Bobby's 9-1-1 Death Threatens Peter Krause's TV Legacy That Is 27 Years In The Making

Sadly, Bobby's tragic death in 9-1-1 season 8 was a shocking twist that caused immediate uproar from critics and fans alike. Peter Krause had been one of 9-1-1's headlining cast members since its 2018 premiere, and to lose his beloved character so quickly felt like a true loss. Yet, the full aftermath of Bobby's death could impact Krause's acting legacy.

Peter Krause Has Had A Main Role On Television Since 1998

Very Few Actors Can Boast Similar Streaks

Peter Krause had a lengthy career prior to 9-1-1. The actor joined the industry in the late '80s and quickly found his footing on television, culminating in his starring role in Sports Night. Playing Casey McCall, Krause acted opposite Josh Charles' Dan Rydell as best friends and co-anchors on the titular sports news broadcast.

Immediately following the end of Sports Night, Krause joined Six Feet Under as Nate Fisher, a lead role he retained from 2001 to 2005. After leaving this drama, Krause starred in The Lost Room, which aired as a miniseries in 2006. Despite its limited run, Krause quickly moved on to his leading role of Nick George in Dirty Sexy Money, premiering in 2007.

From there, Krause landed some of his most memorable roles, starting with Adam Braverman in Parenthood, whom he portrayed from 2010 to 2015. Krause also made his directorial debut with three episodes of this series (season 3's "Politics," season 4's "Small Victories," and season 6's "A Potpourri of Freaks"). Though he's been a producer on many projects, Parenthood remains Krause's only directing credit.

In 2016's The Catch, Krause played against type as a con artist named Benjamin Jones until 2017. The unlikely character makes the underrated Shondaland series a good alternative show to 9-1-1, which he started a year later in 2018. Due to constantly bouncing back from canceled titles, Krause has been a series regular since 1998, or 27 consecutive years.

9-1-1 Killing Off Bobby Jeopardizes Krause's Hot Streak

The Beloved Fire Captain Never Got Closure

Explanations were offered to justify the twist, ranging from claiming the death makes 9-1-1 more realistic to arguing that it was a natural conclusion to the main character's life story. Regardless of why Bobby was killed off, 9-1-1 has potentially robbed Krause of making history as the actor with the longest consecutive streak of starring roles on primetime television.

Even if 9-1-1 season 9 pays tribute to Bobby Nash by featuring Krause in flashbacks, hallucinations, and/or dream sequences, there's no way for the actor to be credited as a lead, when he'll still be absent for the majority of the season. Beyond writing off his character, though, 9-1-1 may have given Krause another obstacle to overcome.

For seven years, Peter Krause has been synonymous with Bobby Nash. Now that the captain's gone, it'll be almost impossible for Krause to move on to a new project. Furthermore, since 9-1-1 failed to give Bobby a satisfying send-off, Krause will be forced into a position where most people may stubbornly refuse to see him as anyone other than Bobby.

Krause Has A Bit Of Padding Room

In order to continue his 27-year streak, Krause has to separate himself from Bobby Nash — and fast. It would be impossible for his many fans to accept the change so quickly, but Krause has to make a drastic shift for the sake of his career. Of course, moving on from such an iconic role is easier said than done.

Conversely, Bobby's untimely demise in 9-1-1 season 8 may help Krause in whatever role he lands next. There's no chance of the ABC procedural bringing the fire captain back to life — despite a wild 9-1-1 fan theory — but viewers can support Krause in his next project and take comfort in Bobby's actor finding success, even if Bobby is dead.

Peter Krause has already paid his dues, and if he takes a break from acting now that he's done with 9-1-1, I would understand. Nevertheless, I sincerely hope he continues his legacy-defining streak and shows up on my screen again next year. It's simply what he deserves — both a potential record and a new role to call his own.