The revival of King of the Hill ended on an optimistic note, but the death of Jonathan Joss gave the season 14 finale a bittersweet tone. Joss, who voiced John Redcorn throughout the original series and its revival, died on June 1, 2025. According to CBS, his death was the result of a shooting. His husband has claimed it was a homophobic hate crime. Joss had completed all his voice work for season 14 before his death.
His passing is only the latest among the King of the Hill cast. Johnny Hardwick, who voiced Dale, as well as Brittany Murphy, the voice of Luanne, and Tom Petty, who played Lucky, all died before the release of the revival. However, Joss’ death brings a unique challenge because the show had clear plans for his character going forward.
Season 14 introduced two key storylines for John Redcorn. First, it set him on a path to reconnect with his son, Joseph. Second, it introduced a new business venture where he began selling corn with Hank and Peggy as investors. Redcorn even agreed to take care of Bobby’s horse, on the condition that Joseph would visit him. These developments hinted at a larger role for Redcorn in future episodes.
Series creators Mike Judge, Greg Daniels, and Saladin Patterson released a statement after Joss’ death. They expressed their sorrow and said his voice would be deeply missed. The emotional weight of the finale was intensified because Redcorn’s future was full of promise, and now that hope is overshadowed by tragedy.
The creators now face a tough decision about what to do with the character. The show has dealt with similar losses before. Brittany Murphy and Tom Petty’s characters were retired, while Dale was recast using original actor Toby Huss. This shows the team is open to both approaches. The question now is whether they will recast John Redcorn or retire the character to honour Joss.
Recasting is not without precedent. Redcorn was originally voiced by Victor Aaron in the first two episodes before Aaron died in 1996. Joss took over the role from that point onward. If the show wants to continue Redcorn’s newly established storylines, recasting may be necessary. However, they could also choose to honour Joss’ legacy by retiring the character entirely.
Joss’ death did more than create logistical challenges. It changed the emotional tone of season 14’s finale. Redcorn’s arc was just beginning to expand. He was poised to play a much larger role in the next season. Instead of excitement for what’s next, there’s now a sense of loss attached to the character’s future. His story was just starting to open up, but now it stands as a final tribute to a beloved voice actor.