Ben L. Jones
| Ben Jones | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 4th district |
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In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Pat Swindall |
| Succeeded by | John Linder |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ben Lewis Jones August 30, 1941 Tarboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Actor |
Ben Lewis Jones (born August 30, 1941) is an American actor, politician, playwright and essayist, best known for his role as Cooter Davenport in The Dukes of Hazzard. Jones also served for four years in the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1989 to January 3, 1993.
Jones is a 1959 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth, Virginia and attended the University of North Carolina for four years. He is married to Alma Viator. By previous wives, Ben has a daughter, Rachel, and a son, Walker.
Since the 1990s, Jones has run a chain of "Cooter's museums" across the U.S., dedicated to The Dukes of Hazzard. "Cooter's Place" currently has locations in Tennessee and Virginia.
Following the end of The Dukes of Hazzard, Jones entered the political arena as a Democrat. In 1986, he ran unsuccessfully against Pat Swindall for a seat in the United States House of Representatives from Georgia, garnering 47% of the vote, more than expected. He ran again in 1988, against Swindall, this time easily winning with 60% of the vote. Jones was narrowly re-elected in 1990, but in 1992, following redistricting which moved his home into another district, he was defeated in the Democratic primary election. In 1994, he ran against the then-House Minority Whip and soon-to-be House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Jones received 35% of the vote.
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