Rather than running an open casting call or hiring an internet impressionist, the production looked within its own seasoned ensemble. Toby Huss was already intrinsic to the DNA of King of the Hill. Over the original series’ 259 episodes, Huss provided the gravelly bark of Hank’s war-hero father Cotton Hill, the dismissive cadence of Kahn Souphanousinphone, and dozens of incidental neighborhood voices.
Huss approached the recast with reverence. Dale’s voice is notoriously difficult to capture: it requires a high, nasal pitch pushed through Texas dust, coupled with rapid-fire anxiety and sudden drops into deadpan conviction. Huss worked closely with audio engineers to match Hardwick’s cadence while ensuring the character retained real emotional stakes. Hardwick had completed dialogue for roughly a handful of episodes before his passing, allowing audiences to hear his original work one final time before Huss gradually transitions into the role.
