Angela Bassett Responds to Bobby Nash’s Passing on 9-1-1
Angela Bassett was taken aback by the thought of bidding farewell to her 9-1-1 television husband, Peter Krause.
This article includes spoilers for the most recent episode of 9-1-1.
At 66, Bassett found it hard to accept that Krause’s character, Bobby Nash, would be killed off. In fact, she believed it was more probable that her character, Athena Grant, would not survive.
“Tim [Minear], the showrunner, informed Peter first and then called me to say, ‘Angela, we’re making a significant shift this season. We need to create something truly dramatic — and someone is going to die,’” Bassett shared with The Hollywood Reporter in an interview released post the episode that aired on Thursday, April 17. “There was a pause and I asked, ‘Is it … Athena? Is it me?!’ He replied, ‘No.’”
There was also speculation about whether Hen (Aisha Hinds), Chimney (Kenneth Choi), or “three or four” additional cast members would meet their end onscreen.
“After around three or four names, I exclaimed, ‘What?!’ — it was unimaginable that it would be Bobby,” Bassett joked. “I found it unbelievable that Bobby would be the one, so it caught me completely off guard. Sometimes, it leaves you speechless — and that was one of those moments given the amazing bond that has developed between them over the past four or five years. This was unexpected. None of us anticipated it.”
Krause portrayed the cherished fire captain of the 118 throughout all eight seasons of 9-1-1. In the recent episode — a thrilling two-parter centered around a contagion — Bobby lost his life after encountering a lethal and rapidly spreading virus while his crew was trapped in an underground biomedical facility.
Minear reiterated to Variety on Thursday that the choice to eliminate Bobby was “a very hard creative decision,” as he holds deep regard for Krause, 59, as an individual. He also confirmed that Krause would return to his role later in season 8. (ABC has already renewed 9-1-1 for a ninth season.)
Bassett further shared with THR that, surprisingly, Krause provided comfort to her and their fellow cast members in light of the shocking death.
“I received the call about a week before encountering Peter on set. He was filming one scene while I was preoccupied with another, but we were at the same location,” the Oscar nominee reflected. “I remember arriving on set and asking everyone, ‘Where’s Bobby? Where’s Bobby?’ They replied, ‘He’s upstairs.’ ‘Alright. I’ll find him later, but first, let me locate my man.’ When we locked eyes, it was a moment.”
Peter Krause bid farewell to 9-1-1 with the unforeseen death of his character Bobby Nash; however, fans of the enduring series still have numerous questions regarding the events that unfolded and what lies ahead. The second segment of ABC’s monumental two-part “Contagion” event aired on Thursday, April 17, where Chimney (Kenneth Choi) continued to […]
She added, “That moment when your eyes lock, and there are no words to say? You just embrace each other tightly and shake your heads in disbelief. Bless his heart — he had to comfort us all while navigating his emotional experience in that moment.”
In a statement shared on social media following Thursday’s shocking episode, Krause expressed that he would miss sharing the screen with Bassett.
“I will truly miss my partner, Angela Bassett. Her strength, her kindness, and those moments we held hands,” he wrote in part. “Our separation came too soon. Much love.”
9-1-1 will return to ABC in two weeks with an episode dedicated to Bobby’s funeral service.
