King of the Hill actor Jonathan Joss shot dead in San Antonio

US actor Jonathan Joss, known for his role as John Redcorn in King of the Hill and Chief Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation, was fatally shot in San Antonio. He was 59.

His husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, claims the killing was a homophobic hate crime. Police say no evidence currently supports that motive.

Shooting followed return to burned-down home

The shooting occurred when the couple returned to the site of their former home, which had been destroyed in a fire in January. Gonzales stated that they found the skull and harness of one of their dogs placed in plain view, triggering a wave of grief. While they mourned, a man reportedly approached, shouted homophobic slurs, then opened fire.

“Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving,” Gonzales wrote. “When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.”

Police identified the suspect as Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja. He has been arrested on suspicion of murder. San Antonio Police stated they take allegations of hate crimes seriously and will pursue new charges if additional evidence emerges.

Tributes from the entertainment community

Joss’s work left a mark on American television. He voiced John Redcorn on King of the Hill for over a decade, including in the upcoming revival. He also played Chief Ken Hotate on Parks and Recreation, where his performance stood out for its quiet depth and cultural pride.

Nick Offerman, his co-star on Parks and Recreation, called the news a “terrible tragedy” and remembered Joss as “such a sweet guy.”

Mike Judge, Greg Daniels, and Saladin Patterson, creators of King of the Hill, said, “Jonathan Joss brought King of the Hill’s John Redcorn to life for over a dozen seasons. His voice will be missed.”

Joss was last seen in public during the King of the Hill panel at the ATX Television Festival in Austin. Though he attended as a member of the audience, he had expressed disappointment at not being invited to participate.

“This show was a part of my life for many years,” he wrote in April. “To not be invited felt like being shut out of a place I helped build.”

Legacy and final words

Joss and Gonzales married on Valentine’s Day. They were planning to buy a trailer and start a new chapter after the fire that displaced them. “He gave me more love in our time together than most people ever get,” Gonzales wrote. “I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved.”

The revival of King of the Hill, where Joss had returned to voice John Redcorn, will premiere on Hulu on 4 August.