10 ‘Six Feet Under’ Guest Stars You May Have Forgotten
The epitaph on Six Feet Under’s gravestone lists the date of death as August 21, 2005—meaning it’s been 15 years since the beloved HBO drama faded out for the last time.
Created by Alan Ball of American Beauty and True Blood fame, Six Feet Under followed the Fisher family as they faced death on a daily basis at their Los Angeles funeral home.
Even now, a decade and a half later, the show continues to pop up on various best-of-all-time lists—buoyed, no doubt, by its universally admired series finale.
You likely remember the main cast—Michael C. Hall, Peter Krause, Rachel Griffiths, et al.—but scroll down to see other stars who darkened the Fisher & Sons doorway.
Kathy Bates
The Oscar winner played Bettina, who befriends matriarch Ruth (Frances Conroy) and takes care of Ruth’s younger sister, Sarah (Patricia Clarkson), while she tries to kick Vicodin. Bates also directed five episodes of the series.
Bobby Cannavale
The Irishman actor played Javier, who works beside former cop Keith (Mathew St. Patrick) on a pop star’s (Michelle Trachtenberg) security detail.
Jenna Fischer
Just a few months after her sitcom The Office made its debut, Fischer appeared on Six Feet Under as Sharon Kinney, a woman with whom Fisher & Sons’ Rico (Freddy Rodriguez) has a fleeting romance.
Chris Messina
The Mindy Project actor appeared in five Season 5 episodes as Ted Fairwell, Claire’s (Lauren Ambrose) lawyer boyfriend.
Catherine O’Hara
The Schitt’s Creek star recurred in Season 3 as Carol Ward, a Hollywood producer and onetime boss of Nate’s (Peter Krause) baby mommy Lisa (Lili Taylor).
Sandra Oh
Years before she joined Grey’s Anatomy, Oh tackled the role of “Porn Starlet” in the fifth episode of Six Feet Under.
Josh Radnor
The future How I Met Your Mother lead guest-starred in a Season 3 episode as Will Jaffe, man whose body is found 25 years after he went missing.
Adam Scott
Pre-Parks and Recreation, Scott appeared in two episodes as Ben Cooper, a lawyer David (Michael C. Hall) dates after getting dumped by Keith.
Justin Theroux
The Leftovers star recurred in Seasons 3 and 4 as French horn musician Joe, who helps Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) move on during a separation from Nate.
Rainn Wilson
The second alum of The Office on this list, Wilson played Arthur Martin—a funeral home intern whose friendship Ruth misconstrues—in 13 episodes.
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