Ben Jones Biography

Ben Jones an American actor, politician, a playwright and also essayist known for his role as Cooter Davenport in The Dukes of Hazzard. He as well worked for four years in the United States House of Representatives from 3 January 1989 to 3 January 1993.

Ben Jones Age

Jones was born on 30 August 1941, in Tarboro, North Carolina, United States of America.

Ben Jones Politics

Jones entered the political arena as a Democrat after the end of The Dukes of Hazzard. In 1986, he ran unsuccessfully against Pat Swindall for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia, gaining more than expected 47 percent of the vote. He ran again against Swindall in 1988, this time winning easily with 60 percent of the vote.

Jones was re-elected narrowly in 1990, but he was defeated in the Democratic primary election in 1992 after a redistrict that moved his home to another district. He ran against the then-House Minority Whip and the soon-to-be House Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1994. Jones received 35% of the vote.

Jones has since returned to acting as well as becoming a well-known writer, writing many political essays and a one-man play on Dizzy Dean in which he plays the famous “Gashouse Gang” pitcher and baseball announcer. He broke from most Democrats in 1998 and called on President Bill Clinton to resign during his impeachment.

Jones remains active in the Democratic Party. In 2002, he ran unsuccessfully against Republican incumbent Eric Cantor for a seat in Virginia’s U.S. House, thus becoming one of the very few recent American politicians seeking elective office in more than one state.

Ben Jones Net Worth

Jones has an estimated net worth of $500,000.

Ben Jones Height and Weight

Jones stands tall at a height of 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and has an average body weight.

Ben Jones Education

Jones joined Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, and later graduated in 1959, he later joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for four years.

Ben Jones Family

Jones was to his mother Ila and his father was a railroad worker. He was raised up in a dockside railroad yard in Portsmouth, Va., in a house with no electricity or plumbing.

Ben Jones Wife

Jones married Alma Viator on 10 October 1992. He previously married his first wife in the year 1964. After three years his boozing and brawling latter divorced in 1967. He thereafter met TV commercial producer Vivian Walker. The duo wed in 1969 andr 1970, their first daughter Rachel was born. His son Walker was born backin 1983.

Ben Jones Children

Jones has a daughter by the name of Rachael Jones born in 1970, and also a son Walker Jones born in 1983.

Ben Jones Dukes of Hazzard

Critics projected that the show ‘ wouldn’t last after the first commercial break. ‘ The television show proved to be a huge success, running as of 1979 to 1985 and attracting countless fans all over the world.

Jones and his wife, Alma Viator, are the proprietors of “Cooter’s Place,” the “Dukes of Hazzard” museum and shops in Luray, Virginia, Pigeon Forge, and Nashville, Tennessee. They also founded “Dukesfest,” a huge annual gathering of “Dukes” fans.

Ben Jones Movies and TV Shows

• Together for Days 1972
• They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way 1978
• Handgun 1983
• The Dukes of Hazzard 1979 – 1985
• The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! 1997
• Primary Colors 1998
• The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood! 2000
• Joe Gould’s Secret 2000 Running on the Sun: The Badwater 135 2000
• Don’t Change My World