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7 Shocking Facts About Buckley, The King Of The Hill Character Who Changed Everything

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Buckley, the dim-witted, flannel-clad clerk from Mega Lo Mart, remains one of the most pivotal, yet short-lived, characters in the history of *King of the Hill*. His presence spanned only a couple of seasons, yet his abrupt and fiery exit in the Season 3 premiere delivered one of the series' most dramatic and permanent story shifts, forever altering the path of Luanne Platter and the Hill family dynamic.

As of late December 2025, with the highly anticipated *King of the Hill* revival confirmed for Hulu and new plot details emerging, the legacy of Buckley is once again a major topic of discussion among fans. Creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels have confirmed the new series will pick up years later, and fresh reports indicate that Luanne's journey, particularly her lingering trauma from his death, will be a continued element of the narrative, proving that even a minor character can have a major, lasting impact on Arlen, Texas.

Buckley's Biographical Profile & Voice Actor

Buckley's character was a brief, yet unforgettable, fixture in the early seasons of *King of the Hill*.

  • Full Name: Buckley (Last name is never explicitly stated in the series).
  • Occupation: Clerk at Mega Lo Mart.
  • Love Interest: Luanne Platter (on-again, off-again boyfriend).
  • First Appearance: "Shins of the Father" (Season 1, Episode 10).
  • Death Episode: "Death of a Propane Salesman" (Season 3, Episode 1).
  • Cause of Death: Propane explosion at Mega Lo Mart.
  • Legacy Episode: "Wings of the Dope" (Season 3, Episode 23), where his spirit/angel appears.
  • Voice Actor: David Herman.

The Shocking Death That Launched a New Era for King of the Hill

Buckley’s demise was not just a plot point; it was a watershed moment that proved the animated comedy was willing to tackle serious, permanent consequences. The episode, "Death of a Propane Salesman," is widely considered one of the show's most dramatic and impactful.

The entire episode revolves around the catastrophic Mega Lo Mart explosion, a tragedy caused by a faulty propane tank—an ironic twist given Hank Hill’s deep-seated love for the fuel. Hank, Luanne, and others survive the blast, but Buckley is confirmed to have perished.

The decision to kill off Buckley was a deliberate move by the show's writers. Buckley, while a source of comedic frustration for Hank Hill and a toxic, dim-witted presence in Luanne’s life, served his purpose. His death provided Luanne with a massive, necessary character arc, forcing her to confront grief, maturity, and self-reliance, rather than constantly revolving around a bad-news boyfriend. The writers realized that as long as Buckley was around, Luanne would likely remain in an unhealthy, cyclical relationship, preventing her from developing into the more independent woman she eventually became.

This single event set the stage for other dramatic arcs, demonstrating that the show could pivot from observational comedy to deep emotional storytelling without losing its core identity.

The Enduring Cult of "Buckley's Angel" and the Trampoline

While Buckley died physically, his spiritual presence returned in one of the series' most surreal and poignant episodes: "Wings of the Dope." This episode is a cornerstone of his lasting legacy and a fan-favorite for its blend of absurdity and genuine emotion.

In the episode, Luanne Platter discovers that Buckley's old trampoline—which he infamously purchased for himself—has ended up in Kahn Souphanousinphone's backyard. When Luanne bounces on the trampoline, she begins to see and communicate with the ghost or "angel" of Buckley.

Buckley's angel, still clad in his familiar Mega Lo Mart uniform, offers Luanne half-baked, clueless guidance, often reduced to his signature one-word catchphrase. The angel's advice is predictably useless, but the encounter provides Luanne with the necessary closure to finally move on from the relationship and the trauma of his death.

The scene where Luanne jumps on the trampoline while the song "Rock and Roll" by Gary Glitter plays, with Buckley's simple "Hey" appearing over the song's refrain, is one of the most iconic and deeply symbolic moments in the entire series. It perfectly encapsulated the character: simple, annoying, yet a profound catalyst for Luanne's growth. The angel arc is a perfect example of *King of the Hill's* ability to use magical realism to explore very real emotional issues like grief and moving forward.

David Herman: The Man Behind the Iconic "Hey"

A crucial element of Buckley's distinct personality is his voice, provided by the incredibly versatile actor and comedian, David Herman. Herman is a veteran voice actor known for his work on numerous Mike Judge projects.

Herman's work on *King of the Hill* extends far beyond Buckley. He is credited with voicing a long list of characters, demonstrating his range and topical authority within the show's universe. These roles include:

  • Jimmy Wichard: The angry, mentally deficient local man.
  • Bug Gribble: Dale Gribble's cousin.
  • Pastor K: The local minister.
  • Michael Bolton: (A character, not the singer, whom Herman also played in Mike Judge's movie *Office Space*).

The fact that one actor could embody Buckley—the clueless, selfish boyfriend—and other recurring figures highlights the depth of the show's voice cast. Herman's performance gave Buckley his signature apathetic tone, making his simple catchphrase "Hey" instantly recognizable and often hilarious to fans.

Buckley's Legacy in the King of the Hill Revival

The most current and exciting news for fans is the confirmed revival of *King of the Hill* on Hulu. The new series is set to pick up several years after the original finale, and the impact of Buckley's death on Luanne Platter and the Hill family's lives will reportedly be a continued theme.

While Buckley himself cannot return (unless as an angel, which is always possible in Arlen), his influence is permanent. The revival will likely explore:

  • Luanne's Maturity: How Luanne has fully processed her early trauma and grown into her adult life, potentially as a mother to her daughter, Gracie.
  • The Hill Family Dynamic: Hank and Peggy Hill's role in helping Luanne deal with her grief after the propane explosion was a major part of the original series' emotional core. The revival is expected to revisit these deep-seated connections.
  • The Mega Lo Mart Shadow: The explosion was a monumental event in Arlen. The new series will undoubtedly reference the tragedy and its long-term effect on the community and Hank's career.

The fact that the show's creators have explicitly mentioned Luanne dealing with Buckley’s death as a continued plot thread confirms that his brief time on screen remains one of the most important narrative decisions in the show's history. Buckley's character, despite his flaws and short tenure, proved to be the necessary sacrifice to propel Luanne's development and set a new, more emotionally complex tone for the entire series.

7 Shocking Facts About Buckley, The King of the Hill Character Who Changed Everything
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