Ben Jones (American actor and politician)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2012) |
Ben Lewis Jones | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ben Jones and the General Lee, taken outside his store "Cooter's Place" in Sperryville, Virginia in 1999 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 4th district | |
| In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Pat Swindall |
| Succeeded by | John Linder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | thumb August 30, 1941 Tarboro, North Carolina U.S. |
| Died | thumb |
| Resting place | thumb |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Parent |
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| 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 1989 to January 3, 1993.
Personal life
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.[1] By previous wives, Ben has a daughter, Rachel, and a son, Walker. Jones is a long-time friend of Cincinnati Reds announcer Marty Brennaman.[citation needed]
Since the 1990s, Jones has run a chain of "Cooter's museums" across the US, dedicated to The Dukes of Hazzard. He also organized the annual "Dukefest" gathering.[citation needed]
Political career
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, but lost, winning 47% of the vote, more than expected.[citation needed] He ran again in 1988, against Swindall, this time easily winning. 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.
Jones has since returned to acting, as well as becoming a well-known writer, writing many political essays and a one-man play about Dizzy Dean in which he plays the famous "Gas House Gang" pitcher and baseball announcer. [citation needed]
In 1998, he broke from most Democrats and asked President Bill Clinton to resign during his trial and impeachment. Jones is still active in the Democratic Party. In 2002, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the United States House from Virginia against Republican incumbent Eric Cantor, thus becoming one of very few recent American politicians to seek elective office in more than one state.[2]
References
- ^ "Top Fund-Raiser Is Also a Billionaire's Wife" New York Times November 3, 1996 By Elizabeth Bumiller
- ^ Republicans projected to retain House
External links
- Ben Jones at IMDb
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions for 2002 U.S. Congressional District 7 of Virginia
- Welcome to Cooters place, Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Nashville, Tennessee
- Profile at Hazzardnet.com
- The Dukes of Hazzard star who could destroy Newt Gingrich... again, Ed Pilkington, The Guardian, January 26, 2011
- 1941 births
- Living people
- People from Tarboro, North Carolina
- People from Portsmouth, Virginia
- Georgia (U.S. state) Democrats
- American actor–politicians
- American film actors
- American stage actors
- American television actors
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Woodrow Wilson High School (Portsmouth, Virginia) alumni