Tragedy has struck the entertainment world with the death of actor Jonathan Joss, best known for his roles on Parks and Recreation and King of the Hill. Joss, 59, was shot and killed on Sunday, June 1, in an apparent homophobic attack outside his San Antonio, Texas home.
According to reports from AP News, police arrived at the scene around 7:00 p.m. and found Joss lying near the road. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures but were unable to revive him. Joss was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Joss had married his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, on Valentine’s Day earlier this year. In a statement shared with AP News, de Gonzales explained that the couple had faced “openly homophobic” harassment from neighbors before the tragic incident. De Gonzales was present at the scene when the attack occurred and described the shooter as yelling “violent homophobic slurs” before firing the fatal shot.
“He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other,” de Gonzales said.
The couple had been collecting mail at Joss’ home when the incident occurred. The house had been severely damaged by a fire in January, which also claimed the lives of their three dogs. According to a GoFundMe campaign set up after the fire, Joss lost all his belongings, including his vehicle.
“Jonathan and I had no weapons,” de Gonzales said. “We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.”
The suspect, 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, was arrested and charged with murder. However, despite de Gonzales’ account, San Antonio police stated that there was “no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Mr. Joss’s murder was related to his sexual orientation.” The police assured the public that they would continue investigating the incident and pursue charges if new evidence emerged.
Joss, a native of San Antonio, was well-known for his roles as John Redcorn on King of the Hill and Chief Ken Hotate on Parks and Recreation. He also lent his voice to Disney’s Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998). Joss participated in a King of the Hill panel in Austin just days before his death.
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The 20th Century Fox reboot is set to premiere in August, and Joss had recorded voicework for four episodes before his untimely passing. In an Instagram video posted on Saturday, Joss expressed his excitement for the reboot, sharing his thoughts on what the return of the beloved show would mean for fans.
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“The fans get to revisit King of the Hill again, which I think is an amazing thing because it’s a great show,” Joss said in the video.
Which of Jonathan Joss’ roles was your favorite? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments.
