Ben Jones, a star of The Dukes of Hazzard and a former American politician, has died, aged 84.

The actor was best known for playing bearded mechanic Cooter Davenport on all seven seasons of the hit US series, which ran from 1979 until 1985 on CBS.

Jones’s wife, Alma Viator, shared the news in a Facebook post on Sunday (9 August), writing that he died from a “massive heart attack”.

“I lost the love of my life today,” she said. “He was home resting in his favourite chair waiting for the Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees. Ben had the most amazing rich full life. He loved and was loved by so many. He will be missed. I love him so so much.”

Born in Tarboro, North Carolina, Jones began his acting career in the theatre in the early Sixties – touring in productions of Summer and Smoke and Desire Under the Elms across the US before landing a role in 1975 action comedy Moonrunners.

He later took on small parts in films including Smokey and the Bandit and The Lincoln Conspiracy, before being cast in The Dukes of Hazzard as the lovable mechanic Cooter. The hit series followed cousins Bo (John Schneider) and Luke Duke (Tom Wopat) in the fictional Georgia county of Hazzard as they cooked up various get-rich-quick schemes while evading corrupt county commissioner J.D. “Boss” Hogg (Sorrell Booke).

After the show came to an end in 1985, Jones pivoted into politics – becoming a member of the US House of Representatives for Georgia’s fourth district in 1989. He had previously lost to incumbent Pat Swindall but won in a rematch after the latter was indicted for perjury.

During his time in the House of Representatives, Jones was a Democratic whip and was re-elected in 1990, but lost his seat in 1993 after the electoral district boundaries were redrawn. He later ran for office again in 1994 and in 2002, but lost both times.

After leaving politics, Jones reprised the role in two follow-up Dukes of Hazzard films in 1997 and 2000, and also took on small roles in films Primary Colors and Meet Joe Black. Alongside his wife, Jones set up a Dukes of Hazzard museum and themed store next to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia before releasing 13 albums as Cooter’s Garage Band.

His Dukes of Hazzard co-star Tom Wopat paid tribute to the star on social media, writing on Instagram that the show had “lost another integral part of their cast”.

“Ben Jones was a fine friend and a fierce advocate of all the best things we can offer in the entertainment business,” he posted on Instagram. “He will be sorely missed... Denver Pyle frequently said to Ben, 'I'm not your Uncle Jesse!' But I feel like we lost a Duke cousin today.”

Jones is survived by his wife, Viator, whom he married in 1992, and his children, Rachel and Walker.