Two Days Before He Was Killed, Jonathan Joss Crashed a ‘King of the Hill’ Panel. Here’s What Happened in the Room

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Just prior to my moderating duties for the “King of the Hill” reunion/revival panel at Austin’s ATX TV Festival last Friday, I had the opportunity to view the first two episodes of the series’ eagerly awaited comeback. The majority of the show’s principal characters have returned, but they have aged since we last saw them in 2009: Hank and Peggy are now retired, while Bobby has become a thriving 21-year-old sushi chef.

In Episode 2, we encounter neighbor Nancy Gribble, voiced by Ashley Gardner, along with her affectionate interest John Redcorn, portrayed by Jonathan Joss. However, these two actors were absent during the ATX panel, which was a private meeting organized by creators Mike Judge (also voices for Hank Hill and Boomhauer) and Greg Daniels. Only a few other cast members attended this event: Pamela Adlon (Bobby Hill), Toby Huss (replacing Dale Gribble), and Lauren Tom (Connie, who plays a significant role in the new season).

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Joss wasn’t included in the panel because of that, but it seems he was upset by the decision. Around the 37-minute mark, I started talking about the 2023 demise of writer and star Johnny Hardwick, who had been the voice of the neighbor Dale since the show first aired. To replace Hardwick, the creators, Judge and Daniels, opted to maintain the family connection and chose Huss (previously voicing Khan and Cotton Hill) to step into the role of Dale instead.

Huss expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity to reprise his voice role, saying it’s a great honor. He admires the character created by ‘that guy’, who brought a lovable goofball to life. The character was quirky, but had an endearing quality, which is testament to Johnny’s talents. They deeply appreciate and miss Johnny.

In that instant, I sprang out of my seat among the spectators and strode towards one of the microphones strategically positioned for audience interaction. Yet, it was a deceptive setup, as the panel discussion segment had not yet begun, leaving those microphones inactive.

Daniels introduced Jonathan Joss, who is known for his role as John Redcorn, and it seemed initially as though he was briefly joining the panel to honor Hardwick.

“You were talking about Johnny, and I want to say something about him,” Joss said.

Later on, Joss began speaking after moving towards the microphone. “This fellow mentioned that I couldn’t stand here,” he commented. “Apparently, he wasn’t aware that my land was sold already. He stated the mic wouldn’t be utilized. However, I’m an actor. When I spot a mic, I utilize it. Whenever I notice something isn’t right, I fix it. I desire to express myself.

Joss spoke about his San Antonio home being destroyed by fire: “Three months ago, our house was burned down. At that moment, unexpectedly, someone in the crowd shouted out, mimicking Hank Hill’s voice, ‘Darn it, Bobby!’ Since I’m gay.” He also brought up one of John Redcorn’s songs from “King of the Hill” (“I’ve got a hole in my pocket where my money should be!”) before veering off onto additional topics.

At that moment, the panel had fallen silent, and the audience was tittering uneasily. Uncertain of what to do next, one of the panelists made an “Uh…” sound – to which Joss replied, “What? You’re feeling the same way too, sir. The mind is overflowing with genuine emotions.

I was thrilled when he finally articulated his thoughts on Hardwick: “Johnny, you’ve been given a character because he embodies it. That’s who he is.

As a cinema aficionado, another moment of silence ensued before Judge called out my name: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is Jonathan Joss, the voice behind John Redcorn.” Subsequently, I relinquished the microphone and strolled past the stage. The subsequent events remain vague, but at that instant, there was no interference from security or forced removal – I simply chose to depart on my own terms.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I couldn’t help but delve back into discussions about our favorite animated series, “King of the Hill.” The revival has brought up some bittersweet news – the passing of two beloved figures, Brittany Murphy (Luanne) and Tom Petty (Lucky). Executive Producer Saladin Patterson hasn’t shared specifics on how their departures will be handled, but he did mention that there will be subtle yet respectful nods to them within the show.

Due to Joss’ abrupt intervention, the planned audience Q&A session was abandoned; instead, the event concluded when I invited Judge and Adlon to announce the show’s comeback, mimicking Hank and Bobby’s characters. After showing an additional sneak peek, we departed from the stage.

After the discussion panel concluded, the celebrities and producers gathered backstage to talk about Joss’ unexpected interjection. They collectively decided that allowing him to voice his thoughts – rather than resorting to security measures – was the appropriate course of action.

The scene was startling for all present on stage. Learning about his death, only two days afterward, came as a profoundly shocking revelation.

Hearing the news of his death, mere days after that moment on stage, proved to be an even more stunning surprise, given how jarring the scene had been.

Jonathan Joss, who gave life to the character ‘John Redcorn’ on King of the Hill for more than a dozen seasons, is sadly no longer with us. This includes the upcoming revival of the show. The voices he brought to life on King of the Hill will be deeply missed, and our thoughts go out to Jonathan’s loved ones during this difficult time.

Contrary to some media reports, Joss was not upset about missing out on “King of the Hill” Season 14. His issue stemmed from not being included in a different setting. Additionally, there’s no basis for claims that he was silenced by security; this is purely speculation.

However, the details surrounding Joss’ passing and his ongoing dispute with his neighbor, particularly the question of whether it constituted a hate crime, as claimed by Tristan Kern de Gonzales, remain uncertain. The San Antonio police have apprehended one of the neighbors, Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, in relation to Joss’ murder investigation.

According to NBC News reports, authorities have been summoned to address approximately 50 incidents at their residence, many categorized as disturbances. Furthermore, the news outlet stated that the police have been involved in resolving a conflict between Ceja and Joss for more than a year.

King of the Hill” intends to honor the late Hardwick in Episode 6, his final appearance, with an on-screen tribute. Fans are hoping that the show might also pay respects to Joss Whedon following his passing by including a similar acknowledgement in future episodes.

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2025-06-05 00:17