Jonathan Joss, Voice of John Redcorn on King of the Hill, Killed in San Antonio Shooting
Actor Jonathan Joss, best known for voicing John Redcorn in King of the Hill, was tragically shot and killed in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday evening. He was 59 years old.
According to the San Antonio Police Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting in progress. Joss was found with gunshot wounds near a roadway. Despite efforts by paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene. A suspect, Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, 56, has been arrested and charged with murder. The case is currently under active investigation.
A Life of Art and Advocacy
Jonathan Joss, of Comanche and Apache descent, was a respected Native American actor with a diverse career spanning nearly three decades. He lent his voice to the beloved character John Redcorn for over 30 episodes of King of the Hill and reprised the role in the upcoming revival of the show.
His acting credits included appearances in popular series like Walker, Texas Ranger, Ray Donovan, Friday Night Lights, In Plain Sight, The League, and Parks & Recreation. He also made film appearances in True Grit, The Magnificent Seven, and The Forever Purge.
In the gaming world, Joss provided voice work for major titles including Red Dead Redemption, Days Gone, Cyberpunk 2077, and Wasteland 3.
A Husband’s Heartbreaking Testimony: “He Saved My Life”
Following the tragedy, Joss’s husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, released an emotional and powerful statement on Facebook. Gonzales described the shooting as a hate crime, citing years of homophobic threats and harassment that the couple had endured from local residents.
He recounted how the attack occurred as they were checking mail at the site of their former home—which had previously been burned down after repeated threats. There, they found the remains of one of their dogs placed deliberately in view. While grieving at the scene, a man allegedly approached them, hurled homophobic slurs, and opened fire.
“Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life,” Gonzales wrote.
The couple had married earlier this year on Valentine’s Day and were planning a future together.
A Community in Mourning
Creators of King of the Hill, Mike Judge, Greg Daniels, and Saladin Patterson, issued a joint statement:
“Jonathan Joss brought King of the Hill’s John Redcorn to life for over a dozen seasons, including in the upcoming revival. His voice will be missed. We extend our deepest condolences to Jonathan’s friends and family.”
Fans, friends, and colleagues have flooded social media with tributes celebrating Joss’s talent, his legacy, and his courage. Gonzales emphasized that instead of donations, supporters should help by amplifying awareness of the injustice they experienced and by protecting Jonathan’s legacy.
