Six Feet Under

Television series (2001–05) broadcast by the US cable network Home Box Office (HBO). The award-winning black comedy, created by US writer Alan Ball (1957– ), explores the lives of the dysfunctional Fisher family, who own and operate a funeral home in Los Angeles, California. The show uses dramatic irony, dark humour, and sardonic dialogue to reveal the struggles of interpersonal relationships and the absurdity of death.

The show stars Peter Krause (1965– ) as Nate, Michael C Hall (1971– ) as David, and Lauren Ambrose (1978– ) as Claire, the three Fisher siblings; Frances Conroy (1953– ) as their mother Ruth; Rachel Griffiths (1968– ) as Peter's romantic interest Brenda Chenowith; Freddy Rodriguez (1975– ) as business partner Federico Diaz; Mathew St Patrick (1969– ) as David's romantic interest Keith Charles, and James Cromwell (1940– ) as Ruth's new husband, George Sibley. The show's creator, director, and executive producer, Alan Ball, had previously won an Academy Award for best original screenplay for American Beauty (1999), and went on to win an Emmy Award for Six Feet Under, which marked his directorial debut.

Guest stars have included Kathy Bates and Mena Suvari.