Jonathan Joss, actor known for ‘King of the Hill and ‘Parks and Recreation,' dies in shooting
Actor Jonathan Joss, whose varied career notably included roles on 'King of the Hill' and 'Parks and Recreation,' has died. He was killed Sunday in a shooting in San Antonio, according to police.
According to an incident report shared with The Times, officers responded Sunday evening to a shooting at the 200 block of Dorsey Drive where they found Joss near the roadway. First responders 'attempted life saving measures' until EMS officers arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. He was 59.
Police did not disclose details about what led to the shooting, but said officers located and arrested the alleged shooter. Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, 56, was booked Monday morning on suspicion of murder. His bond is set for $200,000, according to TMZ, which broke the news of Joss' death.
The Times could not reach a legal representative for Alvarez Ceja. San Antonio police said it is investigating the shooting.
Jonathan Joss, born December 1965, is best known for voicing John Redcorn, Hank Hill's neighbor on the hit Fox animated series 'King of the Hill.' Joss lent his voice to the series from 1997 to 2009, taking over from original voice actor Victor Aaron. He also voiced John Redcorn for the show's video game tie-in in 2000.
Joss spoke about his ties to his longtime character in April as he lamented not being invited to an event promoting the 'King of the Hill' revival. Hulu announced on Friday that Season 14 of 'King of the Hill' will premiere in August. The voice cast touts Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Pamela Adlon, Johnny Hardwick, Stephen Root, Lauren Tom, and Toby Huss. Joss recorded lines for the revival prior to his death, according to Variety.
'This show was a part of my life for many years,' he wrote on Facebook. 'That character, that voice, that story … they were my home, my pride, my connection to something bigger than myself.'
Joss, who studied acting at Our Lady of the Lake University, began acting in the mid-1990s with minor roles in TV projects including 'Walker, Texas Ranger' and the miniseries 'Dead Man's Walk.'
In addition to 'King of the Hill,' Joss is known for portraying Wamapoke elder and casino owner Chief Ken Hotate in NBC's 'Parks and Recreation,' where he appeared alongside star Amy Poehler. In the series, Joss' Ken dissuades Poehler's peppy protagonist Leslie Knopefrom hosting a local festival on sacred burial grounds.
'There are two things I know about white people,' he jokes in the series. 'They love Matchbox Twenty and they are terrified of curses.'
His television credits also include the Paramount+ drama 'Tulsa King,' 'Ray Donovan,' 'Friday Night Lights,' 'ER' and 'Charmed.'
Joss' resumé includes films 'The Magnificent Seven,' 'True Grit' and '8 Seconds,' among others. He also lent his voice to several video games, including 'Red Dead Redemption,' 'Days Gone,' 'Wasteland 3' and 'Cyberpunk 2077.'
The actor embarked on several fan events, including meet-and-greets and Q&As, in the months before his death. On Sunday morning, he recalled meeting fans at Tribe Comics and Games in Austin: 'Last night's gig was amazing — huge thanks to everyone who came out and showed us love!' In the same post, Joss told followers he was seeking a ride to San Antonio.
Joss is survived by his husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales. They got married this year on Valentine's Day. Joss lost his San Antonio home and three dogs in a January fire and has 'been rebuilding, piece by piece, soul by soul,' he said in his April Facebook post.
He added, addressing fans: 'You've been the ones to lift me up, to remind me of the impact I've made, and to carry me through some of the darkest day[s] of my life. your love means more than I can ever say.'
___
© 2025 Los Angeles Times.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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