Jonathan Joss was an incredibly gifted actor and creative producer, best known as the voice of John Redcorn in the animated series — “King of the Hill.” Tragically, he died just weeks later at 59 years old from a homicide shooting. Joss’ date of birth is December 22, 1965. He became known for his sensitive portrayals on popular TV series such as “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “ER,” “Charmed,” “Friday Night Lights” and the beloved “Parks and Recreation,” where he played Chief Ken Hotate.
The road rage incident which police allege involved Joss took place at the rapper’s old home in South San Antonio. Earlier this year, a fire left the property charred and destroyed. Accounts on social media indicate that Joss was shot while courageously directing his partner, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, to safety. A gunman had allegedly opened fire at the time they were pursued. Tragically, Joss did not survive the attack.
Kern de Gonzales, deeply grieved by the loss of his husband, Kern de Gonzales They had been married only months before on Valentine’s Day. In a deeply emotional note, he wrote, “Jonathan is literally now my husband. He filled me with more joy during our short time together than most human beings ever experience. We were newlyweds… He was killed by a man who was sickened by the idea of two men in love. I was with him when he passed. As I put him down, I whispered to him how loved he was.
More than a decade later, Joss’s career would continue with supporting roles that played against his handsome look and leading-man potential. He often reflected on his journey in entertainment, stating, “It was a nice little run there. And it continued to run while I was in Dallas, and I moved to LA because I wanted to be a big hot-shot actor, which didn’t happen.” Regardless of any controversy that surrounded him, Joss was always gracious and hopeful in his approach to his career.
During his lifetime, Joss taught that fostering a sense of belonging and community was key. In his words, “I’ve just been really lucky to have really decent parts. I’ve never done a bad thing when it comes to acting.” His incredible gifts—combined with his notable warmth—made him an irresistible force to fans and allies.
Kern de Gonzales was determined that his life’s work celebrating Joss should not only outlast Joss, but the life that they had built together. Protecting what he built will be my mission,” he vowed, underscoring his promise to fend off erosion of their memory in common. He shared his frustrations with individuals who do the surface level work on trauma. If your issue is with how someone dealt with their trauma or how high their voice is when they talk about injustice and being brushed off by the powers that be, then you never really loved my husband.
