9-1-1 is experiencing a cast shakeup.
Lou Ferrigno Jr., who plays Tommy, confirmed that he is leaving 9-1-1 after Season 8 Episode 6, “Confessions,” just aired.
The actor confirmed the news in an interview with Decider, following his character and Buck’s (Oliver Stark) breakup in the latest episode.
Keep reading to find out more…
Lou played Tommy for three seasons.
In the episode, he and Buck, who he started dating in Season 7, broke up after Buck learned that Tommy was engaged to Buck’s ex-girlfriend, Abby Clark (Connie Britton), who Buck dated in Season 1.
Tommy eventually ended the relationship after realizing that Buck wasn’t ready to move in together and they weren’t a match.
“I’d be remiss if I were to say that this has not been one of the true pleasures and true blessings in my life,” he said about playing the LGBTQ+ character in 9-1-1.
“In the span of my career, I’ve tended to play very authoritative, strong characters with strong presences who are not very vulnerable and not very three-dimensional. And Tommy was defined.”
“I’ve never intended to play this safe, this career of mine. I wanted to stretch. Based on my life and events that have happened in my life. I feel like I’m, in a sense, on borrowed time. So if I’m going to do it, I’m gonna go full speed ahead. And this is the first time anyone’s really seen me in the light of an actor that can pull this off. I always could. But Just Jared Tim [Minear] was the one that actually gave me a shot to do it,” he went on.
He also told Fangirlish that Tommy’s exit from 9-1-1 wasn’t his decision.
“I just would have hoped that it would have lasted a little bit more,” he said.
He also admitted to having issues with how Tommy was written out of the series, though he ultimately understood the split storyline.
“If preserving his emotional health and saving himself is the only means to survive, then you can’t shame him for it. I honestly don’t believe that the relationship matured well enough that they should have made any type of long-term decision,” Lou said.
He also said he’d be open to play Tommy in 9-1-1 again: “I would absolutely love to come back, but I do need to continue on my journey here. I have a number of things now that are going on that may or may not happen, and I hope that there’s no conflict if it were to be the case.”
“I’ve never had the type of experience artistically, professionally, as I’ve had with 9-1-1. I love this set. I love this show. I love the higher-ups. I love the crew. It has been so fun,” he added.
He also hinted that he knows what’s next for Buck’s romantic storyline: “I won’t tell you, unfortunately. If I knew, then I’d have to kill you. You’d have to disappear, that’s for sure.”
Find out which 9-1-1: Lone Star actor might cross over to 9-1-1!