‘Parks and Rec’ Actor Dies at 59 – Tributes Pour In

Actor Jonathan Joss died after he was tragically shot and killed Sunday, June 1 in San Antonio, Texas, according to NBC News.

The 59-year-old was best known for voicing John Redcorn on long-running TV show “King of the Hill” and portrayed Chief Ken Hotate in popular sitcom “Parks and Recreation.”

The San Antonio Police said an investigation is ongoing.

Tributes Pour In for Joss

Actor Chris Pratt took to his Instagram story on Monday to express how sad he was to hear about Joss’ passing.

“Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude,” Pratt wrote, along with the news story. “Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.”

The two were in “Parks and Recreation” and in the 2016 Western “The Magnificent Seven.”

Fellow “Parks and Rec” actor Nick Offerman told PEOPLE it is a “terrible tragedy.”

“The cast has been texting together about it all day and we’re just heartbroken,” Offerman told the outlet. “Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.”

“King of the Hill” creators Mike Judge, Greg Daniels and Saladin Patterson issued a joint statement sharing a similar sentiment about the tragedy, according to Variety.

“Jonathan Joss brought ‘King of the Hill’s’ ‘John Redcorn’ to life for over a dozen seasons, including in the upcoming revival,” the statement said. “His voice will be missed at ‘King of the Hill,’ and we extend our deepest condolences to Jonathan’s friends and family.”

Joss’ Husband Remembers the Actor

Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, took to Joss’ Facebook page to address the tragedy.

“My husband Jonathan Joss and I were involved in a shooting while checking the mail at the site of our former home,” Gonzales wrote.

Gonzales expressed his love and thanks for everyone who supported the actor.

“To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply. He saw you as family,” he added. “My focus now is on protecting Jonathan’s legacy and honoring the life we built together.”

Gonzales touched on the love he felt while with Joss.

“He gave me more love in our time together than most people ever get,” Gonzales continued. “We were newlyweds. We picked Valentines Day. We were in the process of looking for a trailer and planning our future.”

The couple previously experienced tragedy as Joss’ home burned down in early 2025. A GoFundMe was set up at the time for donations.

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