Kenneth Choi breaks down over Bobby’s death in 9-1-1 season 8 and teases Chimney’s emotional journey

Kenneth Choi, who plays firefighter Howard “Chimney” Han on ABC’s 9-1-1, opened up about his emotional response to the on-screen death of Captain Bobby Nash, portrayed by Peter Krause. In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Choi revealed he was overwhelmed after filming the episode in which Bobby sacrifices himself to save Chimney by giving him the only available cure for a mutated virus.

“I was sobbing uncontrollably,” Choi recalled. “I mean, I filmed it, and I was still sobbing with my friend for three or four minutes.” He explained that the grief stemmed not only from the dramatic scene itself, but also from the emotional weight of losing a character who had been part of Chimney’s life for eight seasons. “It was devastating to me,” he admitted.

Choi shared that showrunner Tim Minear broke the news to the cast personally. At first, Choi thought it was a joke. “I was just waiting for him to say, ‘I’m just kidding,’ and those words never came.” Once it sank in, Choi said he entered a state of denial and even pushed back on the decision.

Minear later explained that Bobby’s death served a creative purpose—fulfilling his arc as a leader who ultimately sacrifices himself for his team. According to Choi, Peter Krause accepted the storyline with grace and understood its impact. “He did what he was supposed to do. That’s his job,” Choi said, reflecting on Bobby’s role as a father figure to the 118.

Looking ahead, Choi noted that Chimney will carry significant emotional weight and guilt, which will affect how the 118 functions. “The team is fractured,” he said. “Every call, every moment will carry that loss.”

The emotional fallout continues as 9-1-1 wraps up Season 8, with three final episodes airing Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.