Nick Offerman Mourns Parks & Recreation Co-Star Jonathan Joss After Tragic Death

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Upon hearing the shocking news of actor Jonathan Joss’s sudden and violent demise, fellow star Nick Offerman expressed that the cast was left devastated, heartbroken by the loss. Tragically, Joss, who portrayed Chief Ken Hotate in a recurring role, met his end on June 1st following a heated argument with his neighbor that escalated into violence and ended fatally.

In a statement shared with media outlets, Offerman, known for his role as Ron Swanson in the popular sitcom, expressed his sadness about the passing of their late costar Joss. He mentioned that he and the rest of the Parks and Recreation cast have been deeply affected by this loss, texting each other all day about it. Offerman described Jonathan as a kind soul and cherished having him as Chief Ken Hotate. He called the situation a heart-wrenching tragedy.

In the sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” which aired from 2009 to 2015, Joss played Chief Hotate for five consecutive years. This character was the leader of the fictional Native American Wamapoke Tribe. Alongside Joss, the show featured notable actors like Offerman, Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Aziz Ansari, Rashida Jones, Rob Lowe, Rhetta, and Jim O’Heir in its cast.

On June 2, reports indicated that officers from the San Antonio Police Department arrived at a scene where Joss had been involved in a heated argument with a neighbor close to his home in the Texas city, leading to him being shot. The authorities responded to the shooting around 7 p.m. and discovered Joss lying on the ground near the roadside.

Emergency responders tried to perform lifesaving actions on Joss, the voice actor for , as they waited for paramedics. Unfortunately, he was declared dead at the scene. Meanwhile, the alleged culprit, Sigfredo Alvarez-Ceja, was apprehended just a block away and charged with murder. His bail was set at $200,000.

To disclose the heart-wrenching details about the actor’s death, I’d say that the unfortunate incident took place at a residence that once belonged to them, where they had gone to retrieve their mail as a couple. In January, this home was tragically engulfed in flames following “two years of threats from locals who persistently warned they would ignite it“, Kern de Gonzales penned down. Regrettably, three of their beloved pets perished in the blaze.

In the course of residing there, Kern Gonzales mentioned that he and his partner often faced hostility from people who showed disapproval towards their relationship. He explained that a significant portion of this hostility was overtly discriminatory against homosexual individuals.

Upon our return to the location to retrieve our mail, De Gonzales stated that they found one of their dog’s skull and harness conspicuously displayed. This discovery deeply affected both of them, causing intense emotional turmoil. In reaction to the sorrowful scene, they started shouting and weeping. At this moment, a man appeared. He verbally assaulted them with hateful, homophobic language before drawing a gun from his lap and shooting it off.

According to de Gonzales, Jonathan and I were unarmed and posed no threat. We were simply mourning our loss. In a startling turn of events, when the man opened fire, Jonathan shielded me from harm. He sacrificed his own life for mine. Tragically, he was killed by someone who couldn’t tolerate two men expressing their love for each other. I was with him in his final moments, telling him how deeply he was cherished.

A Fundraiser Was Started After The January Fire

Following the devastating fire, a resilient production base was established to aid Joss and Kern de Gonzales in their rebuilding efforts. Interestingly enough, before his untimely demise, it was confirmed that Joss would be stepping back into the shoes of John Redcorn for an upcoming project slated for release in 2025. Throughout his illustrious career, Joss graced our screens with memorable performances in series such as ER, Charmed, Friday Night Lights, and many more.

After the fire, a production studio was set up to help Joss and Kern de Gonzales rebuild their lives. Before his passing, it was announced that Joss would be reprising his role as John Redcorn in a new project due out in 2025. Over the course of his career, Joss appeared in shows like ER, Charmed, Friday Night Lights, and others.

Parks and Recreation is streaming on Peacock.

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2025-06-03 20:08