Funeral Directors Association

The professional body governing the rituals of mourning and memory.

The Funeral Directors Association serves as the professional body governing morticians in Los Angeles, representing industry standards and regulatory compliance within the universe of Six Feet Under. While not always a central antagonist, this collective embodies the traditional expectations of death care that the Fisher family must navigate. It functions as both a support network for peers and a gatekeeper enforcing established protocols regarding burial, licensing, and ethical conduct.

Quick Facts

Key member (fisher): David Fisher

Lore & Background

The organization becomes particularly visible during industry conventions where directors gather to discuss trends like cremation rates or new equipment. These gatherings underscore the economic pressures facing traditional burial services. The Association implicitly pushes for conformity, which clashes with the Fishers' tendency toward personalization and their struggles with modernizing an old-world trade.

Reader's Guide

The Association exerts significant influence on the Fisher family by defining what constitutes professional conduct. David views membership as essential for credibility, using its standards to shield the business from legal scrutiny and competitor criticism. However, this creates internal friction; Nate often resents the bureaucratic hurdles that prioritize protocol over personal connection with clients. Power struggles emerge when traditionalists within the group resist modern shifts like direct cremation or pre-planning services, which threaten the status quo of high-margin burial contracts. The Fishers must balance their desire for innovation against the Association's pressure to maintain established revenue models. Externally, society's changing views on death force the Association to adapt, creating a ripple effect that impacts the Fisher brothers' daily operations. They are caught between upholding tradition and surviving an industry in flux.

Did You Know?

The show aired on HBO and was critically acclaimed.
Krause was part of the ensemble that won one Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for Six Feet Under in 2003.

Early Life and Education

Peter William Krause entered the world on August 12, 1965, in Alexandria, Minnesota. Raised in the St. Paul suburb of Roseville by teacher parents Wanda and Bill, he had siblings Amy and Michael. His high school years at Alexander Ramsey involved track and gymnastics before graduating in 1983. Initially pursuing pre-medical studies at Gustavus Adolphus College, a junior-year discovery shifted his path toward English Literature and acting. Stage productions like Cloud 9 solidified this commitment. He moved to New York City after graduation, earning a Master of Fine Arts from NYU's Tisch School in 1990. During this period, he bartended at the Palace Theatre alongside Aaron Sorkin. Following his degree, he relocated to Los Angeles following a role on Carol & Company which launched his professional journey in entertainment media.

Breakthrough Television Roles

His television career gained momentum with guest spots in the early nineties on shows like Seinfeld and Beverly Hills, 90210. A recurring part as Kevin on Cybill preceded his significant breakthrough as Casey McCall on Sports Night from 1998 to 2000. Despite critical praise, the series ended after two seasons due to low viewership. The defining chapter of his career arrived with HBO's Six Feet Under between 2001 and 2005. Portraying funeral director Nate Fisher earned him significant industry recognition, including three Primetime Emmy nominations and multiple Screen Actors Guild nods. He secured two SAG awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series during this run. His performance established him as a leading figure in dramatic television storytelling during the early twenty-first century, cementing his reputation among peers.

Later Career and Production Work

Following his HBO success, Krause took on diverse roles across network dramas and comedies. He played Nick George in Dirty Sexy Money after initially declining the offer three times, also serving as a producer. From 2010 to 2015, he starred as Adam Braverman on Parenthood, where he directed three episodes. His film work included Beastly in 2011. In crime dramas, he partnered with Mireille Enos for The Catch and later joined Ryan Murphy's 9-1-1 as fire captain Bobby Nash. He served as an executive producer on the latter series until his character departed in Season 8 of 2025. Looking forward, he is scheduled to headline NBC's Line of Fire in 2026. Additionally, he narrated the documentary Citizen Hearst regarding William Randolph Hearst for American Experience in late 2021, showcasing his versatility beyond acting roles on screen.

Personal Life and Relationships

Outside of professional achievements, Krause maintains a private family life centered around his son and long-term partnerships. He shares a son named Roman with former girlfriend Christine King; the child was born in 2001. Professionally, he crossed paths with actress Lauren Graham as early as 1995 on Caroline in the City. They eventually began a romantic relationship while co-starring on Parenthood in 2010. Their partnership lasted for over a decade before ending in 2021, with news of the split emerging publicly in June 2022. Throughout his career, he has balanced high-profile acting duties with personal milestones, maintaining connections to both New York and Los Angeles entertainment circles while raising his family within the industry environment. His personal history reflects a steady progression through various life stages alongside his public work.