Ben Jones

Actor Ben Jones is best known for his portrayal of a character who lent a helping hand in assembling one of the most famous cars in television history. Jones began his professional acting career with a role in the obscure 1968 film "Killers Three," and would continue to play small roles in both movies and television throughout the 1970s. But in 1979, he landed the role of mechanic Cooter Davenport in the hit television show "The Dukes of Hazzard," a character who was an "honorary Duke," and supposedly helped restore the show's famous vehicle, the General Lee (a 1969 Dodge Charger). Jones would appear on a total of 142 shows during the show's run from 1979 through 1985 (despite a brief absence during the second season, due to a disagreement with the show's producers). Jones has continued to appear sporadically in movies and television shows (including the hit 1998 movie "Primary Colors"), and runs a chain of "Cooter's" museums across the United States dedicated to "The Dukes of Hazzard." Additionally, Jones has been involved in politics over the years (as a Democrat), representing Georgia in the United States House of Representatives during the late 1980s/early 1990s. In 2002, Jones once more ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives, this time representing Virginia.