9-1-1 Cast Member Confirms Exit: ‘I Need to Move On’
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Between Buck and Tommy’s breakup and Tommy revealing that he and Buck both dated the same woman, 9-1-1 fans may have missed another bombshell—the last time we saw Tommy.
Is Lou Ferrigno Jr. Leaving 9-1-1?
Ferrigno Jr. confirmed in an interview with Decider after Tommy and Buck broke up in Season 8, Episode 6, “Confessions” that he would be leaving the role of Tommy after three seasons as the character. The episode sees Tommy and Buck, who he began dating in Season 7, break up after Buck learns that Tommy is engaged to Buck’s ex-girlfriend, Abby Clark, who Buck dated in Season 1. Though Buck sorts out his feelings around him and Tommy dating the same woman, Tommy ultimately ends their relationship after realizing that Buck isn’t ready to move in together and that they aren’t meant for each other.
“I would be remiss if I said this wasn’t one of the real joys and real blessings of my life,” Ferrigno Jr. told Decider about what playing an LGBTQ+ character on 9-1-1 means to him. “Throughout my career, I’ve focused on playing characters who are very authoritative, strong, with a strong presence, not too vulnerable, not too three-dimensional. And Tommy was defined.”
He added later in the interview, “I never intended to play it safe like that, my career. I wanted to expand. Based on my life and the events that have happened in my life. I feel like I’m, in a sense, living on borrowed time. So if I’m going to do it, I’m going to go full speed ahead. And this is the first time people are really seeing me as an actor who can do this. I’ve always been able to. But [creator] Tim [Minear] is the one who really gave me the opportunity to do it.”
Ferrigno Jr. hinted to Fangirlish at the time that Tommy’s departure from 9-1-1 wasn’t his decision. “I just hoped it would last a little longer,” he said. He also admitted that he had issues with the way Tommy was written, though he ultimately understood why Tommy and Buck had to split. “If protecting his emotional health and saving himself was the only way to survive, then you can’t shame him for that,” he said. “I honestly don’t think the relationship was mature enough for them to make any long-term decisions.” He also told the site that he would be open to reprising his role as Tommy on 9-1-1 if given the chance to return. “I really want to come back, but I have to continue my journey here. I have some things going on right now that may or may not happen, and I hope there’s no conflict if that happens,” he said.
He continued, “I’ve never had the kind of artistic, professional experience that I had with 9-1-1. I love this movie. I love this show. I love the higher-ups. I love the crew. It’s fun.”
As for what’s next, Ferrigno Jr. also confirmed to Fangirlish that he’ll be returning to CBS’ S.W.A.T., where he plays recurring character Donovan Rocker. “I’m going to do S.W.A.T., so I’m going back to S.W.A.T., which is a great reprieve. Two of the biggest shows that were shot in Los Angeles, I just went from one end to the other, and now I get to be Rocker. It’s very different. “The six-year-old who just wanted to run into walls and shoot things is all grown up now,” he said.
Although he is no longer on 9-1-1, Ferrigno Jr. also hinted that he knows what’s next for Buck’s romantic storyline on 9-1-1 amid speculation that he and his best friend, Eddie Diaz, might finally get together. “Unfortunately, I’m not going to tell you,” he said. “If I knew, I would have to kill you. You would have to disappear, for sure.”
