View source for Six Feet Under (TV series)

{{short description|American drama television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = sixfeetunderlogo.jpg
| genre                = {{plainlist|
* [[Comedy drama]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.warnerbros.com/tv/six-feet-under |title=Six Feet Under |website=[[Warner Bros.]] |access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-s0ed77/six-feet-under/episodes/ |title=Six Feet Under (TV Series) |website=[[Radio Times]] |access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Black comedy]]<ref name="Variety">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2001/tv/reviews/six-feet-under-3-1200468137/ |title=TV Review: 'Six Feet Under' |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |first=Steven |last=Oxman |date=May 25, 2001 |access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/six-feet-under-the-sopranos-and-the-american-family-i-1848146366 |title=Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, and the American family in the golden age of television |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |first=Laura |last=Adamczyk |date=December 2, 2021 |access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Psychological drama]]<ref name="Variety"/>
* [[Tragicomedy]]<ref name="Denver Post">{{cite web |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2005/06/02/end-near-six-feet-under-shows-new-life/ |title=End near, "Six Feet Under" shows new life |website=[[The Denver Post]] |first=Joanne |last=Ostrow |date=June 2, 2005|access-date=April 1, 2024|quote=Sometimes this dark HBO tragicomedy is about the flip side of death: how fragile, unpredictable and chaotic life is. The center barely holds, then doesn't.}}</ref><ref name="Joe.ie">{{cite web |url=https://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/cult-fiction-six-reasons-why-everyone-should-watch-six-feet-under-516422|title=CULT FICTION: Six reasons why everyone should watch Six Feet Under|website=[[Joe (website)|Joe]] |first=Tony |last=Cuddihy |date=October 25, 2015|access-date=April 1, 2024|quote=From the woman so bored by her husband that she kills him with a frying pan, to the middle-aged divorcée decapitated by a traffic light, to a woman crushed by ice falling from an airplane, there are some artful death scenes here. Many of them are the definition of tragicomedy.}}</ref>
}}
| creator              = [[Alan Ball (screenwriter)|Alan Ball]]
| showrunner              = Alan Ball
| starring             = {{plainlist|
* [[Peter Krause]]
* [[Michael C. Hall]]
* [[Frances Conroy]]
* [[Lauren Ambrose]]
* [[Freddy Rodriguez (actor)|Freddy Rodriguez]]
* [[Mathew St. Patrick]]
* [[Jeremy Sisto]]
* [[Rachel Griffiths]]
* [[James Cromwell]]
* [[Justina Machado]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Thomas Newman]]
| composer             = [[Richard Marvin (composer)|Richard Marvin]]
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 5
| num_episodes         = 63
| list_episodes        = List of Six Feet Under episodes
| executive_producer   = {{plainlist|
* Alan Ball
* [[Robert Greenblatt]]
* David Janollari
* [[Alan Poul]]
* [[Bruce Eric Kaplan]]
* [[Rick Cleveland]]
}}
| runtime              = 46–72 minutes
| company              = {{plainlist|
* Actual Size Films
* The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio
* [[HBO|HBO Entertainment]]
}}
| channel              = [[HBO]]
| camera               = [[Single-camera setup|Single-camera]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|2001|6|3}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2005|8|21}}
}}

'''''Six Feet Under''''' is an American [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] television series created and produced by [[Alan Ball (screenwriter)|Alan Ball]] for the television network [[HBO]]. It premiered on June 3, 2001, and ended on August 21, 2005, after [[List of Six Feet Under episodes|five seasons consisting of 63 episodes]].

The show follows the Fisher family, who run a [[funeral home]] in [[Los Angeles]], along with their friends and lovers. It stars [[Peter Krause]], [[Michael C. Hall]], [[Frances Conroy]], [[Lauren Ambrose]], [[Freddy Rodriguez (actor)|Freddy Rodriguez]], [[Mathew St. Patrick]], and [[Rachel Griffiths]]. It was produced by Actual Size Films and the Greenblatt/Janollari Studio, and was shot on location in Los Angeles and in Hollywood studios.

''Six Feet Under'' received acclaim, particularly for its writing and acting, and drew high ratings. It is regarded as one of the [[List of television shows considered the best|greatest television series of all time]]. The series finale, "[[Everyone's Waiting]]", has also been described as one of the greatest in television. Its awards include nine [[Emmy Award]]s, three [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]], three [[Golden Globe Award]]s and a [[Peabody Award]].

== Show synopsis ==
{{See also|List of Six Feet Under episodes}}
The show stars Peter Krause as [[Nate Fisher (Six Feet Under)|Nate Fisher]], whose [[funeral director]] father ([[Richard Jenkins]]) dies and bequeaths ownership of the Fisher & Sons [[funeral home]] to Nate and his other son [[David Fisher (Six Feet Under)|David]] ([[Michael C. Hall]]). The Fisher clan also includes widow [[Ruth Fisher (Six Feet Under)|Ruth Fisher]] ([[Frances Conroy]]) and daughter [[Claire Fisher]] ([[Lauren Ambrose]]). Other regulars include [[mortician]] [[Federico Diaz]] ([[Freddy Rodriguez (actor)|Freddy Rodriguez]]), Nate's on-again/off-again girlfriend [[Brenda Chenowith]] ([[Rachel Griffiths]]), and David's long-term boyfriend [[Keith Charles (Six Feet Under)|Keith Charles]] ([[Mathew St. Patrick]]).

On one level, the show is a conventional family drama, dealing with such issues as interpersonal relationships, sex, masculine homosexuality, dysfunction, infidelity, personal growth, and religion. At the same time, it is distinguished by its focus on the topic of death, which it explores on personal, religious, and philosophical levels. Most episodes begin with a death, the cause of which ranges from heart attack to murder to accidental death or [[sudden infant death syndrome]]. That death usually sets the thematic tone for each episode, allowing the characters to reflect on their current fortunes and misfortunes in a way that is illuminated by the death and its aftermath.

A recurring plot device consists of a character having an imaginary conversation with the deceased; for example, Nate, David, and Federico sometimes "converse" with the deceased at the beginning of the episode, while the corpse is being embalmed, or during funeral planning or the funeral itself. Sometimes, the characters converse with other deceased characters, most notably Nathaniel Fisher Sr. The show's creator Alan Ball said this represents the living characters' internal dialogues expressed in the form of external conversations.<ref>{{cite video |title=Six Feet Under – DVD audio commentaries |people=Ball, Alan (writer) |publisher=HBO Home Video |medium=DVD}}</ref>

== Production ==

=== Concept ===
Although overall plots and characters were created by Alan Ball, reports conflict on how the series was conceived. In one instance, Ball stated that he came up with the premise of the show after the deaths of his sister and father. However, in an interview on the series' DVD collection,<ref name="In Memoriam">{{cite video |title=Six Feet Under: The Complete Series – "In Memoriam" featurette |medium=DVD |publisher=HBO Home Video |people=Ball, Alan}}</ref> he intimated that HBO entertainment president Carolyn Strauss had proposed the idea to him. In a copyright infringement lawsuit,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://openjurist.org/462/f3d/1072/funky-films-inc-v-time-warner-entertainment-company-lp-lp|title=462 F3d 1072 Funky Films Inc v. Time Warner Entertainment Company Lp Lp|work=Open Jurist|access-date=March 28, 2010|archive-date=November 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121035016/http://openjurist.org/462/f3d/1072/funky-films-inc-v-time-warner-entertainment-company-lp-lp|url-status=live}}</ref> screenwriter Gwen O'Donnell asserted that she was the original source of the idea that later passed through Strauss to Ball; the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit|U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit]], proceeding on the assumption that this assertion was true, rejected her claim.

Airing on a premium cable network allowed the series to explore darker themes than would have been possible on other networks. Ball stated in an interview:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/six-feet-under-creator-alan-ball-talks-about-the-end-of-the-hbo-series |title=Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball talks about the end of the HBO series |work=[[MovieWeb]] |date=May 25, 2005 |access-date=August 29, 2012 |archive-date=January 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123160522/http://www.movieweb.com/news/six-feet-under-creator-alan-ball-talks-about-the-end-of-the-hbo-series |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{cquote|When I went to HBO and they had read my first draft and Carolyn Strauss said, 'You know, this is really, really good. I love these characters, I love these situations, but it feels a little safe. Could you just make it just a little more fucked up?' which is not a note that you get in Hollywood very often. And I thought, 'Wow!' And that gave me free range to go a little deeper, go a little darker, go a little more complicated.}}

=== Major themes ===
The show focuses on human mortality, the symbiotic nature of life and death feeding off each other, the death industry, and the lives of those who deal with it on a daily basis. When discussing the concept of the show, Ball elaborated on the foremost questions the show's pilot targeted:<ref name="In Memoriam" />

{{cquote|Who are these people who are funeral directors that we hire to face death for us? What does that do to their own lives – to grow up in a home where there are dead bodies in the basement, to be a child and walk in on your father with a body lying on a table opened up and him working on it? What does that do to you?}}

''Six Feet Under'' introduces the Fisher family as the basis on which to explore these questions. Throughout its five-season, 63-episode run, major characters experience crises that are in direct relation to their environment and the grief they have experienced. Ball again relates these experiences, as well as the choice of the series' title, to the persistent subtext of the program:<ref>{{cite video |title=Six Feet Under: The Complete Fifth Season – "Everyone's Waiting" audio commentary |people=Ball, Alan (writer/director) |medium=DVD |publisher=HBO Home Video}}</ref>

{{cquote|''Six Feet Under'' refers not only to being buried as a dead body is buried, but [also] to primal emotions and feelings running under the surface. When one is surrounded by death – to counterbalance that, there needs to be a certain intensity of experience, of needing to escape. It's Nate with his womanizing – it's Claire and her sexual experimentation – it's Brenda's sexual compulsiveness – it's David having sex with a male hooker in public – it's Ruth having several affairs – it's the life force trying to push up through all of that suffering and grief and depression.}}

Cultural critic [[Sally Munt]] commented: "one might risk saying [the show] has an uncanny, or queer rendition of class positions and relations".<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Munt|first=Sally|date=2006|title=A Queer Undertaking: Anxiety and reparation in the HBO television drama series Six Feet Under|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233277544|journal=Feminist Media Studies|volume=6|pages=263–279|publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]]|doi=10.1080/14680770600802017 |s2cid=142634066 }}</ref> ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine opined that the show "carefully avoided moralism" but there were times where it "felt like a message" that "death has a terrible timing" and it could also be a "karmic gift" for some.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Did Nate Fisher Die for Our Sins? What We Learned from Six Feet Under|url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/tv/12445/|first=Heather|last=Havrilesky|date=August 11, 2005|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=New York Magazine}}</ref> Ball refuted this claim by asserting that there was no message in the story but only a recognition that death comes in the middle of "messy things" and does not wait for people to sort out their lives.<ref name=":0" />

=== Setting ===
Exteriors for the Fisher home were shot at 2302 West 25th Street and the intersection of Arlington Avenue, in the [[West Adams, Los Angeles|West Adams]] neighborhood of Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lataco.com/taco/six-feet-under-house-fisher-diaz-funeral-home-west-adams|title=Six Feet Under House / Fisher-Diaz Funeral Home ~ West Adams|date=September 8, 2006 |publisher=L.A. Taco|access-date=January 15, 2015|archive-date=January 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120171437/http://www.lataco.com/taco/six-feet-under-house-fisher-diaz-funeral-home-west-adams|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Crew ===
Creator Alan Ball also served as executive producer and [[showrunner]] for the entire series run. [[Robert Greenblatt]] and David Janollari executive produced the series, as the Greenblatt Janollari Studio was one of the production companies. The other producers were Lori Jo Nemhauser and Robert Del Valle.<ref name="crew" />

The writing staff included Ball, who wrote nine episodes over the series run, including the pilot episode and the series finale. Writers who were on staff for the entire series run included [[Rick Cleveland]], who wrote eight episodes and became an executive producer in the fifth season; [[Kate Robin]], who wrote eight episodes and became a supervising producer in the fifth season; and [[Bruce Eric Kaplan]], who wrote seven episodes and became an executive producer in the fourth season. Christian Williams was just on staff for the first season, writing two episodes. Both Laurence Andries and [[Christian Taylor (screenwriter)|Christian Taylor]] wrote three episodes each during their run on the series for the first two seasons, and they also served as producers. [[Scott Buck]] and [[Joey Soloway]] joined in the second season, staying on staff for the rest of the series, and each wrote seven episodes. Buck became a co-executive producer in the fourth season, and Soloway became a co-executive producer in the fifth season. The last set of writers to join the staff were [[Craig Wright (playwright)|Craig Wright]] and [[Nancy Oliver]] in the third season. Wright wrote six episodes and became a producer in the fifth season and Oliver wrote five episodes and became a co-producer in the fifth season.<ref name="crew" />

Ball also directed the most episodes, directing the pilot and each of the season finales. [[Dan Attias]] also directed six episodes, from seasons two to five. [[Kathy Bates]] (who also played [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Bettina|Bettina]] on the series), [[Michael Cuesta]], [[Rodrigo García (director)|Rodrigo García]], and [[Jeremy Podeswa]] each directed five episodes. [[Michael Engler]], [[Daniel Minahan]], and [[Alan Poul]] (who also served as an executive producer for the series) each directed four episodes. [[Miguel Arteta]] directed three episodes and [[Nicole Holofcener]] directed two episodes. Single-episode directors included [[Peter Care]], Alan Caso, [[Lisa Cholodenko]], [[Allen Coulter]], [[Adam Davidson (director)|Adam Davidson]], [[Mary Harron]], [[Joshua Marston]], [[Jim McBride]], [[Karen Moncrieff]], [[John Patterson (director)|John Patterson]], [[Matt Shakman]], [[Alan Taylor (director)|Alan Taylor]], [[Rose Troche]], and [[Peter Webber]].<ref name="crew">{{cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/six-feet-under/index.html#/six-feet-under/cast-and-crew/index.html|title=HBO: Six Feet Under: Cast & Crew|work=HBO|access-date=October 28, 2010|archive-date=January 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127181644/http://www.hbo.com/six-feet-under/index.html#/six-feet-under/cast-and-crew/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Music ===
The series' main theme, written by composer [[Thomas Newman]], won a 2002 Emmy Award for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music|Outstanding Main Title Theme Music]] and two Grammy Awards in 2003 for [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition|Best Instrumental Composition]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement|Best Instrumental Arrangement]].

The production sound from seasons three through five was mixed by [[Bo Harwood]], and was nominated in 2004 for a [[Cinema Audio Society Award]].

Seasons two through five featured a promotional teaser trailer prior to the premiere of that season. The songs featured in each season's trailer were "Heaven" by [[Lamb (electronic band)|Lamb]] for season two; "[[A Rush of Blood to the Head]]" by [[Coldplay]] for season three; "[[Feeling Good]]" by [[Nina Simone]] for season four; and "[[Breathe Me]]" by [[Sia]] for season five, which is also used for montage in the series finale. All these songs are included in either of two soundtracks for the show.

The episode recaps for the first two seasons feature the song "Nothing Lies Still Long" by [[Pell Mell (band)|Pell Mell]]. The episode previews for the first and fifth seasons feature the ''Six Feet Under'' title theme, while the other seasons feature the [[Rae & Christian]] remix version of the title theme.

Music supervision for the entire run of the series was provided by [[Gary Calamar]] and Thomas Golubic, who were also credited as producers for the two soundtrack albums.

== Cast and characters ==
{{Main|List of Six Feet Under characters}}

=== Main ===
[[File:Sixfeetundercast.jpg|thumb|right|The main characters of ''Six Feet Under'' in the first season: From left to right: Federico, Keith, David, Claire, Ruth, Nate, Nathaniel Sr. and Brenda|250px]]
* [[Peter Krause]] as [[Nate Fisher (Six Feet Under)|Nate Fisher]] – the eldest child, who is in search of meaning while facing the prospect of his own death.
* [[Michael C. Hall]] as [[David Fisher (Six Feet Under)|David Fisher]] – the middle child, who is uptight and coming to terms with being gay.
* [[Frances Conroy]] as [[Ruth Fisher (Six Feet Under)|Ruth Fisher]] – the family matriarch, who is emotionally repressed and trying to form a new, independent life.
* [[Lauren Ambrose]] as [[Claire Fisher]] – the youngest child, who is rebellious and creative.
* [[Freddy Rodriguez (actor)|Freddy Rodriguez]] as [[Federico Diaz]] – a mortician and eventual business partner of the Fishers, who is a family man.
* [[Mathew St. Patrick]] as [[Keith Charles (Six Feet Under)|Keith Charles]] – David's on again/off again significant other, who is a member of the [[LAPD]].
* [[Rachel Griffiths]] as [[Brenda Chenowith]] – Nate's on again/off again significant other, who struggles with depression.
* [[Jeremy Sisto]] as [[Billy Chenowith]] – Brenda's younger brother, who has [[bipolar disorder]] (main season 1; recurring seasons 2–5).
*[[James Cromwell]] as [[George Sibley (Six Feet Under)|George Sibley]] – a [[geology]] professor, who becomes Ruth's second husband (recurring season 3; main seasons 4–5).
* [[Justina Machado]] as [[Vanessa Diaz]] – Federico's wife; she is a [[nurse]] (recurring seasons 1–4; main season 5).

=== Recurring ===
* [[Richard Jenkins]] as [[Nathaniel Fisher|Nathaniel Fisher Sr.]] – the patriarch of the Fisher family, who dies at the start of the series, but appears in dream sequences and flashbacks (seasons 1–5)
* [[Joanna Cassidy]] as [[Margaret Chenowith]] – Brenda's and Billy's [[psychologist]] mother (seasons 1–5)
* Giancarlo Rodriguez as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Julio Diaz|Julio Diaz]] – Federico's and Vanessa's son (seasons 1–5)
* [[Tim Maculan]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Father Jack|Father Jack]] – priest at the Fisher's family church (seasons 1–5)
* [[Eric Balfour]] as [[Gabriel Dimas]] – Claire's high-school boyfriend and a chronic drug user (seasons 1–3)
* [[Robert Foxworth]] as [[Bernard Chenowith|Dr. Bernard Chenowith]] – Brenda's and Billy's [[psychiatrist]] father (seasons 1–3)
* [[Ed O'Ross]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Nikolai|Nikolai]] – Ruth's boss and boyfriend when she worked as a [[florist]] (seasons 1–2, 5)
* Marina Black as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Parker McKenna|Parker McKenna]] – a friend of Claire's during high school (seasons 1–2)
* [[David Norona]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Gary Deitman|Gary Deitman]] – Claire's counselor (seasons 1–2)
* [[Gary Hershberger]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Kroehner|Matthew Gilardi]] – an employee of a major funeral home organization, who attempts to buy out Fisher & Sons (seasons 1–2)
* [[Ed Begley Jr.]], as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Hiram Gunderson|Hiram Gunderson]] – a hair stylist with whom Ruth had an affair while she was married to Nathaniel (seasons 1 and 5)
* [[Illeana Douglas]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Angela|Angela]] – Frederico's temporary replacement at Fisher & Sons (seasons 1 and 5)
* [[Dina Waters]] as Tracy Montrose Blair (season 1)
* [[Patricia Clarkson]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Sarah O'Connor|Sarah O'Connor]] – Ruth's younger sister, an artist who lives in [[Topanga, California|Topanga Canyon]] (seasons 2–5)
* [[Lili Taylor]] as [[Lisa Kimmel Fisher]] – Nate's former roommate, his first wife, and mother of his daughter Maya (seasons 2–5)
* Melissa Marsala as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Angelica|Angelica]] – Vanessa's sister, who has a contentious relationship with her brother-in-law Federico (seasons 2–5)
* [[Aysia Polk]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Taylor|Taylor Charles]] – Keith's niece, who is under his care (seasons 2–5)
* [[John Paul Pitoc]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Phil|Phil]] – Claire's boyfriend (briefly) who works at the crematorium (seasons 2–3)
* [[Kellie Waymire]] as Melissa – a high-class prostitute whom Brenda befriends (season 2)
* [[Nicki Micheaux]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters|Karla Charles]] – Keith's sister and Taylor's mother, a drug addict (season 2)
* [[Julie White]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Kroehner|Mitzi Dalton-Huntley]] – an employee of a major funeral home organization that attempts to buy out Fisher & Sons (seasons 1–2)
* [[Kathy Bates]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Bettina|Bettina]] – Sarah's friend and caretaker; she becomes a good friend of Ruth's (seasons 3–5)
* [[Peter Macdissi]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Olivier Castro-Staal|Olivier Castro-Staal]] – Claire's professor at art school and Margaret Chenowith's lover (seasons 3–5)
* [[Ben Foster (actor)|Ben Foster]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Russell Corwin|Russell Corwin]] – Claire's boyfriend during art school (seasons 3–5)
* Brenna Tosh and Bronwyn Tosh as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Maya Fisher|Maya Fisher]] – Nate's and Lisa's young daughter (seasons 3–5)
* [[Rainn Wilson]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Arthur Martin|Arthur Martin]] – a young intern from mortuary school, who works for the Fishers (seasons 3–5)
* [[Justin Theroux]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Joe|Joe]] – Brenda's neighbor and boyfriend during season four (seasons 3–4)
* [[Idalis DeLeón]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Sophia|Sophia]] – an exotic dancer with whom Federico has an affair (seasons 3–4)
* [[Catherine O'Hara]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Taylor|Carol Ward]] – Lisa's boss, a neurotic motion-picture producer (seasons 3 and 5)
* [[Sprague Grayden]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Anita Miller|Anita Miller]] – Claire's friend from art school (seasons 4–5)
* [[Peter Facinelli]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Jimmy|Jimmy]] – Claire's friend from art school and one-time lover (seasons 4–5)
* [[Mena Suvari]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Edie|Edie]] – a free-spirited [[lesbian]] artist and friend of Claire's from art school (season 4)
* [[Michael Weston]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Jake|Jake]] – a mentally unstable [[drug addiction|crack addict]] who kidnaps and assaults David (seasons 4–5)
* [[Tina Holmes]] as [[Maggie Sibley]] – George's daughter, who has a brief affair with Nate (seasons 4–5)
* [[Matt Malloy]] as Roger Pasquese – Keith's employer, a movie producer (seasons 4–5)
* [[Julie Dretzin]] as Barb – Lisa's sister (seasons 4–5)
* [[Jeff Yagher]] as Hoyt – Lisa's brother-in-law (season 4)
* [[Michelle Trachtenberg]] as Celeste – a spoiled pop star under Keith's protection (season 4)
* [[Bobby Cannavale]] as Javier – Keith's colleague (season 4)
* [[Chris Messina]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Ted Fairwell|Ted Fairwell]] – Claire's boyfriend, a lawyer at the firm where she worked (season 5)
* Kendré Berry as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Anthony and Durrell Charles-Fisher|Durrell Charles-Fisher]] – an adopted son of David's and Keith's (season 5)
* [[C. J. Sanders]] as [[List of Six Feet Under characters#Anthony and Durrell Charles-Fisher|Anthony Charles-Fisher]] – an adopted son of David's and Keith's (season 5)
* [[Anne Ramsay]] as Jackie Feldman – Brenda's colleague and friend (season 5)

=== Family tree ===
{{tree chart/start}}
{{tree chart| BERNARD |v| MARGARET | | | | | | | | NATHANIEL |v| RUTH |-|-|-|-|-|-|-| GEORGE |v| WOMAN |
NATHANIEL=Nathaniel Fisher, Sr.<sup>†</sup>|
RUTH = Ruth Fisher|
BERNARD = Bernard Asa Chenowith|
MARGARET = Margaret Chenowith|
GEORGE = George Sibley|
WOMAN = Unnamed prior wife}}
{{tree chart| |,|-|^|-|.| | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| |  | |  | | | |,|-|^|-|.|}}
{{tree chart| BILLY | |BRENDA |v| NATE |v| LISA | | CLAIRE | | DAVID |v| KEITH | | MAGGIE | | BRIAN |
KEITH = Keith Charles|
DAVID=David Fisher|
CLAIRE = Claire Fisher|
NATE = Nate Fisher|
BRENDA = Brenda Chenowith|
BILLY = Billy Chenowith|
LISA = Lisa Kimmel Fisher|
MAGGIE = Maggie Sibley|
BRIAN = Brian Sibley|}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | | || | |,|-|^|-|.|}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | WILLA | | MAYA| | | | | | | | ANTHONY | | DURRELL | |
WILLA = Willa Fisher Chenowith|
MAYA = Maya Kimmel Fisher|
ANTHONY = Anthony Charles-Fisher|
DURRELL = Durrell Charles-Fisher|
Loren = Loren Fisher|}}
{{tree chart/end}}

== Episodes ==
{{Main|List of Six Feet Under episodes}}
{{:List of Six Feet Under episodes}}

== Reception ==
=== Critical reception ===
''Six Feet Under'' received widespread acclaim, particularly for its writing and acting. It is widely regarded as one of the [[List of television shows considered the best|greatest television series of all time]], included on best-of lists by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/3103796/six-feet-under/ |title=Six Feet Under |series=The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=March 28, 2010 |date=September 6, 2007 |archive-date=October 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025123047/https://time.com/3103796/six-feet-under/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'',<ref>{{cite web |title=The 100 best TV shows of the 21st century |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/16/100-best-tv-shows-of-the-21st-century |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=September 13, 2019 |access-date=September 23, 2019 |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101054025/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/16/100-best-tv-shows-of-the-21st-century |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-tv-shows-ever-2/ |title=The 100 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |date=October 16, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424080548/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-tv-shows-ever-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Everyone's Waiting|show's finale]] has also been described as one of the greatest television series finales.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/galleries/best-tv-finales/11/ |title=The Best TV Finales Ever |work=[[TV Guide]] |first=Shaun |last=Harrison |date=April 17, 2016 |access-date=May 14, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2761784/top-10-tv-series-finales-the-sopranos-friends-cheers/ |title=Top 10 TV Series Finales: The Sopranos, Friends, Cheers |first=Stacey |last=Wilson |work=[[MTV News]] |date=April 2, 2009 |access-date=March 28, 2010 |archive-date=June 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610122717/http://www.mtv.com/news/2761784/top-10-tv-series-finales-the-sopranos-friends-cheers/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a663836/is-six-feet-under-the-best-tv-finale-of-all-time/ |title=Is Six Feet Under's final episode the best TV finale of all time? |website=[[Digital Spy]] |first=Emma |last=Dibdin |date=June 3, 2016 |access-date=November 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/tv/20-best-tv-series-finales-ever/?slide=325300#325300 |title=The 25 best TV series finales ever |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=May 29, 2020 |access-date=November 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/gallery/best-series-finales-favorite-tv-endings-friends-buffy-photos/best-series-finales-six-feet-under/ |title=TV's Best Series Finales Ever, Ranked |website=[[TVLine]] |date=May 25, 2019 |access-date=November 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/tv/six-feet-under-finale-10th-anniversary-6-best-tv-finales/ |title=10 Years Later: Revisiting the Six Feet Under Finale, Plus More of TV's Most Unforgettable Goodbyes |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |first=Julia |last=Emmanuele |date=August 21, 2015 |access-date=November 28, 2021}}</ref> The [[Writers Guild of America]] ranked it #18 on their list of the 101 Best Written TV Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wga.org/writers-room/101-best-lists/101-best-written-tv-series/list|title=101 Best Written TV Series|website=Writers Guild of America West|date=June 2, 2013|access-date=May 14, 2023}}</ref>

''Six Feet Under'' received critical acclaim for most of its run, with the exception of the fourth season, which received more mixed reviews. The first season holds a rating of 74 out of 100 at [[Metacritic]] based on 23 reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/six-feet-under/season-1 |title=Six Feet Under – Season 1 |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=August 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831164517/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/six-feet-under/season-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Early reviews of the series were positive, prior to the screening of the pilot episode; Steve Oxman of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' stated, "''Six Feet Under'' is a smart, brooding, fanciful character-driven ensemble piece about a family in the funeral biz."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2001/tv/reviews/six-feet-under-3-1200468137/|title=TV Review: 'Six Feet Under'|last=Oxman|first=Steve|work=Variety|date=May 25, 2001|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018191735/http://variety.com/2001/tv/reviews/six-feet-under-3-1200468137/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the series premiere, Barry Garron of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' commented that the series' "examination of family life through the prism of a mortuary business, combines sardonic humor with poignant drama and comes up with a unique tone and style, in itself quite an accomplishment for any TV series. It is fearless in its approach to storytelling and, far more often than not, succeeds in the risks it takes" and "there is much to admire about this series, including top-notch performances, artful direction and creative storytelling that employs various techniques, including dream sequences and parody commercials. Best of all, though, is Ball's introspection and the insight he provides about society, the funeral industry, and family relationships."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/six-feet-under-first-episode-816636|title='Six Feet Under' First Episode: THR's 2001 Review|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Barry|last=Garron|date=August 21, 2015|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=November 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109183930/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/six-feet-under-first-episode-816636|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bill Carter of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "''Six Feet Under'' certainly got enthusiastic reviews, almost universally glowing notices about the rich characterizations and quirky humor shaped by the show's celebrated creator, Alan Ball, the Academy Award-winning writer of the film ''[[American Beauty (1999 film)|American Beauty]]''."<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/02/business/on-television-six-feet-under-a-morbid-new-comedy-tugs-at-hbo-s-evolving-identity.html|title=On Television; 'Six Feet Under,' a morbid new comedy, tugs at HBO's evolving identity|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Bill|last=Carter|date=July 2, 2001|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018192346/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/02/business/on-television-six-feet-under-a-morbid-new-comedy-tugs-at-hbo-s-evolving-identity.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In an early response from HBO executive [[Chris Albrecht]], he announced in regards to the viewers, that they are "totally thrilled with the series."<ref name="nytimes" />

On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the first season has a 90% approval rating with an average score of 8/10 based on 40 reviews, with a critical consensus of, "''Six Feet Under''{{'}}s unusual setting provides a perfect backdrop for the macabre meditations on mortality made by its brilliant, brooding cast."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/six-feet-under/s01 |title=Six Feet Under: Season 1 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=November 29, 2020}}</ref> The second season has a 79% approval rating with an average score of 9.3/10 based on 14 reviews, with a critical consensus of, "''Six Feet Under''{{'}}s deliberately paced second season is less endearing than the first, but the engaging ensemble remain reason enough to watch."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/six-feet-under/s02 |title=Six Feet Under: Season 2 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=November 29, 2020}}</ref> The third season has a 90% approval rating with an average score of 7.6/10 based on 20 reviews, with a critical consensus of, "''Six Feet Under''{{'}}s third season dials down the comedy in favor of creepier narratives – a challenge its cast is more than up to."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/six-feet-under/s03 |title=Six Feet Under: Season 3 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=November 29, 2020}}</ref> The fourth season has a 50% approval rating with an average score of 5.6/10 based on 10 reviews, with a critical consensus of, "''Six Feet Under'' overreaches in its fourth season, with twists and story arcs that feel more contrived than compelling, though its willingness to venture boldly into the dark also proves occasionally exhilarating."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/six-feet-under/s04 |title=Six Feet Under: Season 4 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=November 29, 2020}}</ref> The fifth season has a 97% approval rating with an average score of 8.9/10 based on 35 reviews, with a critical consensus of, "''Six Feet Under'' offers a fitting end for the Fishers by concluding the way it began: an unexpectedly beautiful rumination on life, death and grief."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/six-feet-under/s05 |title=Six Feet Under: Season 5 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=November 29, 2020}}</ref>

The series finale is considered one of the greatest endings in television history. In a 2015 interview with Alan Ball, Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, and Lauren Ambrose for ''The Hollywood Reporter'', to mark ten years since the show's conclusion, they described it as the "finale that would not die". Megan Vick of ''The Hollywood Reporter'' said, "The idea of flashing forward to depict how each member of the Fishers and their loved ones would pass on seemed revolutionary in 2005, but Ball – who created the series and would write and direct its final episode – uses another word for it – inevitable."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/six-feet-under-10-years-816495|title='Six Feet Under' 10 Years Later: Creator, Stars on Finale 'Bomb,' Lasting Legacy |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |first=Megan |last=Vick |date=August 21, 2015|access-date=October 18, 2017}}</ref>

=== Ratings ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:90%;"
|-
! style="width:8%;" rowspan="2"| Season
! style="width:8%;" rowspan="2"| Episodes
! colspan=2| Premiered
! colspan=2| Ended
! style="width:10%; background:#ffdead;" rowspan="2"| Average Viewers<br />(in millions)
|-
! style="width:12%;"| Date
! span style="width:10%; font-size:smaller; line-height:100%;"| Viewers<br />(in millions)
! style="width:12%;"| Date
! span style="width:10%; font-size:smaller; line-height:100%;"| Viewers<br />(in millions)
|-
! 1
! 13
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%; text-align: center;" | June 3, 2001
! 4.97<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/june01/june11/3_wed/news2wednesday.html |title=NBA jumpers lead NBC to a weekly win|last=Downey|first=Kevin |work=[[Media Life]] |date=June 13, 2001 |access-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025043452/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/june01/june11/3_wed/news2wednesday.html|archive-date=October 25, 2006}}</ref>
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%; text-align: center;" | August 19, 2001
! 7.06<ref name="1finale">{{cite web|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/aug01/aug27/3_wed/news1wednesday.html|title=Summer fading, ABC grabs lead from NBC|last=Downey|first=Kevin|work=[[Media Life]] |date=August 29, 2001 |access-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025055021/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/aug01/aug27/3_wed/news1wednesday.html|archive-date=October 25, 2006}}</ref>
! style="background:#fc9;"| 5.3<ref name="1finale" />
|-
! 2
! 13
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%; text-align: center;" | March 3, 2002
! 6.24<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/mar02/mar11/3_wed/news1wednesday.html|title='Survivor' and '9/11' give CBS a boost|last=Downey|first=Kevin|work=[[Media Life]]|date=March 13, 2002|access-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516162717/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/mar02/mar11/3_wed/news1wednesday.html|archive-date=May 16, 2008}}</ref>
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%; text-align: center;" | June 2, 2002
! 5.49<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/jun02/jun10/3_wed/news3wednesday.html|title='Spy TV' giving NBC a surprise goose|last=Downey|first=Kevin|work=[[Media Life]]|date=June 12, 2002|access-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216161908/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/jun02/jun10/3_wed/news3wednesday.html|archive-date=February 16, 2009}}</ref>
! style="background:#fc9;"| 5.6<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.futoncritic.com/news/2004/11/10/development-update-november-8-10-17232/6767/|title=Development Update: November 8–10 |work=[[The Futon Critic]] |date=November 10, 2004|access-date=October 18, 2017}}</ref>
|-
! 3
! 13
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%; text-align: center;" | March 2, 2003
! 5.09<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2003/mar03/mar10/3_wed/news3wednesday.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150404131513/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2003/mar03/mar10/3_wed/news3wednesday.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 4, 2015|title=Amid reruns, reality is still king|last=Fitzgerald|first=Toni|work=[[Media Life]]|date=March 12, 2003|access-date=October 18, 2017}}</ref>
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%; text-align: center;" | June 1, 2003
! 5.78<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2003/jun03/jun09/3_wed/news4wednesday.html|title=Tonys: not hardly a disaster|last=Fitzgerald|first=Toni|work=[[Media Life]]|date=June 11, 2003|access-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051110074538/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2003/jun03/jun09/3_wed/news4wednesday.html|archive-date=November 10, 2005}}</ref>
! style="background:#fc9;"| 4.7<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2003/jun03/jun02/3_wed/news5wednesday.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150404131508/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2003/jun03/jun02/3_wed/news5wednesday.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 4, 2015 |title=FX's big score with '44 Minutes'|last=Fitzgerald|first=Toni |work=[[Media Life]] |date=June 4, 2003 |access-date=October 18, 2017}}</ref>
|-
! 4
! 12
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%; text-align: center;" | June 13, 2004
! 4.20<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2004/06/16/development-update-june-14-16-16640/6624/ |title=Development Update: June 14–16 |work=[[The Futon Critic]] |date=June 16, 2004 |access-date=October 18, 2017}}</ref>
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%; text-align: center;" | September 12, 2004
! 3.73<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2004/sep04/sep14/3_wed/news2wednesday.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150404131930/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2004/sep04/sep14/3_wed/news2wednesday.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 4, 2015 |title=Don't KO reality boxing shows just yet |last=Vasquez |first=Diego |work=[[Media Life]] |date=September 15, 2004 |access-date=October 18, 2017}}</ref>
! style="background:#fc9;"| 3.7<ref name="finale" />
|-
! 5
! 12
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%; text-align: center;" | June 6, 2005
! 2.62<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/News2005/jun05/june13/3_wed/news4wednesday.html |title='The Inside,' victim of summer reality |last=Azote |first=Abigail |work=[[Media Life]] |date=June 15, 2005|access-date=October 18, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930180258/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/News2005/jun05/june13/3_wed/news4wednesday.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</ref>
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%; text-align: center;" | August 21, 2005
! 3.89<ref name="finale" />
! style="background:#fc9;"| 2.5<ref name="finale" />
|-
|}

=== Awards and nominations ===
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Six Feet Under}}

At the 2002 [[Primetime Emmy Awards]], the series received 23 nominations for its first two seasons, including a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series. Series creator [[Alan Ball (screenwriter)|Alan Ball]] won for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the pilot episode and [[Patricia Clarkson]] won for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. The rest of the ensemble cast, including Michael C. Hall, Peter Krause, Frances Conroy, Rachel Griffiths, Freddy Rodriguez, and Lauren Ambrose all received acting nominations. Guest actors [[Lili Taylor]] and Illeana Douglas received nominations in the guest-acting category. The series received 16 nominations at the 2003 Primetime Emmy Awards for its third season, including a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series. Krause, Conroy,  Ambrose,  Griffiths, [[James Cromwell]], and [[Kathy Bates]] all received acting nominations. [[Alan Poul]] was nominated for directing for the episode "Nobody Sleeps", and [[Craig Wright (playwright)|Craig Wright]] was nominated for writing for the episode "Twilight". The series received five nominations at the 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards for its fourth season, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Frances Conroy. The series received nine nominations at the 2006 Primetime Emmy Awards for its fifth and final season. Patricia Clarkson won for the second time for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, and Krause, Conroy, and [[Joanna Cassidy]] received acting nominations. Ball was nominated for writing and directing for the series finale episode "[[Everyone's Waiting]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/six-feet-under |title=Six Feet Under |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=August 29, 2012 |archive-date=September 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928032402/http://www.emmys.com/shows/six-feet-under |url-status=live }}</ref>

For the [[Golden Globe Awards]], the series won for Best Drama Series in 2001, and received nominations in 2002 and 2003. Peter Krause was nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 2001 and 2002. Rachel Griffiths won for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or TV Film in 2001, and received a nomination in 2002 in the Lead Actress category. Frances Conroy won for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/film/24954 |title=Six Feet Under |publisher=GoldenGlobes.org |access-date=August 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415004816/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/film/24954 |archive-date=April 15, 2013  }}</ref>

For the [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]], the cast won for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2002 and 2003, and received nominations in 2001, 2004, and 2005. Peter Krause was nominated for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series in 2001 and 2003. Frances Conroy won for Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series in 2003.

The series won a [[Peabody Award]] for general excellence in 2002 "for its unsettling yet powerfully humane explorations of life and death".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/six-feet-under |title=Six Feet Under (HBO) |publisher=[[Peabody Award]]s |date=May 2003 |access-date=September 29, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006072640/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/six-feet-under |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Home media ==

=== DVDs ===
The first season was released in a [[VHS]] box set.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://store.hbo.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1888709&cp=1885648.1905257&parentPage=family |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212213841/http://store.hbo.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1888709&cp=1885648.1905257&clickid=mainnav_browse_txt&parentPage=family |title=Six Feet Under: The Complete First Season VHS |website=HBO |archive-date=February 12, 2005 |access-date=August 4, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> All five seasons are available on [[DVD]] in individual box sets and in a collected volume.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Six-Feet/4928 |title=Six Feet Under on DVD, Release Info, Reviews, News |work=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] |access-date=August 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730232047/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Six-Feet/4928 |archive-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!rowspan="2"|Season!!colspan="3"|Release date!! rowspan="2" width="50"|Additional information
|-
!! width="165"|[[DVD region code#1|Region 1]]
!! width="165"|[[DVD region code#2|Region 2]]
!! width="165"|[[DVD region code#4|Region 4]]
|-
|align="center"|1||align="center"|February 4, 2003<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Six-Feet-Under-The-Complete-First-Season-DVD/16408/ |title=Six Feet Under: The Complete First Season DVD |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018191926/http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Six-Feet-Under-The-Complete-First-Season-DVD/16408/ |url-status=live }}</ref>||align="center"|July 7, 2003<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000087JI4 |title=Six Feet Under: Complete HBO Season 1 [DVD] |date=July 7, 2003 |publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]] |access-date=October 18, 2017 }}</ref>||align="center"|February 11, 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies-tv-shows-on-sale/tv-drama/six-feet-under-season-1/584623/ |title=Six Feet Under – Season 1 |publisher=[[JB Hi-Fi]] |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019003703/https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies-tv-shows-on-sale/tv-drama/six-feet-under-season-1/584623/ |url-status=live }}</ref>||
{{Hidden|{{align|center|}}|

* 13 episodes 
* 4-disc set
* Two audio commentaries; "Under the Main Title" featurette; "Behind-the-Scenes" featurette with cast and filmmaker; deleted scenes; cast and filmmaker bios; two music tracks
}}
|-
|align="center"|2||align="center"|July 6, 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Six-Feet-Under-The-Complete-Second-Season-DVD/16832/ |title=Six Feet Under: The Complete Second Season DVD |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018191722/http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Six-Feet-Under-The-Complete-Second-Season-DVD/16832/ |url-status=live }}</ref>||align="center"|June 21, 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000260OX0 |title=Six Feet Under: Complete HBO Season 2 [DVD] |date=June 21, 2004 |publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]] |access-date=October 18, 2017 }}</ref>||align="center"|July 14, 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies-tv-shows-on-sale/tv-drama/six-feet-under-season-2/857032/ |title=Six Feet Under – Season 2 |publisher=[[JB Hi-Fi]] |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018191515/https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies-tv-shows-on-sale/tv-drama/six-feet-under-season-2/857032/ |url-status=live }}</ref>||
{{Hidden|{{align|center|}}|

* 13 episodes 
* 5-disc set
* Five audio commentaries; "Anatomy of a Working Stiff: Life as a Dead Body" featurette
}}
|-
|align="center"|3||align="center"|May 17, 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Six-Feet-Under-The-Complete-Third-Season-DVD/16972/ |title=Six Feet Under: The Complete Third Season DVD |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018191110/http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Six-Feet-Under-The-Complete-Third-Season-DVD/16972/ |url-status=live }}</ref>||align="center"|April 4, 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000777UG8 |title=Six Feet Under: Complete HBO Season 3 [DVD] [2005] |date=April 4, 2005 |publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]] |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113235406/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000777UG8 |url-status=live }}</ref>||align="center"|May 11, 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies-tv-shows-on-sale/tv-drama/six-feet-under-season-3/850389/ |title=Six Feet Under – Season 3 |publisher=[[JB Hi-Fi]] |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018190928/https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies-tv-shows-on-sale/tv-drama/six-feet-under-season-3/850389/ |url-status=live }}</ref>||
{{Hidden|{{align|center|}}|

* Five audio commentaries; "A Birdseye View of the Third Season" – An in-depth interview with show creator Alan Ball including the original HBO trailer
}}
|-
|align="center"|4||align="center"|August 23, 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Six-Feet-Under-The-Complete-Fourth-Season-DVD/16983/ |title=Six Feet Under: The Complete Fourth Season DVD |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018191700/http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Six-Feet-Under-The-Complete-Fourth-Season-DVD/16983/ |url-status=live }}</ref>||align="center"|September 5, 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000A85TS0 |title=Six Feet Under: Complete HBO Season 4 [DVD] [2005] |date=May 9, 2005 |publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]] |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113235406/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000A85TS0 |url-status=live }}</ref>||align="center"|November 16, 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies-tv-shows-on-sale/tv-drama/six-feet-under-season-4/854113/ |title=Six Feet Under – Season 4 |publisher=[[JB Hi-Fi]] |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019003858/https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies-tv-shows-on-sale/tv-drama/six-feet-under-season-4/854113/ |url-status=live }}</ref>||
{{Hidden|{{align|center|}}|

* 12 episodes 
* 5-disc set
* Seven audio commentaries; "Cut by Cut: Editing Six Feet Under" featurette; deleted scenes; Exclusive Bob Costas interview with the cast
}}
|-
|align="center"|5||align="center"|March 28, 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Six-Feet-Under-The-Complete-Fifth-Season-DVD/17244/ |title=Six Feet Under: The Complete Fifth Season DVD |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018191658/http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Six-Feet-Under-The-Complete-Fifth-Season-DVD/17244/ |url-status=live }}</ref>||align="center"|April 10, 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000CFX5IC |title=Six Feet Under: Complete HBO Season 5 [DVD] [2006] |date=October 4, 2006 |publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]] |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113235406/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000CFX5IC |url-status=live }}</ref>||align="center"|October 4, 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies-tv-shows-on-sale/tv-drama/six-feet-under-season-5/153910/ |title=Six Feet Under – Season 5 |publisher=[[JB Hi-Fi]] |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018190925/https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies-tv-shows-on-sale/tv-drama/six-feet-under-season-5/153910/ |url-status=live }}</ref>||
{{Hidden|{{align|center|
}}|

* 12 episodes 
* 5-disc set
* Six audio commentaries; "''Six Feet Under'': 2001–2005": two 30-minute retrospectives; "Life and Loss: The Impact of ''Six Feet Under''" featurette
}}
|-
|align="center"|1–5||align="center"|November 14, 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002N57KGM/ |title=Six Feet Under: Complete Series |website=Amazon |date=November 14, 2006 |access-date=October 18, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Six-Feet-Under-The-Complete-Series-DVD/110056/|title=Six Feet Under: The Complete Series DVD|publisher=Blu-ray.com|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018191907/http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Six-Feet-Under-The-Complete-Series-DVD/110056/|url-status=live}}</ref>||align="center"|April 10, 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000E9X090 |title=Six Feet Under – Complete HBO Seasons 1–5 Collector's Edition (24 Disc Box Set) [DVD] [2006] |date=April 10, 2006 |publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]] |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113235406/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000E9X090 |url-status=live }}</ref>||align="center"|October 31, 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sanity.com.au/products/2099961/Six-Feet-Under--Series-Collection|title=Six Feet Under Series Collection|publisher=Sanity.com.au|access-date=April 9, 2020|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113235408/https://www.sanity.com.au/products/2099961/Six-Feet-Under--Series-Collection|url-status=live}}</ref>||
{{Hidden|{{align|center|}}|

* 63 episodes 
* 24-disc set
* Same special features as individual releases
* Bonus disc 25 included on Region 1 <small>(not available on regions 2 and 4)</small>
* Re-released on Region 1 on October 6, 2009 in slimmer packaging
* Re-released on Region 4 on August 13, 2014
}}
|}

=== Soundtracks ===
Two soundtrack albums, featuring music that had appeared in the series, were released:
* ''[[Six Feet Under (soundtrack)|Six Feet Under]]'' (March 5, 2002)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005Y1YA/ |title=Six Feet Under |website=Amazon |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113235407/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005Y1YA/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''[[Six Feet Under, Vol. 2: Everything Ends]]'' (June 21, 2005)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009MAPXG/ |title=Six Feet Under, Volume Two: Everything Ends – Music from the HBO Original Series |website=Amazon |access-date=October 18, 2017}}</ref>

=== Books ===
* {{Cite book|first= Alan |last= Ball |editor= Alan Poul |title= Six Feet Under: Better Living Through Death |year= 2003 |publisher= Simon and Schuster |isbn= 978-0-7434-8065-9 }}
* {{Cite book |last= Akass |first= Kim |author2=Janet McCabe |author3=Mark Lawson |title= Reading Six Feet Under: TV To Die For |year= 2005 |publisher= I. B. Tauris |isbn= 978-1-85043-809-0 }}

=== Streaming ===
The complete series is available from various streaming sites including [[Max (streaming service)|Max]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hbo.com/six-feet-under |title=Six Feet Under |publisher=[[HBO.com]] |access-date=September 9, 2019}}</ref> [[Amazon Video]],<ref>Amazon Video:

*{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FGM6M6/ |title=Six Feet Under Season 1 |website=Amazon |access-date=October 18, 2017 }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FGK59C/ |title=Six Feet Under Season 2 |website=Amazon |access-date=October 18, 2017 }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FGNS8W/ |title=Six Feet Under Season 3 |website=Amazon |access-date=October 18, 2017 }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FGK5A6/ |title=Six Feet Under Season 4 |website=Amazon |access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618172123/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FGK5A6/ |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FGTPJ8/ |title=Six Feet Under Season 5 |website=Amazon |access-date=October 18, 2017 }}</ref> [[Disney+ Hotstar]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hotstar.com/tv/six-feet-under/s-1928 |title=Six Feet Under |website=[[Hotstar]] |access-date=September 9, 2019}}</ref> In July 2023, it was announced that the series would be added to [[Netflix]] in the United States as part of a co-exclusive deal between Netflix and [[Warner Bros. Discovery]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-insecure-six-feet-under-ballers-hbo-1235528469/ |title=Netflix Adds HBO's 'Insecure' as 'Six Feet Under,' 'Ballers' Headed to Rival Streamer |website=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Hilary |last=Lewis |date=July 3, 2023 |access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref>

== See also ==
* ''[[Family Plots]]'' – a reality TV series about a [[Poway, California]]-based funeral home

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote|Six Feet Under}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title}}

{{Six Feet Under (TV series)}}
{{Navboxes
| title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Six Feet Under|Awards for ''Six Feet Under'']]
| list =
{{EmmyAward MainTitleDesign}}
{{EmmyAward MainTitleThemeMusic}}
{{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series}}
{{GoldenGlobeTVDrama 1990–2009}}
{{Producers Guild of America Award for Best Episodic Drama}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAwards EnsembleTVDrama 2000–2009}}
{{TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama}}
}}
{{Alan Ball}}
{{HBONetwork Shows}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Six Feet Under}}
[[Category:Six Feet Under (TV series)| ]]
[[Category:2001 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2005 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2000s American drama television series]]
[[Category:2000s American LGBTQ-related drama television series]]
[[Category:Television shows about adultery]]
[[Category:Best Drama Series Golden Globe winners]]
[[Category:Fiction about bipolar disorder]]
[[Category:Emmy Award–winning programs]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television shows set in funeral homes]]
[[Category:GLAAD Media Award–winning shows]]
[[Category:HBO television dramas]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
[[Category:Peabody Award–winning television programs]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award–winning television series]]
[[Category:Serial drama television series]]
[[Category:Television series about dysfunctional families]]
[[Category:Television series about widowhood]]
[[Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios]]
[[Category:Television shows about death]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Television shows filmed in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Television series about siblings]]