'King of the Hill' star Johnny Hardwick dead at 64

August 2024 · 2 minute read

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Actor Johnny Hardwick, who was best known as the voice of Dale Gribble on “King of the Hill,” died Tuesday at the age of 64.

Hardwick was found in his Texas home by law enforcement officers after they were called to perform a welfare check on the voice actor, Austin Police Department told The Post.

Hardwick was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have yet to issue an official cause of death.

However, police did report that they do not suspect any foul play.

“On Tuesday, August 8th, 2023, at approximately 5:10 pm, APD officers responded to a Check Welfare Urgent call in the 1800 Block of Alta Vista Avenue,” a statement from Austin PD read. “Upon arrival, officers located a deceased person who was later identified as John Michael Hardwick, DOB 12/31/1958. This is not being investigated as a homicide. The cause of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office.”

The Post reached out to Hardwick’s reps for comment.

His death was first reported by TMZ.

Hardwick began his rise to stardom in 1990 as a stand-up comic in Texas before eventually landing a gig on “The Jon Stewart Show.”

The Lone Star State native later immortalized himself in television history with his work as conspiracy theory-obsessed Dale in the Fox comedy “King of the Hill,” which premiered in 1997.

Actor Johnny Hardwick, who was best known as the voice of Dale Gribble on “King of the Hill,” died Tuesday at the age of 64. Johnny Hardwick/Facebook
The Lone Star State native immortalized himself in television history with the role of conspiracy theory-obsessed Dale Gribble in the 1997 Fox comedy “King of the Hill.” ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
Hardwick lent his voice to a whopping 258 episodes of the show. Johnny Hardwick/Facebook
After “King of the Hill,” the comedian took his talents online and began posting parody covers of popular songs while dressed as Dale and making various references to his iconic “pocket sand” attack. Johnny Hardwick/Facebook

Hardwick lent his voice to a whopping 258 episodes of the show.

In 1999, Hardwick received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. He was also nominated two more times in the same category in 2001 and 2002.

Hardwick also voiced characters in movies including Mark Lambert Bristol’s “Natural Selection” in 1999 and Kevin Booth’s 2019 epic “Shadows of Sofia.”

After “King of the Hill” ended, the comedian took his talent online and began posting parody covers of popular songs while dressed as Dale and making various references to his iconic “pocket sand” attack.

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