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Friday, November 13, 2026Nov 13

Actor who played ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ sheriff dies at age 88

FILE - In this June 4, 2005 file photo, "Dukes of Hazzard" cast member James Best sings during the DukesFest 2005 at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. Best, the prolific actor best known for his role as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on the series died Monday, April 6, 2015, in hospice care in Hickory from complications of pneumonia. He was 88. (AP Photo/Bristol Herald Courier, Earl Neikirk, File)
FILE - In this June 4, 2005 file photo, "Dukes of Hazzard" cast member James Best sings during the DukesFest 2005 at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. Best, the prolific actor best known for his role as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on the series died Monday, April 6, 2015, in hospice care in Hickory from complications of pneumonia. He was 88. (AP Photo/Bristol Herald Courier, Earl Neikirk, File) FILE - In this June 4, 2005 file photo, "Dukes of Hazzard" cast member James Best sings during the DukesFest 2005 at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. Best, the prolific actor best known for his role as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on the series died Monday, April 6, 2015, in hospice care in Hickory from complications of pneumonia. He was 88. (AP Photo/Bristol Herald Courier, Earl Neikirk, File)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The prolific actor best known for his role as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on “The Dukes of Hazzard” has died. James Best was 88.

His wife, Dorothy Best, said Tuesday that Best died Monday night in hospice care in Hickory from complications of pneumonia.

Best starred on the television series that ran from 1979 to 1985. He was the lawman chasing the Duke brothers.

Dorothy Best says they’d been married 29 years and that he’s survived by children and grandchildren.

She said he was an incredible man and an incredible talent.