Unforgettable Moments: Inside Jonathan Joss’s Last ‘King of the Hill’ Panel Just Days Before His Tragic Passing

A few hours before moderating the “King of the Hill” reunion panel at the ATX TV Festival, I got to see the first two episodes of the show’s much-anticipated return. It’s great to see familiar faces back, but they’ve certainly aged since we last watched in 2009. Hank and Peggy are now enjoying retirement, while Bobby has become a successful 21-year-old sushi chef.

In Episode 2, we catch up with Nancy Gribble, voiced by Ashley Gardner, and her love interest, John Redcorn, voiced by Jonathan Joss. They weren’t part of the ATX panel, which focused on the show’s creators, Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, along with three cast members: Pamela Adlon, Toby Huss, and Lauren Tom.

During the panel, we remembered Johnny Hardwick, who voiced Dale Gribble. Hardwick passed away recently, leading Judge and Daniels to choose Huss, a longtime collaborator, to take over Dale’s voice. Huss shared his respect for Hardwick, acknowledging the unique character he created and the heart behind Dale’s goofiness.

About 37 minutes into the panel, Jonathan Joss unexpectedly seized the mic, wanting to pay tribute to Hardwick. “I see a mic, I use it," he declared, while touching on his own personal struggles, including a recent house fire. His comments mixed humor and emotion, acknowledging the connections among the cast and crew.

Despite the interruption, Joss made his heartfelt point about Hardwick, saying, “Johnny gave you guys a character because he is that character.” This moment hung in the air, a mix of reverence and awkwardness, until the panel shifted back to the show’s future, which will also honor the late Brittany Murphy and Tom Petty.

After the panel, discussions around Joss’ outburst concluded it was best to let him speak rather than cut him off. Just two days later, news of Joss’ tragic death left the team reeling.

Crafted over a dozen seasons, Joss’ portrayal of John Redcorn will be missed. In a joint statement, Judge, Daniels, and Patterson expressed condolences to Joss’ family and friends. There were misunderstandings around his upset about not being part of the panel, but the real issue was deeper, revolving around personal challenges he faced.

The local police have reported a harrowing history of disturbances at Joss’ home, suggesting tension with a neighbor. Now, as investigations continue, there are questions about whether Joss’ death is linked to broader issues of safety and neighborly conflicts.

In an interesting turn, “King of the Hill” plans to honor Hardwick in Episode 6. It remains to be seen if the show will pay tribute to Joss as well. This revival not only reconnects fans with beloved characters but acknowledges the profound impact the actors had on the series and beyond. As new episodes air, the legacy of both Hardwick and Joss will likely resonate with fans who remember their contributions fondly.

For further reading, you can check out the NBC News article that discusses the recent troubles faced by Joss and the ongoing investigation.

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ATX TV Festival,Jonathan Joss,King of the Hill