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9-1-1 absolutely shocked fans by finally killing off a beloved main character eight seasons in during the conclusion of its two-part 9-1-1: Contagion thriller on April 17.
Following the devastating death of Captain Bobby Nash, actor Peter Krause spoke on Good Morning America on Friday, April 18 and briefly addressed his show-altering departure.
“It would come as no surprise to the viewing audience that Bobby chooses to save Chimney and stoically contains himself in the lab,” Krause told GMA in a pre-recorded segment.
“He was willing to sacrifice himself so that others could see another day. And I will miss everybody dearly,” Krause continued. “This was my workplace, for eight years, eight seasons. And I am really going to miss everybody: Angela and the fire team and the crew.”
Before the interview wrapped, Krause took a moment to shout out his on-screen partner, Angela Bassett — who plays Bobby’s wife and 9-1-1 police sergeant Athena Grant — once more.
“I won’t have a relationship like that again on TV,” Krause said. ‘It’s been a fantastic eight years. I’m going to miss her a lot.”
Following 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 15, Deadline published a heartfelt letter from Krause in which the actor addressed his character’s departure from the series in greater depth and thanked fans and colleagues for a wonderful lengthy run.
“I would like to thank Dana Walden, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear for entrusting me with such a complex character over these nine years. It has been my honor to portray Captain Bobby Nash,” Krause wrote. “In October 2017, through [Bobby Nash], we began tackling topics such as grief, guilt, anger and addiction while exploring his relationship with a higher power, forgiveness and grace. On his path of healing, we watched him join and embrace both his new family at the firehouse and his new family with Athena Grant where he found love and acceptance. We also had plenty of fun along the way. It was a joy.”
Krause also preemptively address predicted fan backlash, writing, “I’ve heard that many fans are upset by this loss and they have a right to be. It is a loss. That said, it was more than a bold creative choice on a bold show,” Krause says. “Bobby Nash was written in sacrifice and he was built for this. First responders risk their lives on the job so that others can see another day. His story arc honors them. We at 9-1-1 salute all the incredible men and women who do these dangerous jobs and strive to keep us safe.”
It’s worth noting that fans aren’t the only ones who were taken aback by the upsetting storylines. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, 9-1-1 co-creator and showrunner Tim Minear confirmed the “creative” decision to kill off Bobby was his own, and cast members were “shocked” when they found out.
“Peter and I had been talking about it for probably three weeks to a month before I let anyone else know. I had to clear it with the network and the studio. I had to pitch them out the whole story. Everyone was very nervous. And once I got everybody on board, I talked to [co-creator] Ryan Murphy about it, and once everybody was on board and Peter was on board, then I had to start calling the cast one by one. Each of those calls was a little bit different, and none of them were quick because practically nobody believed me. They all thought I was punking them. Aisha Hinds — it probably took me 15 minutes to convince her that I was not joking,” Minear said.
Since the episode aired, cast members including Oliver Stark, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kenneth Choi, Aisha Hinds, and more posted touching tributes to Krause and his character to social media.
In two weeks, 9-1-1 will return with Cap’s funeral and show the aftermath of his death and the toll it takes on those he left behind. For more on Krause’s final 9-1-1 episode, be sure to read Decider’s Season 8, Episode 15 recap. You can read Krause’s full letter to fans and colleagues here and get a better sense of the fan reaction, as well.
Stay tuned for more 9-1-1 updates, and be sure to mark your calendars for what’s sure to be a memorable Episode 8×16 on Thursday, May 1.
New episodes of 9-1-1 premiere Thursdays on ABC with next-day streaming on Hulu.
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