Jonathan Joss, the actor best known for voicing John Redcorn on King of the Hill, died Sunday night after a neighbor allegedly shot him during an argument, according to San Antonio police. He was 58.
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Officers responded to a report of gunfire in Joss's neighborhood on June 1. Investigators say a dispute between Joss and a neighbor turned violent when the neighbor pulled a gun and shot him several times. Paramedics rushed Joss to a hospital, but he later died from his injuries. Police arrested the suspected shooter later that night, TMZ reported.
Joss's death comes just two months before Hulu's planned reboot of King of the Hill. It remains unclear whether he was involved in the upcoming series.
Career of Distinctive Roles
Joss voiced John Redcorn for all 13 seasons of King of the Hill, portraying the character as a stoic, spiritual healer who engaged in a long-running affair with Nancy Gribble, a relationship that made for one of the show's most iconic storylines. His performance helped make Redcorn a fan favorite.
Beyond animation, Joss also appeared in Tulsa King as Bad Face, a tough head of security at a marijuana farm. He held recurring or guest roles in Parks and Recreation, Walker, Texas Ranger, and the 2010 remake of True Grit.
His death follows the loss of another King of the Hill cast member, Johnny Hardwick, who voiced Dale Gribble. Authorities found Hardwick dead at his Austin home in August 2023. For the Hulu reboot, actor Toby Huss will take over the voice of Dale.
Joss' Personal Struggles
Joss had endured several hardships before his death. In April, a fire destroyed his home and claimed the lives of his three dogs.
"Everything I owned ... gone," he shared on
Facebook on April 21. "My memories, my keepsakes, and most painfully, all of my dogs. My companions, my family, my comfort in this world lost in the flames."Weeks later, he expressed sadness after King of the Hill organizers excluded him from a cast reunion in Austin.
"That character, that voice, that story ... they were my home,"
he wrote. "To not be invited felt like being shut out of a place I helped build."Just a day before the shooting, Joss made a fan appearance at a comic book shop in Austin. He later posted on
Facebook that he had secured a ride back to San Antonio after his former manager failed to follow through."I'm headed home," he wrote in his final post at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday.
Fans and colleagues remember Joss as a proud Native American actor who brought dignity and depth to his roles. His sudden loss has shaken those who followed his career and admired his work.
San Antonio police continue to investigate the case.
