Fans of the animated adult sitcom ‘King of the Hill’ were elated at the news of the show’s revival on the Hulu streaming service with showrunners Mike Judge and Greg Daniels returning to produce. The celebration of TV’s return to the fictional world of Arlen, Texas was short-lived with the news of the passing of voice actor Johnny Hardwick who performed the role of conspiracy theorist Dale Dribble in early August 2023.
With most of the original voice actors returning, many were curious about the fate of Dale and his relationship with Hank Hill and the rest of the neighborhood. TV Line confirmed with the producers that Hardwick had, in fact, filmed “a couple of episodes” before his untimely passing.
“Johnny Hardwick was an incredibly beloved member of the King of the Hill family, whose tremendous talent, brilliant humor and friendship will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to work with him over the past 25 years. Our deepest condolences go out to his friends and family as we mourn the loss of one of the animation greats. His voice gave life to one of our most iconic characters, and he will be truly missed,” reps for Hulu and 20th Television Animation told the media outlet in a statement.
While the number of episodes Hardwick performed is unknown, the revival production of ‘King of the Hill’ is likely to benefit from having the entirety of the Arlen circle of friends when it airs on Hulu in 2024 even if just for a few episodes.
Hardwick performed the role of Dale Gribble in all 258 episodes of ‘King of the Hill’ during its original run on the Fox networks. The character worked as a pest control operator who dabbled in conspiracy theories. Hardwick was found in his home by police officers on August 8, 2023, after a call was made for a wellness check. The cause of death is unknown at this time.
It is also unclear how the series will address the character of Hank’s niece Luanne who was voiced by the late actress and singer Brittany Murphy who passed away in 2009 under suspicious circumstances.
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