NEED TO KNOW
It’s been over 15 years since King of the Hill ended and viewers bid farewell to the Hill family and their eccentric neighbors.
The Fox animated sitcom, which was co-created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, premiered in January 1997. It followed propane salesman Hank Hill (Judge), his family and their quirky neighbors and friends in their small-town life in Arlen, Texas.
After a 13-season run, the series ended in May 2010. During an April 2009 conversation with The New York Times, Judge said it was “probably a good time to stop” the show.
“Then again, I kind of wanted to stop six or seven years ago, and I felt like it got really good after that,” he added. “At the same time I would prefer to quit while we’re ahead rather than run it into the ground.”
Now, a King of the Hill revival is in the works, with several cast members returning to reprise their roles years later. While it will mark a reunion for many of the stars, three beloved cast members have tragically died in recent years, including Jonathan Joss, who was fatally shot on June 1.
So, where is the cast of King of the Hill now? Here’s everything to know about their lives 15 years after the show ended.
Mike Judge as Hank Hill
© 20th Century Fox ; JC Olivera/Getty
Judge, who co-created the show and voiced the star Hank Hill (and his friend, Boomhauer!), has brought several other hit series to life since the show ended.
After his MTV animated sitcom Beavis and Butt-Head came to a close in 2011, he went on to create HBO’s Silicon Valley, which ran from 2014 until 2019. Judge also created a Beavis and Butt-Head revival in 2022, followed by Peacock’s In the Know in 2024.
He is returning as executive producer of the series’ revival, per The Hollywood Reporter. The voice actor will also reprise his role as Hank Hill. Per Hulu’s plot description for the debut season, his character has returned to Texas after years of working a propane job in Saudi Arabia to earn his retirement nest egg.
Kathy Najimy as Peggy Hill
© 20th Century Fox ; Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty
Kathy Najimy was no Hollywood newcomer when she voiced Hank’s wife Peggy.
At the time of joining the King of the Hill cast, the actress had already risen to fame after starring in 1992’s Sister Act and its 1993 sequel, as well as 1993’s Hocus Pocus. Once the Fox sitcom ended, she joined the cast of Descendants, as well as several TV series, including Unforgettable, Veep and Younger.
As for voice roles in animated series, she had a guest appearance in Netflix’s BoJack Horseman and a role in Disney Junior’s The Rocketeer.
In addition to reprising her Hocus Pocus role in the movie’s 2022 sequel, she is stepping back into Peggy’s shoes for the King of the Hill revival, per Variety.
Pamela Adlon as Bobby Hill
© 20th Century Fox ; Manoli Figetakis/Getty
Pamela Adlon brought many other characters to life after she voiced Hank and Peggy’s son Bobby Hill.
After King of the Hill ended, the actress gained further acclaim for her role as Sam Fox in FX’s Better Things, which she also co-created, as well as Pamela in FX’s Louie.
Adlon also made guest appearances in several hit shows, including portraying Dr. Leigh in This Is Us and voicing characters in The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Fox’s Bob’s Burgers and Rick and Morty.
Per Variety, she will reprise her role — which led to her 2002 Emmy win — in the King of the Hill revival. According to the revival’s Hulu plot description, Bobby is “living his dream as a chef in Dallas and enjoying his 20s with his former classmates Connie, Joseph and Chane.”
Brittany Murphy as Luanne Platter
© 20th Century Fox ; Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
Brittany Murphy voiced Peggy’s niece Luanne Platter in King of the Hill, one of her final credits before her death on Dec. 20, 2009, at 32 years old.
The actress, who previously rose to fame for her roles in Clueless, 8 Mile and Girl, Interrupted, died from pneumonia, with iron-deficiency anemia and “multiple drug intoxication” from prescription and over-the-counter medication as contributing factors, per her autopsy.
Johnny Hardwick as Dale Gribble
© 20th Century Fox ; Johnny Hardwick/ YouTube
In addition to being a co-writer and story editor on the original King of the Hill, Johnny Hardwick voiced unsuccessful exterminator and conspiracy theorist Dale Gribble.
After the show ended, Hardwick started his own YouTube channel.
On Aug. 8, 2023, Hardwick died at 64 years old.
Per Variety, he recorded six episodes for the upcoming revival before his death.
Stephen Root as Bill Dauterive
© 20th Century Fox ; Amy Sussman/Getty
Stephen Root joined the King of the Hill cast as Bill Dauterive, a former high school football star turned military barber.
The actor went on to voice Mildew in Dragons: Riders of Berk and Dragons: Defenders of Berk and Bubbles in Finding Nemo. He also appeared in 2014’s Selma, 2017’s Get Out and 2018’s On the Basis of Sex.
Per Variety, Root will soon step back into Bill’s shoes for the King of the Hill revival.
Toby Huss as Kahn Souphanousinphone Sr., Cotton Hill and Joe Jack
Hulu/ © 20th Century Fox ; Todd Williamson/WBTV via Getty
Toby Huss voiced several characters in King of the Hill, from Kahn Souphanousinphone Sr. to Cotton Hill to Joe Jack.
In the years to follow, he became known for his role in AMC’s Halt and Catch Fire and 2021’s Copshop. More recently, he made guest star appearances in CBS’ NCIS: Origins and Netflix’s The Four Seasons in 2025.
Per Variety, Huss will join the revival, taking over Hardwick’s role as Dale Gribble.
Ashley Gardner as Nancy Hicks-Gribble
Hulu/ © 20th Century Fox ; Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage
Ashley Gardner had appeared in many Hollywood projects before she voiced Dale’s wife, Nancy Hicks-Gribble.
The role was one of her last major projects, but she voiced guest characters in Beavis and Butt-Head, Tarantula, and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn.
According to TV Line, Gardner will return to the small screen when reprising her role as Nancy in the King of the Hill revival.
Lauren Tom as Minh and Connie Souphanousinphone
© 20th Century Fox ; Monica Schipper/Getty
Lauren Tom lent her voice to Minh Souphanousinphone and her daughter Connie, who is one of Bobby’s closest friends and former love interest.
She brought many more animated characters to life, voicing guest roles in hit television shows such as Phineas and Ferb, Fish Hooks and Rick and Morty, as well as 2011’s Kung Fu Panda 2. Tom also starred in Disney Channel’s Andi Mack.
Tom will soon reunite with her former costars for the King of the Hill revival, per Variety.
Breckin Meyer as Joseph Gribble
© 20th Century Fox ; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
Breckin Meyer had already made a name for himself after starring in 1995’s Clueless when he voiced Joseph Gribble, Bobby’s best friend and neighbor, and the son of Dale and Nancy.
The actor went on to voice characters in Cartoon Network’s Robot Chicken, which began its run while King of the Hill was still airing but didn’t end until 2022, as well as guest roles in TBS’ American Dad! and Hulu’s Crossing Swords.
Off-screen, Meyer began dating Kelly Rizzo in 2024, following the death of her late husband, Bob Saget, in 2022.
Jonathan Joss as John Redcorn
© 20th Century Fox ; Derek Storm/Everett Collection
Joss voiced the role of Joseph Gribble’s biological father John Redcorn, taking over for the original actor Victor Arron, who died in a car accident in 1996.
After King of the Hill wrapped, Joss went on to star in 2010’s True Grit, 2016’s The Magnificent Seven and 2022’s Abduction of the Fourth Kind. He also appeared in the hit NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation.
As for his personal life, he married his husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales on Valentine’s Day in 2025.
On June 1, he tragically died at 59 years old after being shot and killed in San Antonio, Texas. After his death, Gonzales shared a message on Joss’ Facebook page, writing, “To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply. He saw you as family.”
Joss was set to reprise his role in the revival and posted a video on Instagram discussing how the “reboot is up and moving” just hours before he died.
