Johnny Hardwick, famous comedian and King of the Hill star, passes away

Johnny Hardwick, the talented comedian and voice actor renowned for his portrayal of Dale Gribble on the popular TV show King of the Hill, has sadly passed away. The Travis County medical examiner’s office in Texas has confirmed this tragic news. Law enforcement sources informed TMZ that authorities discovered Hardwick’s lifeless body during a wellness check at his home in Texas. It is important to note that foul play is not suspected as the cause of death remains undisclosed. Born in Austin, Hardwick ventured into the comedy scene in the 1990s and made history by being the first stand-up comedian to grace The Jon Stewart Show. His remarkable comedic performance caught the attention of Greg Daniels (known for The Office and Parks and Recreation) and Mike Judge (the genius behind Beavis and Butt-Head), who approached him after one of his gigs in Los Angeles. They believed he had the perfect qualities for the character of Dale Gribble in their new creation, King of the Hill. Initially hired as a writer, Hardwick eventually became the voice behind Dale Gribble, a bug-killing enthusiast with a penchant for conspiracy theories. This opportunity arose when negotiations with another actor, Daniel Stern, fell through. Hardwick’s involvement in the show extended beyond his voice acting duties, as he also served as a story editor and producer. He brilliantly brought Dale Gribble to life for over 250 episodes of the animated series, which aired from 1997 to 2010. Additionally, Hardwick lent his voice to various video game adaptations of King of the Hill, such as King of the Hill in 2000 and Warped Kart Racers in 2022. Notably, his exceptional contribution to the show garnered him an Emmy Award in 1999 when King of the Hill received the prestigious Outstanding Animated Program award. Even after the series concluded in 2010, Hardwick kept the spirit of Dale Gribble alive by sharing YouTube covers of well-known songs, performing them in Dale’s distinct nasal voice. Some memorable renditions included classics like the Beatles’ “Let It Be” and John Lennon’s “Imagine.” It is worth mentioning that Hardwick was among the original cast members, alongside Kathy Najimy, Stephen Root, and Pamela Adlon, who were set to reunite for a reboot of King of the Hill. In January, Hulu thrilled fans by announcing their plans for this highly anticipated project.