Tragic Passing of Beloved ‘King of the Hill’ Star Johnny Hardwick Leaves Fans Devastated

Johnny Hardwick, voice of “Dale” on ‘King of the Hill’. Courtesy of Johnny Hardwick/YouTube; Adult Swim/YouTube

Voice actor Johnny Hardwick passed away at the age of 64. He was most recognized for his role as Dale on the popular show King of the Hill. Reports confirm that Hardwick was discovered deceased at his residence in Texas on Tuesday, August 8.

TMZ reported that law enforcement was dispatched to Hardwick's residence for a wellness check, and he was declared deceased on-site. Although an official cause of death has not been disclosed, authorities have excluded the possibility of criminal activity, as reported by the media outlet.

Born in Austin in 1959, Hardwick attended Texas Tech University where he studied journalism. After completing his studies, he initially worked as a bartender before venturing into the comedy industry to pursue his aspirations.

Before landing his breakthrough role on King of the Hill, he spent the '90s performing stand-up comedy. He holds the distinction of being the very first stand-up comedian to make an appearance on The Jon Stewart Show.

In 1997, Hardwick became a part of the cast for the Fox animated series, lending his voice to the character Dale, a conspiracy theorist, and also provided additional voices for a total of 258 episodes. Apart from his voice work, he took on the roles of producer, writer, and story editor for the series.

The comedy won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 1999 and received nominations in the same category in 2001 and 2002. King of the Hill concluded in 2010.

In 2012, Hardwick established his own YouTube channel, but it wasn't until three years later that he started producing content. He started uploading videos of himself singing parody covers while dressed as Dale and making references to his memorable lines from the show, including his famous catchphrase "pocket sand".

A King of the Hill revival has been announced for Hulu, with the original cast all set to return. Alongside Hardwick, the show features Kathy Najimy, Stephen Root, Pamela Adlon, and Lauren Tom providing their voices. Craig Erwich, President of ABC Entertainment, Hulu, and Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals expressed excitement for the return of Hank, Peggy, and Bobby, and their commentary on our current world. Erwich also acknowledged the show's suitability for the animated landscape at Hulu, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to have meaningful conversations with this talented group.

It is unclear if the cast has already recorded any of the new episodes and how they will proceed without Hardwick.