Hoyt Platter is Luanne Platter's father, Peggy Hill's older brother, and Leanne Platter's ex-husband. He is also Bobby Hill's maternal uncle. He is often mentioned during the series, but only appears in one episode, "Life: A Loser's Manual". Hoyt is voiced by Jackass star Johnny Knoxville.
Personality[]
Despite early suggestions that he was victim of Leanne's drunken spats, it was later revealed that Hoyt is in fact a crude, self-indulgent person who only looked out for himself. He is very manipulative, often emotionally guilt-tripping others into bailing him out of trouble. This is shown when he had manipulated both his sister and son-in-law into bailing him out of situations that would land him back in jail, shamelessly manipulating Lucky into taking the blame, and Peggy into giving money into bailing him out of a financial situation that would've ended him in a physical fight. Much like his ex-wife, Hoyt neglected Luanne and liked to drink, even drinking in the morning.
History[]
A sightly younger version of Hoyt appeared in a flashback of Hank and Peggy's wedding video, in "Hank's Cowboy Movie". Hank claimed that Hoyt was going to marry a pharmacist but married Leanne instead when she entertained at his bachelor party, and they later had Luanne. Hank would later claim that the two constantly fought over the next seventeen to eighteen years until the stabbing incident occurred.
Peggy told Luanne and Hank that after Hoyt was stabbed in the back with a fork by Luanne's mother Leanne, he went to work on an oil rig, intending to stay there until he had Leanne's death certificate faxed to him. In "Life: A Loser's Manual", however, it is discovered that Hoyt was never on an oil rig and had in fact been in prison the whole time, and that the only person in the Platter family who knew about it was Peggy, although Lucky later deduced that Hoyt had spent time behind bars. When Hoyt called the Hill home to say that he was being released from prison and he was coming to Arlen, Peggy was the only one he talked to. Soon after arriving at the Hill home, Hank is quick to deduce that he was never on an oil rig. Peggy then admits she lied and that Hoyt just got out of prison. It was never specified what Hoyt was convicted of, but robbery seems likely based on his post-release behavior of robbing a diner. At the end of the episode, Hoyt went back to jail, but Luanne's husband Lucky told her that he was going back to the oil rig permenantly, to avoid allowing Luanne to learn her father was a convict.
Relationships[]
Luanne Platter[]
Luanne is Hoyt's daughter. Hoyt does not care much about her and barely seems to acknowledge her, only doing so when it would benefit him and was convenient to him. With no hesitation, Hoyt uses her as a source of manipulation against Peggy and Lucky, as he knows the two care about her and would do about anything for her. He even sloppily attempts to use her as a scapegoat when he got arrested again, claiming the drugs on him were hers.
Luanne once said that he has thrown a beer can at her head, back when they all lived in the Platter's trailer, suggesting he may have been physically violent towards her other times. Despite all of this, in the end he asked that Hank not tell Luanne that he went to prison (actually back to) because of his habits to which Hank agrees, implying that he had some shame as well as concern for how his daughter viewed him.
Leanne Platter[]
Leanne is Hoyt's ex-wife. While not directly shown, it is obvious their marriage was very toxic. In Leanne's debut, it was stated he was often at odds at her, especially when one or both of them were drunk, very often arguing. Being stabbed with a fork finally ended their hellish marriage. Though it is not really mentioned how bad Hoyt was on his side, he may have been just as bad as her, if not worse.
In "Leanne's Saga", it was stated he was enamored with her performance as a stripper at his bachelor party, so much so that he called off his wedding to instead marry her. According to Hank, Hoyt refused to "come ashore from the oil rig" until Leanne's death certificate was faxed to him, likely meaning he fears her.
Peggy Hill[]
Peggy is Hoyt's younger sister. While seemingly amicable towards her at first in his debut, bringing her and her family gifts, it becomes quickly clear that Hoyt does not care much for her, having no issue manipulating her to bail him out of a situation. It's unknown what the two's relationship was like before Hoyt's debut.
Episode appearances[]
- Season 1
- "Pilot" (mentioned)
- "Luanne's Saga" (mentioned)
- Season 2
- "Texas City Twister" (mentioned)
- "I Remember Mono" (mentioned)
- "Leanne's Saga" (mentioned)
- Season 3
- "Hank's Cowboy Movie" (cameo)
- Season 4
- "Happy Hank's Giving" (mentioned)
- Season 12
- "Life: A Loser's Manual" (debut)
Trivia[]
- Hoyt's only physical appearance in "Life: A Loser's Manual" heavily contradicts the references to him prior to the episode.
- Hoyt mentions that he has not seen Luanne since she was a little girl, yet she was about eighteen when he was stabbed with a fork by Leanne, resulting in her arrest.
- Hank mentions he has never met Hoyt, but Hoyt was seen in a flashback to his and Peggy's wedding (appearing as a more masculine version of Peggy.)
- Hoyt was mentioned in "Happy Hank's Giving" when Luanne was excited to go to Montana to see her father during the holiday. Although Luanne and the Hills failed to reach Montana, a call recounted by Peggy implies Hoyt's story about working on an Oil Rig is the legitimate case.
- Hoyt seems to love pancakes, as he is seen suggesting going out for them multiple times in his debut.
- It is implied Hoyt is favored over Peggy by their mother.
Gallery[]
