Born in Austin, Texas, Johnny Hardwick attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and after graduation worked bars and began performing stand-up comedy. In 1992 he made his debut television appearance in an episode of An Evening at the Improv. While performing at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles he was approached to help write the Texan-themed comedy King Of the Hill. The role of Dale Gribble was originally to be voiced by Daniel Stern, but when talks fell through, he stepped in and played Dale for 13 years, appearing in 257 of 258 episodes.
Johnny Hardwick was found dead at his home at the age of 64, a cause of death could not be immediately established.
