‘9-1-1’s Lou Ferrigno Jr. Reflects on Tommy and Buck’s ‘Heartbreaking’ Breakup and Why the Role Was a ‘True Blessing’

9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 6, “Confessions,” marked the end of an era for ABC’s hit dramas—and not just because Ryan Guzman finally shaved his mustache.

Following the stunning revelation that Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.) was once engaged to Buck’s (Oliver Stark) ex, Abby Clarke (Connie Britton), the couple ended their relationship in equally unexpected fashion.

Having reconciled with his mutual ex, Buck accepted the past, sorted out his feelings for Tommy and hoped to take their relationship to the next level. He asked Tommy to move in with him, but Tommy ended the relationship, which Lou Ferrigno Jr. calls “heartbreaking.”

By breaking up with Buck prematurely, Tommy was partly trying to protect his heart. But he also wanted to give Buck the opportunity to fully explore his sexuality in the best way he could, so the decision to pull away wasn’t entirely selfish. However, Ferrigno Jr. still admits that the turn killed him.

“I feel like this is where Tommy and I kind of break up,” Ferrigno Jr. told Decider via Zoom. “Tommy is infatuated with Buck. He admires his personality, his wild spirit. So it was difficult because if Buck was that good as a partner and a potential partner, I think it’s worth a try!”

Read Decider’s full interview with 9-1-1 star, in which he talks about Buck and Tommy’s biggest Confessional scenes and shares thoughts on working with Oliver Stark and Ryan Guzman, dealing with online hate, Buddy and more.

Let’s start from the top. What did you think when you found out that Tommy was engaged to Buck’s ex, Abby, in this genius, very layered twist that takes us back to the pilot?

I was at a loss. Tim called me and I watched every episode, so I thought I had it all figured out. But I didn’t connect the two because her ex’s name was Tommy. He told me, “So Abby was with a guy named Tommy. I’m going to make you this Tommy. And I was like, “Do you have another Tommy that I don’t know about?” This is incredible. Because if you really look back, I watch these videos on YouTube and people were really paying attention to them this season.

Oh yes, they are involved in this.

This is an accident. There’s a point where – even without me knowing – because there was no way Tommy was weird or anything like that, in my opinion. If anything, he was a bit homophobic. So it looks like Tim is a wizard, which he is. Looks like he planned it all and just didn’t tell us. But it’s pretty cool, especially if you go back to the beginning of the series. His So especially an integral part of the canon. I just couldn’t believe it and was so excited to start.

After Buck has a chance to process this information and talk to Maddie and Josh, he does everything he can for his relationship with Tommy, but Tommy breaks off the relationship. What did you think when you found out about the breakup?

Well, can I ask you? I didn’t see this. How did the breakup end?

It was definitely heartbreaking for both of them. Buck was stunned, and it seemed like Tommy didn’t want his heart to be broken, but he also genuinely wanted Buck to have the opportunity to explore his sexuality more before committing to a final relationship. It’s rare to see a breakup that doesn’t try to make someone look bad, and I feel like that’s exactly what it is 9-1-1 achieved.

The fans can hate me forever. Internet things have gotten really weird. So many amazing, amazing fans and dedication to the show, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. But no matter. It’s just a story. Oliver is such a professional and we didn’t know each other very well, but those breakup scenes broke my heart. I believe in love. I believe that you can change old patterns of behavior and behave correctly, lead your life and choose the right partner. But in this regard, I feel like this is where Tommy and I kind of break up. Because Tommy is infatuated with Buck. He admires his personality; his wild spirit. So it was difficult because if Buck was such a good partner and potential partner, I think it’s worth a try! But who knows what Tim is cooking.

All this time, Tommy strictly called Buck “Evan.” So that shift in the final moments of their separation, when he said, “I’ll see you around Buck,” really spoke volumes.

I know. It was heartbreaking.

Simply put, this season gave us some fun scenes with Buck, Eddie, and Tommy. What was it like finding the rhythm for this trio? with Oliver and Ryan?

So great. I mean, my sister – I think they’re already doing this – but she’s like, “You need to be on reboot Three men and a child. (Laughs) It’s like we found a mechanism that we’re all working on, and it’s so cool. And in that last twist I had (the hospital scene in Episode 5), the script said it was an “ominous moment” and without even discussing a lot of it, Ryan and I were on the same page. That whole scene, with the music and the way Oliver built those moments—I really love that Tommy was so supportive throughout it all. Despite any of these superstitious dogmas that are like curses or whatever you want to call it, he still has fun with it in a way. But when the three of us get together, I feel like something really special happens.

9-1-1 fans are incredibly passionate about the series, and it’s no secret that people were shipping Buck and Eddie even before Tommy returned. As Buck and Tommy’s relationship developed, was it difficult for you to play the partner of a character who had part of the fandom collaborating with someone else?

It’s business, baby. For some reason there has to be a snarky reaction to any group that likes one thing. Some agitators just want to be evil and make death threats, stonings and just weird things. But it’s written that (Buck and Tommy) get along, and that helps me a lot. I’ve always had a real knack for condensing and maintaining an atmosphere of friends – old or new – and fitting in well. Considering how compassionate and generous Ryan and Oliver are as actors, it was just… Ryan is just amazing. He upsets me. He’s so good. Every time I see him on screen I go crazy. So it wasn’t difficult at all. I’m glad it resonates with fans.

You mentioned earlier that Tommy was originally supposed to be with Eddie, and that stuck with people. If 9-1-1 decides that Eddie will further explore his sexuality and this naturally leads him to Buck, would you be Team Buddy?

Yeah. I mean, I would. I just feel that men can have these kinds of relationships and don’t have to be homosexual. I have very close relationships with many of my friends, whether we play sports or anything else. I find love in my friends that I didn’t always receive as a child. And I tell all my close male friends that I love them. I kiss them on the cheek. There’s a different relationship there. So I’m all about it. I don’t know. Let’s see what happens. That’s how I feel. I don’t know how Tommy will react to this though.

Even if things didn’t work out for Theven, their meeting was undoubtedly greeted warmly. It wasn’t just an important storyline for Buck and the series. It extended beyond 9-1-1world and served as an important representative of the LGBTQ+ community. What did it mean to you to be a part of this?

I would be remiss if I said that this has not been one of the true pleasures and true blessings of my life. Throughout my career, I’ve tended to play very authoritative, strong characters with a strong presence, not very vulnerable and not very three-dimensional. And Tommy made up his mind. At first I was delighted with the show. And then Tim dropped the storyline and I realized he knew what he was doing. The work he did over the decades was so good and I got to know him so much better through the whole experience. It was just one wild ride. I have studied to be an actor all my life. I have always been a servant of my business. And that was one of the real opportunities for me to stretch because Tim saw something in me. He believed in me that I could do it, and I knew I could do it. And we did it! This is amazing.

How has the reaction to this role compared to previous projects?

Fans will contact me and tell me all the wonderful things that I, as an actor, have always wanted to hear about my work. But it’s almost as if this project gave them the opportunity to express those feelings with me. I’m just so grateful. I take this very seriously. I love working in this business. I enjoy collaborating with artists. That’s what I’m here for. And so I’m very humble when it comes to words on the page and craft and all that stuff. I brought everything I have into it. And it opened a lot of people’s eyes, not just in terms of the storyline, but every comment: “It’s so nice to see two gay male characters on TV.” I don’t even know when this will happen? My friend said, “Whenever there are two gay characters, usually gay actors play gay characters and everyone knows they are gay.” If it were two other actors, for example, you’d probably say, “They’re about to kiss.” But I think because Oliver and I are so courageous, it definitely took everyone by surprise. I used the perception of myself to my advantage through what actually lives here, through the character. And it really opened my heart. So hearing these things has truly been one of the greatest blessings of my life.

Is there anything you learned from this role—as an actor or as a person—that you plan to take with you moving forward?

So much. I was never going to take that risk in my career. I wanted to stretch. Based on my life and events that happened in my life. I feel like I’m on borrowed time in a sense. So if I’m going to do this, I’m going to go full speed ahead. And this is the first time that anyone has really seen me in the light of an actor who can pull it off. I always could. But it was Tim who gave me the chance to do it.

One thing I will definitely take with me is: if you are afraid of something, go for it. I think I was afraid of being misunderstood or something that would never happen based on how I was raised and how society treated me my entire life. But it was such a wonderful, beautiful arc, and I knew and I knew in my heart, “I have to do this.” Where I come from, it’s a world of competition, athleticism, ridicule and everything that doesn’t support me. I have a difficult relationship with my father. He was never distinguished by artistic curiosity or artistic courage. So I just had to do it.

Looking ahead, I would say that if you don’t die, you will feel better. I almost died from a severe appendectomy when I was 15. What’s the worst that could happen? Literally the worst thing that could happen is that some random person wrote meaningless death threats. Everything was extremely positive and it just made me want to go even harder and move forward. Getting feedback from people who were truly impacted by my performance forces me to reread my versions over 15 times and apply a little extra flair. When I go to an audition, I want to make further commitments. I want to study. I want to get better so I can develop this character or one day create another character that will really resonate with the fans.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

New episodes 9-1-1 premieres Thursdays at 8:00 pm on ABC and airs the next day on Hulu.