"The client is always dead" ( English Six Feet Under ; literal translation of the name - "Six feet under the ground" ) is an American drama television series, created by Alan Ball for the HBO channel. At the core of the show are the lives of members of the Fisher family that runs a funeral home in Los Angeles, as well as their friends and relatives. The main roles were performed by Peter Krause , Michael C. Hall , Francis Conroy , Lauren Ambrose , Freddie Rodriguez , Matthew St. Patrick and Rachel Griffiths .
| Customer is always dead | |
|---|---|
| English Six Feet Under | |
 | |
| Genre | drama comedy drama black comedy |
| Creator | Alan Ball |
| Cast | Peter Krause |
| Composer | Thomas Newman (screensaver) Richard Marvin |
| A country |  USA |
| Original language | English |
| Number of seasons | five |
| Number of series | 63 ( episode list ) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Alan Ball Robert Greenblatt David Gianollari Alan Paul Bruce Eric Kaplan Rick Cleveland |
| Producer | Lori Joe Nemhauser Rick Cleveland Jill Soloway Kate robin Lawrence Andris Christian taylor Craig Wright |
| Location | Los Angeles , California , USA |
| Timekeeping | 46–62 minutes 72 minutes (final) |
| Studio | Actual Size Films The Greenblatt / Janollari Studio HBO Warner Bros. Television HBO Enterprises |
| Broadcast | |
| TV channel | HBO |
| On the screens | June 3, 2001 - August 21, 2005 |
| Video format | 480p ( 4: 3 SDTV ) 1080p ( 16: 9 ( HDTV ) |
| Links | |
| Official site | |
| IMDb | |
“The client is always dead” was broadcast on HBO from June 3, 2001 to August 21, 2005. During the show, the show received high marks from critics and was recognized as one of the best TV shows of all time. He was honored with a number of awards, including nine Emmy awards, three Golden Globes , three US Screen Actors Guild awards and a Peabody award .
Story
In this series, produced by producer Alan Ball, Peter Krause plays the role of Nathaniel Samuel (Nate) Fisher Jr., son of the funeral home director, who after his father’s death has to become a partner in the family business with his brother David (Dave, Michael Hall). The Fisher family also includes mother Ruth Fisher ( Francis Conroy ) and younger sister Claire (Lauren Ambrose). Other main characters are funeral bureau Federico Diaz (Rico, Freddie Rodriguez ), girl Nate and his future wife Brenda Chenovit (Rachel Griffiths) and boyfriend Dave Keith Charles ( Matthew St. Patrick ).
The scene of action is the funeral home Fisher and Sons, Los Angeles , California , our days (2000–2005).
On the one hand, the “Client is always dead” is an ordinary family drama about relationships, betrayals and religion . However, the series is known for its concentration on the theme of death , which is revealed at once on several levels (personal, religious and psychological). Each episode begins with death, any - from a heart attack to the sudden death of a child - and this death usually sets the tone for the entire episode, allowing the main characters to reflect on their current successes and failures along the way, illuminated by death and its consequences. In the fifth season, the series “All alone” ( All Alone ) does not start this way, but focuses on the death that occurred in the previous episode. After only one final episode " Everyone's Waiting " ( Everyone's Waiting ) begins not with death, but rather with birth.
One of the plot tools is the main characters' conversations with people who died at the beginning of the series, especially with Nathaniel Fisher Sr. They reveal the inner dialogue of living characters, presenting it as a conversation with other people. Talking with the dead is a tribute to the genre of magical realism . A similar tool is the transition of a real conversation between living people into an imaginary one, invented by one of the characters. Such a transition cannot be clearly seen until the conversation unexpectedly returns to the place where the fiction began, which demonstrates to the viewers the contrast between the thoughts of the characters and reality.
Action
The scene of many of the scenes is the funeral home Fisher and Sons in Los Angeles. The family itself lives on the upper floors, the ground floor is used for business and funeral services, and in the basement there are premises for embalming and preparing bodies. Adjacent to the house is a separate apartment with a garage.
Being a picture of death, at the same time “The client is always dead” is a film about time; Each episode lasts a month of production time, and the whole series covers the period 2000-2005. Nathaniel Fisher Sr. dies in the pilot series, on the plot - December 24, 2000 . The next episode begins on January 8, 2001 . Some deaths in the series belong to a different time period, such as by the 1970s and 1950s; in other cases, the series begins with the date shown on the gravestone at the beginning of the series.
In the series, much attention is paid to the connectedness of the action. Sometimes there are months between episodes, and sometimes only one day. In any case, the story continues from where it ended last time.
Actors cast
| Actor | Character | Relations |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Krause | Nate fisher | The eldest of the children of Ruth and Nathaniel; partner in "Fisher and Sons" (later - "Fisher and Diaz"); Brenda's husband; widowed Lisa; Father Maya and Willa. Dies of the disease in 2005 at the age of 40 years. |
| Michael S. Hall | David Fisher , Dave | The average child is Ruth and Nathaniel; partner in Fisher and Diaz; the spouse (later widower) of Kita; adoptive father of Darrell and Anthony. Dies in 2044 at the age of 75 at a picnic in Echo Park. |
| Francis Conroy | Ruth Fisher | Mother Nate, David and Claire Fisher; the widow of Nathaniel Fisher Sr. ex-wife / mate George. Dies in 2025 at the age of 79 in a hospital, surrounded by Claire, David and George. |
| Lauren Ambrose | Claire Fisher | The youngest of the children of Ruth and Nathaniel; an artist who temporarily had to work as a secretary. The final of the series, and its obituary on the HBO website, suggest that she became a successful teacher and photographer. Wife, and then widow Ted Fairwell. He dies at the age of 101 in 2085. |
| Freddie Rodriguez | Federico Diaz , Rico | The Embalmer at Fisher & Sons, later Nate and David’s business partner at Fisher & Dias; Vanessa's husband; father Julio and Augusto. Founder of the morgue "Dias" in 2005. Dies at the age of 75 years in 2049 on a cruise ship with Vanessa (presumably due to a heart attack). He appeared in 62 episodes, he was not only in one episode of the first season of Life's Too Short (“Life is too short”). |
| Matthew St. Patrick | Keith Charles | Former Los Angeles policeman, later a security guard in a private enterprise; David's spouse; adoptive father Darrell and Anthony. Shot in 2029 at the age of 61 with a gang of robbers when he unloaded an armored truck. |
| James cromwell | George Sibley | Geologist / professor; second husband Ruth; Brian's father, Maggie and Kyle. |
| Rachel Griffiths | Brenda Chenovit | Daughter Margaret and Bernard Chenovit; sister billy Former Shiatsu massage therapist, then cognitive therapist. The girl, then the wife, then the widow of Nate Fisher. Willa's mother is Fisher-Chenovit, Maya's stepmother. Dies in 2051 at the age of 82 years. She did not appear in 4 episodes of the 3rd season, due to the pregnancy of the actress in 2002 . Her second pregnancy was written into the script in 2004 . Brenda appeared in 59 of 63 episodes of the series. |
| Justina Machado | Vanessa diaz | Nurse at the reception. Federico's wife and school passion; mother Julio and Augusto. |
| Richard Jenkins | Nathaniel Samuel Fisher Senior | The head of the Fisher family and the owner of the funeral home "Fisher and Sons" until his death in 2000 . Husband Ruth; Father Nate, David and Claire. |
| Tina Holmes | Maggie Sibley | Daughter of George Sibley; traveling representative of a pharmacological company from Arizona. Tina Holmes auditioned for the role of Marcy, the daughter of Bettina. She did not get the role, but later she was invited to play George’s daughter, Maggie. |
| Patricia Clarkson | Sarah O'Connor | Younger sister Ruth Fisher, artist; lives in Tapago Canyon. |
| Katie Bates | Bettina | Sarah's friend and carer becomes Ruth's girlfriend while Sarah is trying to recover from drug addiction. |
| Lily taylor | Lisa Kimmel Fisher | Former girlfriend and roommate Nate in Seattle, unwantedly becomes pregnant by Nate, in 2002 she married him. Lisa was killed in 2003. Mother of Maya. |
| Jeremy Sisto | Billie Chenovit | Brenda's younger brother, suffering from a mental disorder; son Margaret and Bernard Chenovit; for a while Claire Fisher guy. |
| Joanna cassidy | Margaret Chenovit | Therapist, Brenda and Billy's mother; the widow of Bernard; later beloved Olivier Castro-Staal. |
| Robert Foxworth | Dr. Bernard Chenovit | A psychotherapist, Brenda’s and Billy’s father, Margaret’s husband to death in 2003. |
| Peter Macdissi | Olivier Castro-Staal | Lecturer in Space in the Los Angeles College of Art; Beloved Margaret Chenovit. |
| Raine wilson | Arthur Martin | A young intern from college, worked in the funeral home from March to November 2003 . |
| Ben foster | Russell Corwin | Former boyfriend and classmate Claire. |
| Mina Suvari | Edie | The artist, a lesbian, while Claire girl. |
| Sprayg Graden | Anita Miller | Former best friend and roommate Claire, former girlfriend of Russell Corvina. |
| Marina Black | Parker McKenna | Claire's best friend in high school. |
| Eric Balfour | Gabriel Dimas | The guy Claire in high school, is experiencing problems with drugs and with the law, after the robbery of the store disappears and, apparently, dies. |
| Ed O'Ross | Nikolai | The owner of the flower shop Blossom d'Amour, in which Ruth Fisher worked; becomes her boyfriend and lover. |
| Chris Messina | Ted fairwell | A corporate lawyer at the Braeden Chemical Legal Department, who becomes Claire's boyfriend when she gets a temporary job there as a secretary. Marries Claire some time after the death of her mother. |
| Kendra berry | Darrell Charles-Fisher | The eldest adopted son of David and Keith; elder brother anthony. He planned to become a fireman, but became the director of a funeral home, as was his father. |
| CJ Sanders | Anthony Charles-Fisher | The youngest adopted son of David and Keith; darrell's brother. |
| Catherine O'Hara | Carol ward | A Hollywood producer, who worked as a personal chef for Lisa, but soon quit because of the constant quibbles of Carol. |
| Brenna and Bronwyn Tosh | Maya fisher | Daughter of Nate and Lisa. |
Minor Characters
- Ben Foster - Russell Corwin (22 episodes)
- Joana Cassidy - Margaret Chenovit (20 episodes)
- Richard Jenkins - Nathaniel Fisher (20 episodes)
- Ed O'Ross - Nikolay (18 episodes)
- Peter Macdissi - Olivier Castro-Staal (15 episodes)
- Raine Wilson - Arthur Martin (13 episodes)
- Tina Holmes - Maggie Sibley (13 episodes)
- Tim Makulan - Father Jack (13 episodes)
- Eric Balfour - Gabriel Dimas (12 episodes)
- Spray Greyden - Anita Miller (12 episodes)
- Aizha Polk - Taylor (12 episodes)
- Kathy Bates - Bettina (10 episodes)
- Peter Facinelli - Jimmy (9 episodes)
- Gary Hershberger - Matthew Gilardi (8 episodes)
- David Noronha - Gary Deltman (8 episodes)
- Joel Brooks - Robbie (8 episodes)
- Melissa Marsala - Angelica Suarez (8 episodes)
- Justin Theroux - Joe (8 episodes)
- Adalis Deleon - Sophia Morales (8 episodes)
- Ed Begley Jr. - Hyrum Gunderson (8 episodes)
- Mina Suvari - Edie (7 episodes)
- Terrell Clayton - Eddie (7 episodes)
- Robert Foxworth - Dr. Bernard Chenovit (6 episodes)
- Dina Spybee Waters - Tracy Montrose Blair (6 episodes)
- Julie Dretzin - Barb Woodwork (6 episodes)
- Jeff Yager - Hoyt Woodward (6 episodes)
- Keli Weimyr - Melissa (6 episodes)
- Patricia Clarkson - Sarah O'Connor (6 episodes)
- Ann Ramsey - Jackie Feldman (6 episodes)
- Chris Messina - Ted Fairwell (6 episodes)
- Matt Malloy - Roger Pasquese (6 episodes)
- Steffani Brass - Michaela Woodworth (5 episodes)
- Michael Weston - Jake (4 episodes)
- Catherine O'Hara - Carol Ward (4 episodes)
- Riccardo Antonio Chavira - Ramon Diaz (4 episodes)
- Julie White - Mitzi Dalton-Huntley (4 episodes)
- Janice Lind - Woman in Turquoise / Mrs. Loretta Sibley (3 episodes)
- Stephen Pascal - Kurt, David's boyfriend (3 episodes)
- Jessica Di Stone - Brenda as a Child (3 episodes)
- Jenna Fisher - Sharon Kinney (2 episodes)
- Illeana Douglas - Angela (2 episodes)
- Lee Garlington - Fiona Kleinschmidt (2 episodes)
- Harriet Sansom Harris - Katherine Collins (2 episodes)
- Molly Parker - Rabbi Ari Hoffman (2 episodes)
- Brooke Dillman - Becky (2 episodes)
Guest Stars
- Sandra Oh ( born Sandra Oh ) (Episode 5, An open book)
- Illina Douglas ( Eng. Illeana Douglas ) (Episode 10, New Person)
- Lisa Gibbons ( eng. Leeza Gibbons ) (22 episode, Someone else's eyes)
- Ellen DeGeneres ( eng. Ellen DeGeneres ) (42 episodes, Parallel Play)
- Nicole Richie ( born Richie ) (51 episodes, Untitled)
- Chris Harrison ( Eng. Harrison ) (52 episodes, A Coat of White Primer)
- Suzy Bright ( born Bright ) (Episode 57, The Rainbow of Her Reasons)
- Billy Lash (62 episode, Static)
- Ellen Albertini Dow
Family Tree
| Nathaniel Fisher - Sr. | Ruth Fisher | Bernard Asa Chenovit | Margaret Chenovit | George Sibley | Untitled Ex Wife | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Keith Charles | David fisher | Claire Fisher | Nate fisher | Brenda Chenovit | Billie Chenovit | Lisa Kimmel Fisher | Maggie Sibley | Brian Sibley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anthony Charles-Fisher | Darrell Charles-Fisher | Willa fisher chenovit | Maya Kimmel Fisher | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Advertising
Seasons
"The client is always dead" became part of American pop culture after the very first season, and after that HBO began very stylish advertising to increase the expectation of the next season. Advertising often reflected the mood that arose after previous episodes and could be developed in future episodes. According to the creator of Alan Ball, music plays a very important role in this series, as it depicts the mood of Fisher.
These songs sounded in trailers dedicated to the premiere of the new season:
- Season 2: Heaven, Lamb Performer
- Season 3: A Rush of Blood to the Head, by Coldplay
- Season 4: Feeling Good, performer Nina Simone
- Season 5: Breathe Me, performer by CEE Förler
Episodes
The author of the musical theme in the opening credits of each episode is the famous American composer Thomas Newman.
Soundtracks
Two albums were released with songs on the series.
- Six Feet Under, 2002
- Six Feet Under, Vol. 2: Everything Ends, 2005
Awards
Emmy
2002
- For the best casting in the TV drama.
- Libby Goldstein, Junie Lowry-Johnson and Julie Tucker
- For the best director's work (pilot series).
- Alan Ball
- For the best role of the temporary character in the series-drama.
- Patricia Clarkson
- For the best title design.
- Eric Anderson, Scott Hudziak, Paul Matthaeus, Danny Yount
- For the best musical theme in the series
- Thomas Newman
- For the best makeup on the show.
- Kylie Bell, Donna-Lou Henderson, Justin Henderson, Thomas Floutz, Todd Masters, Dan Rebert, Lee Roe Romaire), Scott Tebeau
2003
- For outstanding casting in drama series
- Libby Goldstein, Junie Lowry-Johnson
2006
- For the best role of the temporary character in the series-drama.
- Patricia Clarkson
- For outstanding makeup in the series
Golden Globe
2002
- For the best female supporting role in the series.
- Rachel Griffiths
- Best drama series
2004
- For the best female role in the genre of drama
- Francis Conroy