Dale T. Gribble (voiced by Johnny Hardwick) is a cartoon character in the animated series King of the Hill. He is an exterminator and paranoid believer of almost all conspiracy theories. Due to his beliefs, he uses the alias Rusty Shackleford whenever he doesn't want his real name known, including when ordering pizza. The neighborhood block charter is the only document Dale has ever signed with his real name.
Although he is highly suspicious of the government and other people, he is unaware (although everyone else is) that his wife Nancy had an affair with John Redcorn and that Redcorn is the biological father of his son, Joseph. He runs his own business, Dale's Dead Bug, and drives a van (nicknamed the "Bugabago") with a large, fake, dead queen ant perched on the roof. He enjoys drinking Alamo Beer with his long-time friends and neighbors, Hank Hill, Bill Dauterive, and Boomhauer.
Purportedly, he shares a birthday with Van Cliburn (July 12).
One of the influences for the Gribble character may be Ralph Kane, the right-wing, paranoid vigilante next door neighbour in the early 1970s animated series Wait Till Your Father Gets Home.
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