Richard Hurst — greatest often called Deputy Cletus Hogg on “The Dukes of Hazzard” — has died … TMZ has discovered.

His first spouse, Candace Kaniecki, tells TMZ … Rick handed away on Thursday in Los Angeles. She says his loss of life was surprising and at the moment, his reason behind loss of life is unclear.

Rick was scheduled to make an look at Cooter’s Place, Pigeon Forge in Tennessee on July third. On Thursday morning, the museum stated on Fb attributable to unexpected circumstances Rick was unable to seem and they’d reschedule.

Followers of traditional TV collection will bear in mind Rick’s position as Boss Hogg’s cousin on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” a job he first performed within the late ’70s and reprised all through the 80s.

Rick racked up an extended record of TV and movie credit, showing in exhibits like “Sanford and Son,” “The Partridge Household,” “MASH*,” “Gunsmoke,” and “The Bob Newhart Present.” On the large display screen, he popped up in classics like “The Cat from Outer House” and “Historical past of the World: Half I.”

His son, actor Ryan Hurst, is greatest identified for his roles in “Sons of Anarchy” and “Keep in mind the Titans.”

Rick was 79.