Cooter Davenport
Encyclopedia
Cooter Davenport is a fictional character
from the American
TV show The Dukes of Hazzard
. He was played by Ben Jones
.
Cooter was the mechanic in the fictional Hazzard County, in Georgia
. He owned The Hazzard County Garage in Hazzard County Square, directly across from the Police Department and the County Bank. his CB handle
was "Crazy Cooter" and he often started his CB transmissions with "Breaker one, Breaker one, I might be crazy but I ain't dumb, Craaaazy Cooter comin' atcha, any y'all Dukes out there on the Hazzard net? Come on". he was a wild and scruffy-looking man, usually seen in sleeveless shirt, filthy blue jeans, and a well-worn ball cap. He maintained a steady business, mainly because the Duke boys were constantly damaging their car, The General Lee
and ultimately eventuating the wreckage of the county patrol cars as well (as Cooter once pointed out, following the Dukes around is guaranteed to increase his business). Everything from a new door or bumper to a simple wash and wax cost $35.42. Cooter drove a variety of trucks. In the first season, he drove a brown 1969 Chevy C-10
tow truck; in the second season he drove a blue and white 1967 Ford F-350 Custom
tow truck, and he also had a blue 1968 Chevy
pickup; in the third season and first half of the fourth season, he drove a yellow 1978-79 Ford F-350 Custom
tow truck; in the second half of the fourth season and rest of the series, he drove a blue and white 1968-72 GMC C-Series
tow truck.
Cooter was also an "honorary Duke", as he was the best friend of the family and he regularly assisted them in foiling Boss Hogg
and Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane
. During the episode, "Happy Birthday General Lee", it is explained that Cooter actually helped in restoring The General Lee from a wrecked black 1969 Dodge Charger
. He was also the supplier of its unique orange paint (it was all that he had, in a quantity sufficient enough to paint a car with). It is also suggested that it was he who supplied the famous "Dixie" horn. Though Cooter also owns a small farm (only ever seen in one second season episode), he spends most of his time at his garage, and many episodes suggest he also lives there. It has also been implied that Cooter often lives out of his truck. Though Cooter would not start a fight without good reason, he does enjoy a good fight (being quite a good fighter, himself, Cooter rarely loses a fair fight).
During the second season (1979–1980), Ben Jones boycotted the show due to a dispute with the producers: they wanted the character to be clean shaven, whereas Jones had grown a full beard. As a result, Jones left the show for several episodes and it was explained in the series that Cooter was out of town. Filling in for Cooter at the garage during his absence were his cousins, B.B. Davenport (in only one appearance, played by Mickey Jones
), and L.B. Davenport (played by Ernie W. Brown
). Eventually, an agreement was reached - Jones would appear clean-shaven, and the character returned to the show with the episode "Treasure of Hazzard", (1980). (However, for continuity reasons, with the episodes being broadcast in a different order to that which they were produced, Cooter did not appear clean-shaven until the start of the third season.)
In the 1997 television movie
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!
, it was revealed that Cooter had gone on to become a congressman (the same as actor Ben Jones had done in real life).
film Moonrunners
(the precursor to The Dukes of Hazzard), although beyond the name, there is little similarity. Ben Jones was also in Moonrunners, but he played the revenue agent after Uncle Jesse and the cousins.
David Koechner
portrayed Cooter in the 2005
film The Dukes of Hazzard
.
Joel Moore
portrayed Cooter in the TV film The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
TV show The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
. He was played by Ben Jones
Ben Jones (US)
Ben Lewis Jones is an American actor, politician, playwright and essayist, probably best known for his role as Cooter Davenport in The Dukes of Hazzard. Jones was elected to be a member of the United States House of Representatives in 1988 and re-elected in 1990. He served for four years, until Jan...
.
Cooter was the mechanic in the fictional Hazzard County, in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He owned The Hazzard County Garage in Hazzard County Square, directly across from the Police Department and the County Bank. his CB handle
Citizens' band radio
Citizens' Band radio is, in many countries, a system of short-distance radio communications between individuals on a selection of 40 channels within the 27-MHz band. Citizens' Band is distinct from the FRS, GMRS, MURS and amateur radio...
was "Crazy Cooter" and he often started his CB transmissions with "Breaker one, Breaker one, I might be crazy but I ain't dumb, Craaaazy Cooter comin' atcha, any y'all Dukes out there on the Hazzard net? Come on". he was a wild and scruffy-looking man, usually seen in sleeveless shirt, filthy blue jeans, and a well-worn ball cap. He maintained a steady business, mainly because the Duke boys were constantly damaging their car, The General Lee
The General Lee
The General Lee is the modified Dodge Charger driven by the Duke cousins Bo and Luke in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard. It is known for the chases and stunts, especially high jumps, in almost every episode, and for having the doors welded shut, leaving the Dukes to climb in and out...
and ultimately eventuating the wreckage of the county patrol cars as well (as Cooter once pointed out, following the Dukes around is guaranteed to increase his business). Everything from a new door or bumper to a simple wash and wax cost $35.42. Cooter drove a variety of trucks. In the first season, he drove a brown 1969 Chevy C-10
Chevrolet C/K
The C/K is the name for Chevrolet and GMC's full-size pickup truck line from 1960 until 1999 in the United States, from 1965 to 1999 Canada, from 1964 through 2001 in Brazil, and from 1975 to 1982 in Chile. The first Chevrolet pickup truck appeared in 1924, though in-house designs did not appear...
tow truck; in the second season he drove a blue and white 1967 Ford F-350 Custom
Ford F-Series
The F-Series is a series of full-size pickup trucks from Ford Motor Company which has been sold continuously for over six decades. The most popular variant of the F-Series is the F-150...
tow truck, and he also had a blue 1968 Chevy
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
pickup; in the third season and first half of the fourth season, he drove a yellow 1978-79 Ford F-350 Custom
Ford F-Series
The F-Series is a series of full-size pickup trucks from Ford Motor Company which has been sold continuously for over six decades. The most popular variant of the F-Series is the F-150...
tow truck; in the second half of the fourth season and rest of the series, he drove a blue and white 1968-72 GMC C-Series
Chevrolet C/K
The C/K is the name for Chevrolet and GMC's full-size pickup truck line from 1960 until 1999 in the United States, from 1965 to 1999 Canada, from 1964 through 2001 in Brazil, and from 1975 to 1982 in Chile. The first Chevrolet pickup truck appeared in 1924, though in-house designs did not appear...
tow truck.
Cooter was also an "honorary Duke", as he was the best friend of the family and he regularly assisted them in foiling Boss Hogg
Boss Hogg
Jefferson Davis "J.D." Hogg, better known as "Boss" Hogg, is a fictional character featured in the American television series The Dukes of Hazzard. He was the greedy, unethical commissioner of Hazzard County. A stereotypical villainous glutton, Boss Hogg always wore an all-white suit with a white...
and Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane
Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane
On the American TV series The Dukes of Hazzard, Rosco Purvis Coltrane is the bumbling sheriff of Hazzard County and right-hand man of its corrupt county commissioner, Jefferson Davis "J.D." Hogg ....
. During the episode, "Happy Birthday General Lee", it is explained that Cooter actually helped in restoring The General Lee from a wrecked black 1969 Dodge Charger
Dodge Charger (B-body)
The Dodge Charger was a mid-size automobile produced by Dodge. The 1966-1974 Chargers were based on the Chrysler B platform. The 1975-1978 Chargers were based on the Chrysler Cordoba.-Origin of the Charger:...
. He was also the supplier of its unique orange paint (it was all that he had, in a quantity sufficient enough to paint a car with). It is also suggested that it was he who supplied the famous "Dixie" horn. Though Cooter also owns a small farm (only ever seen in one second season episode), he spends most of his time at his garage, and many episodes suggest he also lives there. It has also been implied that Cooter often lives out of his truck. Though Cooter would not start a fight without good reason, he does enjoy a good fight (being quite a good fighter, himself, Cooter rarely loses a fair fight).
During the second season (1979–1980), Ben Jones boycotted the show due to a dispute with the producers: they wanted the character to be clean shaven, whereas Jones had grown a full beard. As a result, Jones left the show for several episodes and it was explained in the series that Cooter was out of town. Filling in for Cooter at the garage during his absence were his cousins, B.B. Davenport (in only one appearance, played by Mickey Jones
Mickey Jones
Mickey Jones is an American musician and actor.-Early life:Jones was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Frances Marie and Fred Edward Jones...
), and L.B. Davenport (played by Ernie W. Brown
Ernie Lively
Ernie Lively is an American actor.Lively was born Ernest W. Brown in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1979, he married talent manager Elaine Lively and took her name. They are the parents of actors Blake Lively and Eric Lively, and he is stepfather of her children from her previous marriage Lori Lively,...
). Eventually, an agreement was reached - Jones would appear clean-shaven, and the character returned to the show with the episode "Treasure of Hazzard", (1980). (However, for continuity reasons, with the episodes being broadcast in a different order to that which they were produced, Cooter did not appear clean-shaven until the start of the third season.)
In the 1997 television movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! is a made-for-television film from 1997 which aired on CBS and reunites the surviving cast members of the American TV series, The Dukes of Hazzard...
, it was revealed that Cooter had gone on to become a congressman (the same as actor Ben Jones had done in real life).
Cooter in film
Bill Gribble portrayed Cooter in the 19751975 in film
The year 1975 in film involved some significant events, with Steven Spielberg's thriller Jaws topping the box office.-Events:*March 26 - The film version of The Who's Tommy premieres in London....
film Moonrunners
Moonrunners
Moonrunners is a 1975 film starring James Mitchum, and the precursor to The Dukes of Hazzard television series. Mitchum had co-starred with his famous father, Robert Mitchum, in the similar drive-in favorite Thunder Road eighteen years earlier, which also focused upon moonshine-running bootleggers...
(the precursor to The Dukes of Hazzard), although beyond the name, there is little similarity. Ben Jones was also in Moonrunners, but he played the revenue agent after Uncle Jesse and the cousins.
David Koechner
David Koechner
David Michael Koechner is an American comedian, musician, and character actor. Koechner began studying improvisational comedy in Chicago at the ImprovOlympic, under the teachings of Del Close, before joining the Second City Northwest...
portrayed Cooter in the 2005
2005 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2005...
film The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard (film)
The Dukes of Hazzard is a 2005 comedy film based on the American television series of the same name. The film was directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and released on August 5, 2005 by Warner Bros. Pictures...
.
Joel Moore
Joel Moore
Joel David Moore is an American actor who has appeared in television commercials, feature films, and television series. He is best known for his roles as Owen Dittman in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Dr. Norm Spellman in Avatar, Colin Fisher in Bones and J.P...
portrayed Cooter in the TV film The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning is a prequel to the 2005 theatrical-release film The Dukes of Hazzard. An edited version of the film debuted on the ABC Family cable television channel on March 4, 2007. 'R'-rated and unrated versions were released on DVD March 13.- Plot :Bo Duke is arrested for...
.
Legacy
- Cooter Davenport inspired the name of MississippiMississippiMississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
punk rockPunk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band The CootersThe Cooters (band)The Cooters are a punk rock band from Mississippi. Based out of the northern hill country town of Oxford , the band has been touring and recording since 1993. The Cooters are well known in the state and have dealt with controversy, trademark lawsuits, and even prison sentences...
.