Adult animation can be a crazy place sometimes. You’ve got your intense Rick and Mortys, your sharp Family Guys, and even your sillier Bob’s Burgers. But sometimes you’re in the mood for something a bit slower, and more down to earth. That is where King of the Hill reigned supreme. The show followed the Hill family, and their friends, in the fictional city of Arlen, Texas. The show ran from 1997 to 2010 over an impressive thirteen seasons.
Despite its long run, fans of King of the Hill were always hopeful of some kind of revival, especially after series creator Mike Judge brought back another one of his earlier shows, Beavis and Butthead. After a few years of rumors, a revival was finally announced. If you’re new to King of the Hill, and this news has you curious, here’s a rundown of the many colorful characters occupying Alren, Texas.
Mike Judge as Hank Hill
The center of the series, and patriarch of the Hill family. Hank is a proud American who stands by traditional values, which tends to get him in more trouble than he’d like to admit. When a challenge or difficult situation shows itself, Hank will often choose to do the morally right thing, this usually makes him the voice of reason among his friends and family. This doesn’t mean he won’t stick to his guns on certain topics, such as his loyalty to propane.
He is the assistant manager of Strickland Propane, where he proudly sells “propane and propane accessories.” Hank is a loyal husband to his wife, Peggy, and tries his best to be a good father to his son, Bobby. Though Bobby’s constant pushing against traditional masculine interests often challenges their relationship, Hank never gives up on his son, which is a lot more that can be said about his own father, Cotton.
Hank is voiced by none other than series creator, Mike Judge. Judge took a lot of inspiration for Hank from a character on his other show, Beavis and Butthead. That character is none other than the boys' war veteran neighbor, Tom Anderson. Judge is also known for directing the 2006 film Idiocracy, as well as making appearances in other films such as the Jackass series.
Kathy Najimy as Peggy Hill
Wife of Hank, Peggy Hill is a self-made woman who holds herself up to high standards. Peggy has numerous hobbies and jobs over the course of the series but is most well known as a substitute teacher, specializing in Spanish (which she is actually bad at).
Like her husband, Peggy likes to stick to traditional values but is more willing to break out of her comfort zone from time to time and show the power of womanhood. Peggy’s high self-standards tend to get her in more trouble than she’d like to admit, such as accidentally kidnapping a random child when chaperoning a field trip or being tricked into a pyramid scheme.
Peggy is also shown to have many insecurities, such as her larger-than-average feet or her estranged relationship with her mother. But she is able to find peace with Hank, who she is equally as supportive of.
Peggy is voiced by Kathy Najimy, who is known for some very iconic roles like Mary Sanderson in the Hocus Pocus movies and Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act.
Pamela Adlon as Bobby Hill
The only child between Hank and Peggy, Bobby Hill is an adolescent child of a new age. While his dad is all sports, lawn mowing, and traditional masculine ideals, Bobby’s big dream is to become a prop comic. Bobby overall dislikes sports, and usually only ever gains an interest in them to learn more about the more unconventional roles, such as being a rodeo clown or a team mascot.
Like most kids his age, Bobby tends to be easily manipulated and is prone to immaturity from time to time. But despite butting heads over occasional topics, he has a pretty healthy relationship with both of his parents. Bobby is also successful by the way of romance and dates the neighbor Connie throughout most of the series.
Voice actress Pamela Adlon provided the voice for Bobby, she is also well known for voicing such characters as Ashley Spinelli in Disney's Recess, Vidia in the Tinker Bell movies, and even Pajama Sam in the Pajama Sam computer games.
Brittany Murphy as Luanne Platter
The 21-year-old niece of Peggy’s brother, Luanne moves in with the Hill’s after a particularly bad incident between her own parents. Throughout the series, Luanne is in and out of various paths, be it college, beauty academy, or other jobs.
Normally dismissed by older family members and friends, Luanna comes off as an airhead at first. She is often the victim of various scams or tricks. But there is more to her than a pretty face, Luanne is good at puzzles, has a creative side, and is even a proud Christian. At the end of season 11, she marries Lucky.
Brittany Murphybrought Luanne's voice to life. Murphy is best known for many roles such as Tai Fraiser in Clueless and Gloria in Happy Feet. She sadly passed away in 2009 at 32 years old.
Tom Petty as Lucky Kleinschmidt
Slow of mind but big of heart, Elroy “Lucky” Kleinschmidt is not one to judge lightly. A true hillbilly at heart who has a difficult time staying employed. Lucky has no credit or social security number, and lives off of the settlement money he won after “slipping on pee-pee at the Costco.”
Lucky lives by a strict moral code, which includes refusing to marry Luanne until he gets his GED. Lucky and Luanne’s initial courtship was met with much judgment, particularly by Peggy. But after learning of Luanne’s pregnancy, the Hills give Lucky their blessing to marry Luanne. While Lucky still struggles to provide, he has a good heart and genuinely cares for Luanne and his family.
Lucky's voice was provided by musician Tom Petty, frontrunner of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as well as a member of the groups Mudcrutch and Traveling Wilburys. Petty had a successful career, selling more than 80 million records worldwide. He sadly passed away in 2017 from a drug overdose.
Johnny Hardwick as Dale Gribble
Rarely found without a cigarette in hand, Dale is the eccentric member of Hank’s friend group. An exterminator by trade, but a keeper of many interests. Dale is paranoid by nature, and generally skeptical of the government. He usually goes by the name “Rusty Shackleford” when wanting to hide his identity.
Complementing his paranoia is his belief in various conspiracies, particularly UFOs. Despite his nature to snoop, spy, and investigate, he is completely oblivious to his wife’s ongoing affair with John Redcorn. Dale is a loyal husband and devoted father to his son, Joseph.
Dale was brought to life by voice actor and comedian Johnny Hardwick, who passed away in 2023.
Ashley Gardner as Nancy Hicks-Gribble
The weather girl of Arlen’s local news station, and former Beauty Queen, Nancy is a woman who prides herself in her physical appearance. She had a long-running affair with John Redcorn, breaking it off later on in the series. It’s revealed that Nancy’s own mother also had a long-standing affair. She is also friends with Peggy and Minh.
Nancy was voiced by Ashley Gardner, who also made several other appearances in shows like Malcolm in the Middle, Reno 9-1-1, and Beavis and Butthead
Stephen Root as Bill Dauterive
Sgt. William “Bill” Fontaine de La Tour Dauterive is a man who faced a lot of misfortune in his life. Bill was once a popular and well-respected member of Alren High’s football team. After high school, Bill went on to become a sergeant barber in the United States Army, which he is very skilled in.
Bill’s life started to go downhill when he fell for and married Lenore, who ended up dumping him. Bill since let himself go, along with his self-respect. Throughout the series, Bill finds himself in one bad relationship after another, at least when he’s not pining over his ex-wife.
Bill is voiced by Stephen Root, who has appeared in numerous film and television projects over the years such as Trumbo, O' Brother Where Art Thou?, Black Lotus, and most recently Praise Petey.
Mike Judge as Boomhauer
Jeffrey Dexter “Jeff” Boomhauer III is the younger, and more suave member of the neighborhood. He speaks in a signature slew of mutterings that are hard to understand, which is a long-running gag. Despite that, he is not only a talented singer but also a very successful ladies’ man. Throughout the series, it is never confirmed what his occupation is until the series finale, which you’ll have to watch to find out.
Boomhauer's iconic voice is also provided by Mike Judge.
Toby Huss as Kahn Souphanousinphone
Kahn is the arrogant neighbor of the hills who considers himself far above the “rednecks” of the neighborhood. He never fails to take an opportunity to jab at Hank or any of his friends, boasting about his own success and luxuries. But despite that, Kahn is always looking for approval. Whether it’s from his higher-ups like Ted Wassanasong, or even the very neighbors he loves to tease. Kahn would later on develop a better relationship with Hank and the guys, but his jabs would still be just as strong.
Kahn is voiced by Toby Huss, who first broke into television as Artie in Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Pete & Pete. His most recent film roles were 2022's Blonde, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and 2023's Americana.
Lauren Tom as Minh Souphanousinphone
The wife of Kahn, Minh is a housewife who enjoys berating her “hillbilly” neighbors just as much as her husband. Minh is a highly competitive individual who loves to see herself as higher up. However, Minh also has a more sensitive side and shows this in her relationship with their daughter, Connie. Like Kahn, Minh develops a relationship with the other wives in the neighborhood and is usually among them during girl nights.
Minh is played by voice actress Lauren Tom, best known for roles such as Amy Wong in Futurama, Numbuh 3 in Codename Kids Next Door, and most recently making an appearance in My Adventures with Superman.
Lauren Tom as Connie Souphanousinphone
Her full name is Kahn Souphanousinphone Jr., but everyone knows her as Connie. The daughter of Kahn and Minh, Connie has a lot on her shoulders. A straight “A” student, a violinist, and lots of responsibilities. Connie is a free spirit and isn’t afraid of pushing back against her parents when she finds them too overbearing. She has a strong relationship with Bobbie and dates him throughout most of the series.
Lauren Tom provides the voice for Connie as well as her mother.
Toby Huss as Cotton Hill
Eccentric, misogynistic, short-tempered, and loud, Colonel Cotton Lyndal Hill is a firecracker of a human being. Cotton’s most obvious physical feature are his short legs, which were the result of his shins being blown off in World War II. His shins were reattached to his knees, giving him a stiff gait and a big ego. Cotton divorced his first wife, Tilly, and married a much younger woman named Didi.
Cotton and Hank have a very strained relationship, he never saw his son as good enough and openly expresses his distaste for him. Despite that, he has let his softer side slip out. He keeps a good relationship with his grandson, Bobby, and even helps Peggy learn to walk again after her parachuting accident.
Toby Huss gave Cotton his iconic voice along with the Hills' neighbor, Kahn.
Victor Aaron and Jonathan Joss as John Redcorn
John Redcorn is a local new-age masseur and former musician. Like Boomhaur, he tends to be a bit of a womanizer, and Nancy is usually his best client. The two had a longstanding affair, which resulted in the birth of Joseph. Redcorn and Nancy are fully aware of Joseph’s true parentage but keep it a secret. Later on in the series, John starts to see Dale as more of a friend than he could have imagined.
Victor Aaron started off voicing John Redcorn in 1997 but was replaced by Jonathan Joss in 1998. Aaron was known for TV film roles such as Touch the Clouds in the 1996's Crazy Horse. After his tragic passing from a car accident, Joss took over the role. Joss is also most well known for playing Chief Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation.
Stephen Root as Buck Strickland
Hank’s boss and owner of Strickland Propane, Buck is a shrewd businessman to the core. While Buck’s strengths lie in business, he’s also an equal womanizer. He hosts employee discussions in his bathroom and has a long habit of adultery. Hank holds Buck in high regard, almost as a surrogate father figure, and tries to be the model employee.
Buck isn’t ignorant of this and holds Hank in high regard, often crediting him as the sole reason the company is afloat. But he also has a bad gambling addiction and will often put the company at risk.
Bill's voice actor, Stephen Root, also provided the voice for Buck.