Autopsy for 'King of the Hill's Johnny Hardwick Prompts More Questions
Johnny Hardwick; Dale Gribble on 'King of the Hill'
Johnny Hardwick's autopsy may have sparked more questions than answers.
The King of the Hill voice actor died unexpectedly at the age of 64 back in August, and now his autopsy report suggests that his body was too decomposed for the medical examiner to pin point an exact cause of death at this time.
According to the report obtained by TMZ nearly three months after his passing, Hardwick's body was found in the bathtub at his home in Texas on Aug. 8, and although the water was still running, the drain was open so he was not actually submerged.
Hardwick was pronounced dead on the scene, and his body had already experienced "extensive decompositional changes" at the time it was discovered, making the medical examiner unable to determine his cause of death.
The report did note that a toxicology test was completed, which showed "presumptive positive test for cannabinoids." There were also drugs found at the scene, but as to which specific substances were found, that still remains unclear.
Additionally, Hardwick weighed only 100 pounds at the time his body was discovered, which is not exactly typical for a man at 5'7".
Following the initial news of Hardwick's death, the co-creator of King of the Hill, Mike Judge, spoke out to tell the tabloid he was "deeply saddened" by Hardwick's passing.
Judge, the voice of the show's lead, Hank Hill, was among the other friends and fans of Hardwick who issued statements to remember the late actor after his untimely death.
The man who voiced Dale Gribble has passed. I love king of the hill watched it many times....Lets all take the time to remember Johnny Hardwick and watch his best moments. pic.twitter.com/7r8pnQcRKC
— Aaron Mikita (@AaronMikita) August 10, 2023
"Rest in Peace, Johnny Hardwick," wrote the X (formerly Twitter) account for Adult Swim Out of Context.
"This one cuts deep," one of Hardwick's fans wrote. "Johnny Hardwick was a national treasure and his portrayal of Dale Gribble is one of the finest performances in a show stacked with incredible characters."
"He helped make King of the Hill so timeless," the same fan added.
Next: How Matthew Perry's Wish Is Becoming a Reality After His Death
