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Six Feet Under 2001 Drama MA Ruth
dreads George's return from the hospital in light of his recent diagnosis. David and Keith bring up alternative parenting options for discussion, and Rico navigates new waters. Title
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A funeral home might not seem like the ideal setting for a TV show, but HBO drama Six Feet Under pulls it off. The trials of the Fisher family as they try to find happiness running their Los Angeles funeral parlour are supremely engaging, especially as the Fishers turn the death that surrounds them into lessons on cherishing and making the most of the lives they have. It doesn’t hurt that the ensemble cast boasts such compelling personalities as Peter Krause (Parenthood), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Freddy Rodriguez (Planet Terror) and Australia's own Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters).
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How many series are there of Six Feet Under?
Six Feet Under first aired in 2001 and ran for five series, with the finale airing in 2005.
What is Six Feet Under about?
Six Feet Under is primarily set in Fisher and Sons funeral home in Los Angeles. When patriarch Nathaniel Fisher Senior dies, he leaves the business to both of his sons, shocking the whole family, who continue to be haunted by the presence of their father.
The show's macabre humour, use of magical realism and creativity (including the occasional musical number) cemented Six Feet Under as one of the seminal programmes heralding television’s new golden age in the early naughties. As darkly funny as it is deeply moving, the acclaimed series created by Alan Ball (True Blood) won nine Emmy and three Golden Globe awards during its run.
Six Feet Under also features an iconic theme tune by the legendary Thomas Newman:
Who is in the cast of Six Feet Under?
Six Feet Under has a truly stellar ensemble cast.
Peter Krause (Parenthood, Dirty Sexy Money) plays eldest son Nathaniel Jr, who reluctantly returns to his family having spent most of his youth trying to escape. Laid-back Nate immediately clashes with his younger brother, David.
Dexter himself, Michael C Hall, plays straight-laced David, who is shocked to learn about his father’s decision to split the business between the brothers. Adding to his stress, closeted David is trying to keep new boyfriend Keith (Reunion’s Mathew St Patrick) a secret from his family.
Only a high schooler when her father dies, youngest sibling Claire Fisher is played by Lauren Ambrose (Torchwood).
Frances Conroy won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of neurotic Ruth Fisher, the family matriarch.
Australian Rachel Griffiths (Brothers and Sisters) plays complicated Brenda Chenowith, Nate’s on-again, off-again girlfriend.
Billy Chenowith, Brenda’s brother who struggles with mental illness, is played by Jeremy Sisto, in a definite departure from his role as Elton in Clueless!
Ugly Betty’s Freddy Rodriguez plays Rico Diaz, the funeral home’s restorative artist.
Other notable cast members include Justina Machado (One Day at a Time), James Cromwell (24, Boardwalk Empire), Richard Jenkins (The Shape of Water), Kathy Bates (American Horror Story, Titanic), Patricia Clarkson (House of Cards), Ed Begley Jr (Arrested Development) and Rainn Wilson (The Office).
What are the cast members from Six Feet Under doing now?
Peter Krause has since starred alongside Donald Sutherland in law drama Dirty Sexy Money, where he reportedly had creative differences with ABC, before moving on to pay Adam Braverman on Parenthood, created by Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights).
The third series of FOX firefighter drama 9-1-1, featuring Krause as Bobby Nash, will premiere 23 September 2019.
Six Feet Under may have introduced television audiences to theatre actor Michael C Hall, but it was his stint as psychopathic Dexter that made him a bona-fide star and Golden Globe winner.
Frances Conroy has been a staple on horror hit American Horror Story alongside Six Feet Under alumni Kathy Bates and James Cromwell, and plays Penny Fleck in the new Joker film.
After Six Feet Under, Lauren Ambrose starred as Jilly Kitzinger on Torchwood and plays Dorothy Turner in M Night Shyamalan’s thriller series Servant.
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Rachel Griffiths has been working steadily in television with roles in Brothers and Sisters and House Husbands.
Jeremy Sisto starred in two seasons of the CBS cop procedural FBI before filming Boston-set indie drama Last Night in Rozzie.
Onscreen couple Freddy Rodriguez and Justina Machado have both appeared in a number of television series since Six Feet Under. Rodriguez starred in CBS crime series Bull, and Machado plays the lead in the critically-acclaimed remake of One Day at a Time, recently saved from cancellation by Pop TV.
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