Don Pedro Colley, 'Dukes of Hazzard' Actor, Dies at 79

The Oregon native also appeared in George Lucas' first movie, 'THX 1138,' and in several blaxpoitation films.

Don Pedro Colley, an actor who appeared in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, in the first film directed by George Lucas and on the 1980s CBS series The Dukes of Hazzard, has died. He was 79.

Colley died Oct. 11 in his hometown of Klamath Falls, Oregon, following a long battle with cancer, his friend William Sowles said.

Colley also had roles in The World's Greatest Athlete (1973), Herbie Rides Again (1974) and Piranha (1995) and in blaxpoitation films including The Legend of Nigger Charley (1972), Black Caesar (1973) and, playing a voodoo lord of the dead, Sugar Hill (1974).

The 6-foot-4 Colley portrayed the mutant Ongaro in Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), the second of the five original films in the franchise, and was the hologram SRT in Lucas' maiden directorial effort, THX 1138 (1971).

He is perhaps best known for playing the straight-shooting Sheriff "Big Ed" Little of Chickasaw County on the 1979-85 action comedy Dukes of Hazzard.

Colley also recurred as Gideon, a friend of Fess Parker's lead character, on NBC's Daniel Boone and appeared on other shows including Daktari, The Wild Wild West, Adam-12, Night Gallery, Ironside, The Streets of San Francisco, Little House on the Prairie, Starsky and Hutch and The A-Team.

Colley attended Klamath Union High School and the University of Oregon and attempted to qualify for the 1960 U.S. Olympic team in the discus throw.