Johnny Hardwick, voice of Dale Gribble on 'King of the Hill,' dead at 64

Johnny Hardwick, famously known for his role as Dale Gribble on King of the Hill, was found dead inside his Texas home on Tuesday, Aug. 8, according to reports by TMZ and Variety. He was 64 years old. In the report, TMZ alleges that law enforcement was called to Hardwick's Texas home on Tuesday for a welfare check before authorities discovered his body at the residence. Hardwick was pronounced dead at the scene and officials are not suspecting foul play at this time, according to TMZ. The cause of his death is still unknown, MySA reported.Hardwick's body was found in Austin, according to Deadline Hollywood. A native of the state's capital, Hardwick attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock before earning a degree in journalism. Hardwick is perhaps most fondly remembered for his work as Dale Gribble on the long-running animated sitcom King of the Hill.Video above: Remembering those we lost in 2023 The beloved character was an exterminator, smoker, gun fanatic, and, of course, famously carried pocket sand. Hardwick's voice was used in 258 episodes of the hit series which ended in 2010. He was credited as a producer and writer during the early Fox seasons. Since the original run of King of the Hill, Hardwick had launched his own popular YouTube channel.Since the tragic announcement of the voice actor's death, tributes from fans have poured in.