Jonathan Joss, the acclaimed actor best known for his voice work as John Redcorn in the animated series "King of the Hill" and his recurring role as Chief Ken Hotate in "Parks and Recreation," has died at the age of 59. Joss was fatally shot on Sunday, June 1, 2025, outside his home in San Antonio, Texas.
According to police reports, officers responded to a call regarding a shooting in progress on Dorsey Drive. Upon arrival, they discovered Joss lying near the roadway with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures, but Joss was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have arrested 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja in connection with the shooting. He has been charged with murder, and his bond has been set at $200,000. Law enforcement officials have stated that the investigation is ongoing, and further charges may be filed as new evidence emerges.
Tristan Kern de Gonzales, Joss's husband, has alleged that the shooting was a hate crime motivated by homophobia. In a statement posted on Facebook, de Gonzales claimed that he and Joss had been subjected to harassment and threats prior to the incident. He recounted that they had returned to the site of their former home, which had been destroyed in a fire in January, to check their mail. There, they discovered the skull and harness of one of their dogs, who perished in the fire, placed in plain sight. De Gonzales stated that a man approached them, shouting homophobic slurs before firing a gun at them. Joss pushed de Gonzales out of the way, saving his life, but was fatally wounded in the process.
However, the San Antonio Police Department has stated that their investigation has not yet found evidence to support the claim that the murder was a hate crime. They have urged anyone with additional information to come forward.
Joss's death comes just months after he suffered another significant loss: a fire that destroyed his home in January 2025, claiming the lives of his three dogs. A GoFundMe campaign had been started to help him recover from the devastating fire, which had destroyed the house his father built.
Born on December 22, 1965, in San Antonio, Texas, Jonathan Joss had Comanche and White Mountain Apache ancestry. He began his acting career in the early 1990s and quickly gained recognition for his versatility and talent. He attended McCollum High School and later Our Lady of the Lake University, where he earned a degree in theater and speech.
Joss's most iconic role was as the voice of John Redcorn on "King of the Hill," a character he portrayed from season 2 through season 13, taking over after the death of the original voice actor, Victor Aaron. He also played Chief Ken Hotate in "Parks and Recreation". Beyond his voice work, Joss appeared in films such as "True Grit" and "The Magnificent Seven". He also had a passion for music and performed with his band, The Red Corn Band, a nod to his "King of the Hill" character.
His death is a great loss to the entertainment world, as the actor was slated to reprise his role as John Redcorn in the "King of the Hill" revival on Hulu, with recordings already underway. In his personal life, Joss married Tristan Kern de Gonzales on Valentine's Day of this year.
