The highly anticipated “King of the Hill” reunion/revival panel at Austin’s ATX TV Festival was marked by an unexpected interruption from actor Jonathan Joss, who played John Redcorn. The panel, led by creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, featured original cast members Pamela Adlon and Toby Huss, among others.
Joss, visibly emotional, took the mic to pay tribute to writer and star Johnny Hardwick, who had voiced Dale Gribble since the show’s beginning. However, his message was not solely about Hardwick but also about addressing issues of hate crimes and personal struggles in their San Antonio home. Joss’ husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales alleged that they faced harassment from their neighbors.
The panel was left frozen, and instead of proceeding with audience questions, they wrapped up the event early. Judge and Adlon promoted the series’ return in voice, while showing a preview clip. The following day, news broke that Jonathan Joss had passed away, just two days after the incident.
In a statement, Judge, Daniels, and Patterson expressed their condolences to Joss’s friends and family. “King of the Hill” plans to run an on-screen tribute to Hardwick in Episode 6, but it is unclear if a similar acknowledgment will be given for Joss’ death.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/jonathan-joss-king-of-the-hill-panel-what-really-happened-1236418234