Jonathan Joss, a wonderful actor and producer best known for his voice role in the animated series “King of the Hill,” has died. As you probably know, he was shot and killed in a robbery attempt at the age of 59. Joss Whedon, who was born on December 22, 1965, revolutionized television. Walker, Texas Ranger, ER, Charmed, Friday Night Lights, where he got to act with his son, and Parks and Recreation, where he played Chief Ken Hotate.
The devastating event unfolded at the site of Joss’s former home in South San Antonio, which was destroyed by a fire earlier this year. Witnesses said Joss heroically pushed his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, out of the line of gunfire. Sadly, Joss was shot during the operation. Eyewitness accounts suggest that a man who allegedly attacked Joss and his partner, fatally shooting Joss, is a local business owner.
NABJ president Kern de Gonzales expressed his heartbreak and anger in an impassioned statement. He opened up about the fiery passion that he and Joss fell into as newlyweds. Having married on Valentine’s Day already, the couple made plans for their beautiful future together.
“Jonathan is my husband. He gave me more love in our time together than most people ever get. We were newlyweds. We picked Valentines Day. We were in the process of looking for a trailer and planning our future. He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other. I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved.” – Tristan Kern de Gonzales
Kern de Gonzales said that it’s urgent that they protect Joss’s legacy and the life they’ve built together. He promised, “I will safeguard what he created,” pledging to fulfill his late husband’s legacy and protect the progress made.
During the course of his storied career—which spanned more than three decades—Joss was able to leave a permanent mark on the world of entertainment. Looking back on his NASCAR experience, he said, “It was a great little deal. His roles allowed him to exist in a world he loved, and he often remarked about his fortunate experiences in acting.
“I’ve just been really lucky to have really decent parts. I’ve never done a bad thing when it comes to acting.” – Jonathan Joss
The context in which Joss lost her life only adds to worries about the safety and violence faced by marginalized communities. At the initial press call, Kern de Gonzales criticized the approach of prioritizing how people deal with trauma instead of how to stop the violence that causes it.
“If your concern is how someone coped with trauma or how loudly they speak when recounting injustice and being ignored by authorities then you never truly cared about my husband.” – Tristan Kern de Gonzales
His passing has left those who knew him, and his many fans, reeling from the loss of one of the truly great spirits in the entertainment world. We’ll remember fondly his contributions to television, and the light he brought to everyone around him.
