Ben Jones: Hit rock bottom before things got better - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 06-12-2008, 01:33 PM

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WASHINGTON - Ben Jones figures he drank 43,000 beers, 2,000 jugs of whiskey, wine, gin and vodka, and smoked pounds of pot in the 20 years he was out of control.

"I'd wake up in jails just wondering how I got there. Vomit on my shoes and blood on my shirt," the 66-year-old actor told AP Radio in a recent interview.

Jones had to hit rock bottom before things could get better. That happened on Sept. 26, 1977. "I really was literally dying and I knew it," he said. "I was in this free-fall, five-week drunk and I felt indescribable terror."

With the help of a friend, he quit drinking cold turkey.

"A year later," he said, "I walked into an audition and was cast in what was to become one of the greatest television shows in the history of entertainment." That was "The Dukes of Hazzard." Jones would play the wisecracking mechanic Cooter on the popular TV series from 1979 to 1985.

In 1988, Jones was elected to Congress as a Democrat. Considering what he'd gone through, it was an emotional moment being sworn in.

"That all seemed dreamlike to me," he said. "That's when it hit me, what a blessing I had been given and I just started crying."

Jones lost his bid for a third term in 1992 after Georgia's districts were redrawn.

He's written about his ups and downs in his autobiography, "Redneck Boy in the Promised Land" (Harmony).

"My life is not a story about falling down," he said, "it's a story about getting up. I think people could relate to that and they could relate to alcoholism and all that behavior that goes with it because it's a common disease."

catlover79 · 06-12-2008, 01:53 PM

Thank you for sharing that article, Charles!! Cooter was always a favorite character of mine on Dukes, and I look forward to reading his book. It takes a lot of guts to own up to a past like that, and I'm sure Mr. Jones has helped a lot of people by sharing his story. God bless him!!!!!

catlover79 · 06-26-2008, 11:40 AM

I'm reading this book right now - very interesting read so far!!

Schmoopie · 08-03-2008, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I'm reading this book right now - very interesting read so far!!

I'm glad he was able to get his life back together. Cool, that he was elected to congress, but too bad he lost his bid. I'll see if I can find that book. Sounds really interesting.

catlover79 · 08-21-2008, 04:14 PM

It was very good reading...maybe I'll check it out again one of these days.

06-12-2008, 01:33 PM	#1
Zoneboy Moderator Forum Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: Carthage, NC Posts: 22,549	Ben Jones: Hit rock bottom before things got better Link WASHINGTON - Ben Jones figures he drank 43,000 beers, 2,000 jugs of whiskey, wine, gin and vodka, and smoked pounds of pot in the 20 years he was out of control. "I'd wake up in jails just wondering how I got there. Vomit on my shoes and blood on my shirt," the 66-year-old actor told AP Radio in a recent interview. Jones had to hit rock bottom before things could get better. That happened on Sept. 26, 1977. "I really was literally dying and I knew it," he said. "I was in this free-fall, five-week drunk and I felt indescribable terror." With the help of a friend, he quit drinking cold turkey. "A year later," he said, "I walked into an audition and was cast in what was to become one of the greatest television shows in the history of entertainment." That was "The Dukes of Hazzard." Jones would play the wisecracking mechanic Cooter on the popular TV series from 1979 to 1985. In 1988, Jones was elected to Congress as a Democrat. Considering what he'd gone through, it was an emotional moment being sworn in. "That all seemed dreamlike to me," he said. "That's when it hit me, what a blessing I had been given and I just started crying." Jones lost his bid for a third term in 1992 after Georgia's districts were redrawn. He's written about his ups and downs in his autobiography, "Redneck Boy in the Promised Land" (Harmony). "My life is not a story about falling down," he said, "it's a story about getting up. I think people could relate to that and they could relate to alcoholism and all that behavior that goes with it because it's a common disease." __________________ *"It's the way things are. A big tree falls and a new one grows right out of the same ground. Old animals die and young ones take their places. Even people step aside when it's time."* (R.G. Armstrong as the Contractor in The Twilight Zone episode "Nothing in the Dark")

06-12-2008, 01:53 PM	#2
catlover79 Moderator Forum Legend God Bless Val Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 67,635	Thank you for sharing that article, Charles!! Cooter was always a favorite character of mine on Dukes, and I look forward to reading his book. It takes a lot of guts to own up to a past like that, and I'm sure Mr. Jones has helped a lot of people by sharing his story. God bless him!!!!! __________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

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06-26-2008, 11:40 AM	#3
catlover79 Moderator Forum Legend God Bless Val Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 67,635	I'm reading this book right now - very interesting read so far!!

08-21-2008, 04:14 PM	#5
catlover79 Moderator Forum Legend God Bless Val Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 67,635	It was very good reading...maybe I'll check it out again one of these days.