9-1-1 star Oliver Stark knows the responsibility that comes with representing the LGBTQIA+ community on screen; his character, Evan “Buck” Buckley, came out as bisexual on the firefighter drama last year. But despite his newfound fame — and the many newcomers on the show — Stark rejects any “pressure” to nail the role. “There’s obviously a sense of pride and a desire to do good, and for [Buck] to represent in a positive way. But I don’t put too much pressure on myself,” Stark, 33, exclusively told Us Weekly when discussing his character’s queer evolution. “Someone called me ‘bisexual’ in an interview last year, which I kind of liked. But when I’m working day-to-day, I don’t think about it that way. I just thought about it as, ‘Let me play Buck, and this is what he’s going through and this is what he’s dealing with right now.’ And that in itself, I think, is a better representation—a bisexual character just living his life.”
Stark, who has played Buck on the ABC series since its 2018 debut, “really wanted” the sexual awakening storyline for Buck, telling Us that he was “a big fan of supporting it” when it was first brought to him. And while much of the crafting of Buck’s journey was in the hands of others—like 9-1-1 host Tim Minear—Stark’s “energy” was still to “play each scene in the moment” and lean into the “truth” of who the character really was.
“That in itself is representation,” he explained. “So I wasn’t intentionally like, ‘Okay, which leg do I have to put out here to best portray this in a broader sense?’ I just tried and played him as someone who actually lived these moments, because that’s the real life of this bisexual character. So I didn’t feel too much pressure in that regard, no more than I ever did playing him. I just played him authentically.”
Becoming a fan favorite is nothing new for Stark; known for his dedication to every situation, Buck has been beloved since the show’s beginning and remains an integral part of the Station 118 family. His bisexuality simply added another layer to the character, a plot point introduced in season 7 and shortly after 9-1-1 moved from Fox to ABC.
Season 8 continues to delve deeper into Buck’s romantic journey, with episode 5 titled “Masks,” which introduces his ongoing romance with boyfriend Tommy Kinard (Lou Ferrigno Jr.). The Halloween-inspired episode, which aired on Thursday, Oct. 24, saw the duo work through Buck’s multiple injuries, which he believes are the result of a curse inflicted by a mummy.
The plot may have been played for laughs, but it also served as a “re-introduction” to the new couple in their everyday lives.
“I guess it was great that Buck was taken care of after he injured his shoulder. It was great to see that respect and that aspect [of their relationship],” he told Us.
“I don’t know many partners who would jump in and be like, ‘You’re right. You’re cursed. How can we fight this?’ “So I can’t really blame him for that,” Stark said with a laugh, referring to Tommy’s hesitation to support Buck’s theories. “And then, you know, he shows up at the end of the movie. …I think that’s great. It’s a nice little reminder for the audience, because, obviously, we haven’t seen him in a while.”
Tommy wasn’t the only character who showed up for Buck throughout the episode, though. His best friend Eddie (Ryan Guzman) was also by his buddy’s side for most of the shoot. Stark said that working with both Ferrigno Jr. and Guzman on set was always a “great” experience — especially when he asked him to sit back and watch the duo in action.
“It’s funny to say this, but [Ryan and Lou] in particular really got along, I think,” he explained. “They really got along, so it was great. I just want to testify to that. But we had a good time, and I loved the dynamic there, and the dynamic in the scenes where Eddie and Tommy were fighting Buck.”
There are quite a few scenes with the trio together throughout “Masks,” from moments at Buck’s apartment to the hospital, with both men serving as a constant support system for Buck as he navigates his “curse.” When asked what Eddie’s constant presence might mean on a deeper level—some fans have questioned whether there’s something deeper than the friendship between Buck and Eddie over the course of the current season—Stark paused before offering a thoughtful explanation.
“You know, Buck and Eddie obviously have a very close relationship, and Buck and Tommy are still in the same boat, and they’re still in the same boat.”
