Remembering Rick Hurst: His most memorable roles that made him unforgettable

Rick Hurst, who rose to fame as Deputy Cletus Hogg in the 1980s action comedy series The Dukes of Hazzard, died at the age of 79. He passed away on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Los Angeles, as reported by TMZ.

Richard Douglas Hurst, also called Rick, was born on January 1, 1946, in Houston, Texas. After he post-graduated in Fine Arts, Hurst followed his true passion and soon ventured into Hollywood, appearing in several classic TV shows and films.

Here's a list of some of Rick Hurst's most memorable roles.

Rick Hurst's most memorable roles that make him unforgettable

Rick Hurst was the kind of actor whose presence elevated every scene in which he appeared. Even though he mostly played guest roles during his early career days-he always left a vivid impression on the audience. Here are some of his memorable roles.

The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985)- Deputy Cletus Hogg

Hurst played the role of Deputy Cletus Hogg, the naive yet friendly cousin to Boss Hogg in The Dukes of Hazzard. This popular CBS action comedy series was created by Gy Wardon, and among the cast were Tom Wopat, John Schneider, and Denver Pale. He also appeared in some of the films of the franchise, including The Dukes of Hazzard reunion and The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood. The series ran for seven seasons and wrapped six years later in 1985.

Steel Magnolias (1989)- as Bark Boone

Rick Hurst played the role of Bark Boone in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias. It stars Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley Maclaine, to name a few. The film is directed by Herbert Ross. It has won multiple nominations, including Golden Globes and Academy Awards. You can watch Steel Magnolias on Amazon Video and Apple TV.

MA*SH (1972-1983) -Captain Schaeffer

Did you know Rick Hurst played a cameo role in M*A*S*H Season 5? He played the role of Capt. Schaeffer, a cousin of Sgt. Zelmo Zale. Even with his brief appearance or two, Hurst's role was quite memorable. Missed Hurst's cameo scene?

Watch M*A*S*H on Amazon Prime Video or Hulu.

Keep Off My Grass (1975)- Grady Talbot

This obscure comedy film, directed by Shelley Berman, stars Hurst as Grady Talbot, a level-headed everyman. He navigates a generational clash between uptight townsfolk and the free-spirited hippies. So if you are in the mood for some strange comedy movies, Keep Off My Grass is a perfect pick.

Apart from that, some notable projects that Hurst has worked on include Unholy Rollers (1972), To Hell You Preach (1972), Kung Fu (1972–1975), The Girl with Something Extra (1973–1974), CHiPs, Going Ape! (1981), The Dukes of Hazzard, The Karate Kid Part III (1989), Sidekicks (1986–1987), Venomous (2001), The Guardian and Return of the Killer Shrews (2012), to name a few.

The thing about actors like Rick Hurst is that they sneak into your hearts and effortlessly make you laugh. And when they go, they leave behind more than credits; they leave behind moments, memories, and a whole lot of nostalgia.

Rick Hurst may be gone, but the laughs he gave us are still rolling. And they always will be.