DUKES of Hazard star Rick Hurst passed away unexpectedly at the age of 79 on Thursday, June 26, 2025 — just days before he was set to appear at a fan event.
Here we get to know his son Ryan Hurst, who followed in his father’s footsteps to pursue an acting career.
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On July 3, 2025, Rick Hurst was scheduled to make an appearance at Cooter’s Place — a museum that houses an array of Dukes of Hazzard memorabilia — for a fan event.
Prior to his passing, the venue had announced his appearance had been canceled.
Paying tribute to Rick, Cooter’s proprietor Ben Jones wrote on Facebook: “It doesn’t seem right that Rick Hurst passed away this afternoon.
“When something so unexpected happens, it is ‘harder to process’, as the current expression goes.”
Ben added: “Sure he was a professional comedian, but mostly he just had a heart as big as Texas.
“He was a fine actor, a splendid comic, and a wonderful supportive colleague.”
Rick died unexpectedly in Los Angeles on June 26, 2025, his wife Candace Kaniecki told TMZ.
He played the cop Cletus Hogg in Dukes of Hazzard — brother of villain Boss Hogg — between 1979 and 1982.
The Dukes of Hazzard aired seven seasons between 1979 and 1985.
Rick also appeared in the 1997 movie The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!, and the 2000 flick The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood.
During a film and TV career spanning decades, Texas-born Rick also appeared in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias (1989), In the Line of Fire (1993) and Runaway Car (1997).
During the 1980s, he also featured in shows including Amanda’s and Murder, She Wrote.
Rick is survived by his son, Ryan, who is an actor in his own right.
Who is Ryan Hurst?
Ryan Douglas Hurst was born on June 19, 1976, in Santa Monica, California.
He is the son of Rick Hurst and Candace Kaniecki, who is an acting coach.
Growing up in a Hollywood family, Ryan was immersed in the entertainment industry from an early age.
He attended Santa Monica High School and made his first appearances on TV as a teenager.
His upbringing was shaped by his parents’ involvement in acting and the performing arts.
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His mother Candace runs an acting school, while his father Rick was a famous character actor — leading to Ryan’s early start in the business.
Acting career
Ryan began his professional acting career in the early 1990s, landing a recurring role in the NBC series Saved by the Bell: The New Class.
His most notable roles include:
- Remember the Titans (2000): Ryan’s portrayal of American football player Gerry Bertier in this Disney sports drama earned him widespread recognition.
- Sons of Anarchy (2008–2012): Perhaps his most iconic role, Ryan played Opie Winston — a central character in the FX crime drama, earning him a Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2011.
- The Walking Dead (2019–2020): Ryan joined the AMC horror series as the formidable Beta, further cementing his versatility as an actor.
Other significant credits include roles in Saving Private Ryan (1998), We Were Soldiers (2002), The Ladykillers (2004), Outsiders (2016–2017) and Bates Motel (2015–2017).
Family
Ryan met his wife, Molly Cookson, in 1994.
The couple married in May 2005 and together founded the production company Fast Shoes.
Per IMDb, in April 2013, Ryan and Molly bought a 3,400 square-foot home in Woodland Hills, California for $1.71 million
Ryan has also embarked on a his spiritual journey — he converted to Sikhism and adopted the name Gobind Seva Singh.
