Actor Chris Pratt has paid tribute to his Parks and Recreation co-star Jonathan Joss following news of the actor’s death in a fatal shooting in San Antonio, Texas. Joss, best known for portraying Chief Ken Hotate in five episodes of the NBC sitcom between 2011 and 2015, was pronounced dead at the scene on Sunday, June 1. He was 59.
Chris Pratt reacts to the loss of ‘Parks and Recreation’ co-star Jonathan Joss:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 3, 2025
“Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in Mag 7. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.” pic.twitter.com/S1i2Ce95nA
Joss was also widely recognized for voicing John Redcorn on the long-running animated series King of the Hill. In addition to their work on Parks and Recreation, Pratt and Joss appeared together in the 2016 film The Magnificent Seven, where Joss played an exiled Comanche warrior and Pratt was one of the titular Seven.
Reacting to the news, Pratt shared a message on his Instagram Story: “Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in Mag 7. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.”
Nick Offerman, who played Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation, also reflected on the loss, telling People magazine: “The cast has been texting together about it all day and we’re just heartbroken. Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.”
Joss’s husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, claimed in a Facebook post that the couple had been subjected to ongoing homophobic harassment in their neighborhood, including threats and a house fire. He alleged they had received repeated warnings that their home would be set on fire. However, the San Antonio Police Department stated there is currently “no evidence to indicate Mr. Joss’ murder was related to his sexual orientation.”
As the investigation continues, friends and colleagues are remembering Joss for his kindness and significant contributions to television and film.
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