The entertainment world is mourning the loss of actor Jonathan Joss, best known as the voice of John Redcorn in King of the Hill.
On June 1, 2025, Joss was shot and killed in San Antonio, Texas, in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime. He was 59 years old.
His husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, shared the heartbreaking news in a statement on social media, calling the shooting a targeted act of homophobia.
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The tragic incident happened during Pride Month—a time meant to celebrate and support the LGBTQI+ community.
According to Kern de Gonzales, the couple had returned to check the mail at their former home when they found the skull and harness of one of their dogs left in plain view.
Overcome with emotion, they began to cry. At that moment, a neighbor reportedly confronted them, shouted anti-gay slurs, and opened fire.
Joss pushed his husband out of harm’s way, sacrificing his own life to save him.
The suspect, 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, has been arrested and charged with murder.
San Antonio Police are treating the case as a possible hate crime.
Joss was a respected actor and musician. He voiced John Redcorn in King of the Hill from Season 2 through 13 and also appeared as Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation.
Jonathan Joss Movies
His film roles included True Grit and The Magnificent Seven.
He also performed music with The Red Corn Band, inspired by his iconic animated character.
His death comes just months before Hulu’s upcoming King of the Hill reboot, which is set to premiere in August 2025.
Fans and colleagues across the country have expressed their sadness and shock online.
The fact that this tragedy happened at the start of Pride Month 2025 makes it even more painful.
This month marks more than 55 years since the Stonewall Uprising, a turning point in LGBTQI+ history.
But hate crimes are still a serious problem. FBI data shows that hate crimes rose by 7% in 2022, with nearly 2,000 of them targeting people based on their sexual orientation.
The Human Rights Campaign says the real numbers are likely even higher, due to underreporting.
Social media is filled with messages of support and calls for justice.
One user wrote, “This is why Pride Month matters,” while another condemned the growing hate aimed at LGBTQI+ people.
Jonathan Joss’s death is a powerful reminder of how much more work needs to be done to fight hate and protect LGBTQI+ lives.
His talent and spirit will live on through his work, but his story also calls us to stand up against violence and discrimination, now more than ever.