Johnny Hardwick Voiced Dale in King of the Hill Revival Before Passing

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Recently, there’s been an abundance of reboots and revivals, giving fans a chance to reconnect with their beloved nostalgic characters. However, while fictional universes can begin and end effortlessly, real-world events also have an impact on such projects. Hulu’s King of the Hill revival has been in development since 2017, and by January 2023, it appeared to be moving towards becoming a reality with ABC Entertainment announcing its continuation. The original voice actors of key characters were also set to return. Fans of the Hill family and their friends were thrilled at this news, anticipating a release in 2024. Sadly, Johnny Hardwick, a long-time member of the King of the Hill cast, who was scheduled to reprise his role as Dale Gribble in the revival, passed away shortly after the announcement at the age of 64.

As an ardent cinema enthusiast, I’ve always cherished the iconic role of Hank Hill in “King of the Hill.” Over the course of 258 episodes, this character was brilliantly brought to life by the remarkable talent that was Mike Judge, who not only graced our screens as an actor but also contributed significantly behind the scenes as a writer and producer. His recent passing has left us, the devoted viewers, with a heavy heart and uncertainty about the future of the show’s revival. In this time of sorrow, 20th Television Animation and Hulu have released a statement on behalf of the studios, expressing:

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Mike Judge, a member of our King of the Hill family. His immense talent and immeasurable contributions will be greatly missed. We extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time.

John Hardwick was a cherished and valued member of the King of the Hill clan, whose exceptional abilities, hilarious wit, and warm camaraderie will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of collaborating with him for the past 25 years. Our heartfelt sympathies extend to his friends and family during this difficult time as we grieve the passing of one of animation’s legends. His voice breathed life into an unforgettable character, and he will be dearly missed.

In the realm of make-believe, death might be seen as a minor hurdle. Unfortunately, our actual lives don’t share this luxury. However, according to TV Line, it appears that there are still a few more appearances of the beloved character Dale Gribble on the horizon for those who have been familiar with him since 1997. TV Line reports that “Johnny Hardwick completed work on ‘a couple’ episodes of Hulu’s upcoming King of the Hill revival before his passing.” We now know that Johnny Hardwick will lend his voice to Dale Gribble in six of the revived series’ episodes. For the remaining installments of the season 14 revival, voice actor Toby Huss will step in as Dale.

I’ve always been an ardent follower of Dale Gribble on “King of the Hill,” and although details about a potential revival are still under wraps, it’s clear that he’ll continue to be a significant figure in the show. His skepticism and outlandish theories have always been a staple, and they might just become even more extreme! As we eagerly await the return of this iconic character, I can’t help but feel nostalgic about Dale’s past antics with Hank and raise a cold one to both Dale and the legendary voice actor, Johnny Hardwick. Cheers!

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2025-06-02 22:32