. He was 84.

News of Jones’ death was reported Sunday, August 9, prompting tributes from fans of the classic television series and those who remembered his unusual career spanning entertainment and politics.

Born Benjamin Lewis Jones on August 30, 1941, in Tarboro, North Carolina, Jones eventually made his way to Georgia, moving to Atlanta in 1969 and working as an actor with several theater companies. His early film credits included appearances in “Smokey and the Bandit” and “The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings.”

But it was his role as Cooter Davenport, the good-natured mechanic and friend of Bo and Luke Duke, that made Jones a household name.

“The Dukes of Hazzard” debuted on CBS in 1979, with Jones appearing as Cooter throughout the show’s run. The series followed the adventures of the Duke family in fictional Hazzard County and became one of television’s most recognizable programs of its era. Jones appeared in 141 episodes between 1979 and 1985.

Jones also had strong ties to Georgia during the show’s early years. “The Dukes of Hazzard” began filming in Georgia in 1978 near Covington, and Jones continued living in the state even after production moved to California. He later served as president of the Georgia branch of the Screen Actors Guild and as chairman of the Georgia Film Commission.

His career then took an unusual turn from Hollywood to Washington.

Jones ran for Congress in Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District in 1986 but was unsuccessful. He ran again in 1988 and won, beginning his service in the U.S. House in January 1989.

A Democrat, Jones was reelected in 1990 and served two terms representing Georgia before leaving Congress in January 1993. Official congressional records confirm his service in the 101st and 102nd Congresses.

After leaving Washington, Jones returned to acting and entertainment. He appeared in films including “Primary Colors” and “Meet Joe Black” and reprised his famous role as Cooter in “The Dukes of Hazzard” reunion productions.

Jones and his wife, Alma Viator, also helped keep the legacy of the television series alive through Cooter’s Place, a series of “Dukes of Hazzard”-themed museums and stores, along with fan gatherings and appearances that brought generations of “Dukes” fans together.

Jones was also a musician and writer. His memoir, “Redneck Boy in the Promised Land,” chronicled his journey from a modest upbringing to television fame and the halls of Congress.

His former “Dukes of Hazzard” co-star Tom Wopat, who played Luke Duke, remembered Jones Sunday as a friend and important member of the show’s family, saying Jones would be “sorely missed.”

For Georgians, Jones leaves behind a particularly unusual legacy — a man remembered by millions as the mechanic who kept the General Lee running on television who later went to Washington to represent the state in Congress.