[This story contains MAJOR spoilers from season eight, episode fifteen of 911, “Lab Rats.”]

The departed actor says the character “was built for this,” as Tim Minear and Angela Bassett speak to The Hollywood Reporter about the immense loss on the ABC drama.

911 co-creator and showrunner Tim Minear is afraid the rumors are true: Robert “Bobby” Nash (Peter Krause), the beloved fire captain of the LAFD’s Station 118, has just answered his last call.

“Bobby’s dead,” Minear confirms to The Hollywood Reporter in an interview about the biggest creative swing he has ever taken in his three-decade career. Some viewers will want to believe that Bobby’s death is a fakeout — after all, this is a show known for pulling its main characters back from death’s door time and again — but the steward of the 911 franchise insists that he just killed off his male lead: “The body bag didn’t convince you?”

“I’ve heard that many fans are upset by this loss and they have a right to be. It is a loss,” Krause said in a statement about his departure from the series. “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. We at 911 salute all the incredible men and women who do these dangerous jobs and strive to keep us safe. …

In his statement, Krause said of Bassett, “I will miss my partner, Angela Bassett. Her strength and her sweetness, and us holding hands. We parted ways too soon. Much love.”

Bassett and Minear, who both serve as executive producers of 911, spoke with THR on Wednesday in separate conversations.

Angela, what was your reaction when you got that unexpected phone call? How did you react to the news that you would be losing your other half on the show?
Tim did pull Peter first and let him know. Then he pulled me and he gave me a call and was like, “OK, Angela, this is a big change in the season. We gotta do something really dramatic — and someone’s going to die.” And then there’s a pause, of course. And I said, “Is it … Athena? Is it me?!” He was like, “No.” And then I started going through the list: “Is it Hen? Is it Chimney?” And I think finally, after about three or four names, I was like, “What?!” — because it was inconceivable to me that it was Bobby. It was incredulous to me that it was Bobby, so it was just very surprising. Sometimes, you’re just struck dumb — and that’s one of those moments because their bond has been so wonderful and so strong these past four or five years. I didn’t see that coming. None of us saw that coming.

Read the full article/interview in our press library.