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9-1-1 fans ” spoilers are ahead in case you havent watched the most recent season 8 episode. The series just lost a major character, and fans are reeling from the loss. Weeks after social media users speculated about on-set photos that resembled a funeral scene, viewers expressed their fury and sadness over the death of Peter Krauses character, Captain Robert Nash, a.k.a Bobby. So, one question still hangs in the air for everyone who watched the recent episode: why did 9-1-1 kill off Bobby?

Below, Hollywood Life is breaking down everything we know about Bobbys final moments and whether or not Peter left the show.

Apart from Peter, the rest of the 9-1-1 main cast features Angela Bassett as Athena Grant-Nash, Oliver Stark as Buck, Aisha Hinds as Hen, Kenneth Choi as Chimney, Rockmond Dunbar as Michael, Connie Britton as Abby, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie, Ryan Guzman as Eddie and Corinne Massiah as May.

During the final moments of the April 2025 season 8 episode, Bobby is revealed to have a hole in his breathing apparatus, which lets the virus into his mask and infects him. He quarantines himself from the rest of the 118 crew, and he doesnt initially tell anyone about the hole because Chimney would never take the antidote.

Bobby and Athenas final moments are heart-wrenching. As he bids his love farewell, Bobby tearfully apologizes and says, This isnt how I wanted to leave you. Im not choosing to leave you. I chose to save my team because it was the right thing to do. It was never because I wanted to go. I dont want to go. If I could choose, I would stay with you. Always. ¦ L.A. was supposed to be my penance, not my home. And then you said yes to a dinner invitation and I started to live again. I love you, baby.

Peter released a statement on his characters on-screen death in a statement obtained by Variety. He said that the reason behind Bobbys death is because his story arc honors real-life first responders.

Ive heard that many fans are upset by this loss, and they have a right to be. It is a loss, Peter said after the episode aired. That said, it was more than a bold creative choice on a bold show. 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.

Peter added in his statement, We at 9-1-1 salute all the incredible men and women who do these dangerous jobs and strive to keep us safe. Our show is incredibly difficult to make at times with long hours, challenging stunts and elaborate disasters. We couldnt do it without each other.

9-1-1 showrunner Tim Minear explained to Variety that ABC did not want Bobby off the show, but rather, the director and screenwriter had to convince them to greenlight this characters conclusion.

I had to convince everybody about this, Tim told the outlet after the emotional episode aired. The network was not like, Yeah, get rid of him, itll save us money. It was nothing like that. I had to pitch this at the highest levels and just walk through the whole story and try to infect them ” funny choice of words, given the storyline ” because, as I pitched it, you could understand, as a writer, how suddenly the whole world felt more alive. It felt more real because this thing had happened.

Peter opened up about his departure from 9-1-1. During an April 18, 2025, Good Morning American interview, the Six Feet Under alum acknowledged that the drama series was [his] workplace home for eight years, eight seasons.

9-1-1 showrunner Tim emphasized that Peter did not ask to leave the show. Instead, Bobbys death was entirely a creative decision on my part, really, Tim told TV Line in an interview published on April 17, 2025.

Ive been thinking about it for a while, Tim said, referring to Bobbys final moments on the show. I kind of hinted at it in the Hot Shots episode when Brad Torrance is saying that [his character] isnt going wake up from his coma, and he had that fan going, You cant kill him off! Hes what holds the [firehouse] together! I was really thinking seriously about it when we wrote that scene.

Tim also noted that if the stakes are never real in the series, then theres really no chance that any of this peril in which these characters find themselves amounts to anything. He even added, I think the show could die without including realistic risks that first responders take.

Yes, ABC renewed 9-1-1 for a season 9, which is projected to premiere in the fall of 2025.

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