Few series finales have left as lasting an impression as Six Feet Under's final episode, “Everyone's Waiting.” The HBO drama, which ran from 2001 to 2005, was already known for its raw, honest depictions of mortality, grief, and family dysfunction. However, it was the character deaths in the Six Feet Under finale that elevated the show’s reputation from acclaimed to unforgettable. In a bold and emotional move, the final minutes of the series revealed the future deaths of all its major characters in a haunting, beautiful montage that has since become iconic.

The Six Feet Under ending montage skips forward in time, showing how each of the main characters eventually dies, closing out their arcs in deeply personal and sometimes tragic ways. It's a storytelling device that few shows have dared to attempt, and Six Feet Under pulled it off flawlessly. The finale remains one of the most emotionally resonant endings in TV history, and few shows since have been able to give their characters as much closure. Each of the Six Feet Under characters had unique lives (and deaths), and “Everyone’s Waiting” ensured fans knew exactly how all of their stories ended.

Ruth O’Connor Fisher (s Conroy)

1946-2025

Ruth Fisher, played by s Conroy, was the emotionally complicated matriarch of the Fisher family, and her death in the finale montage is one of the most emotionally resonant. Throughout all 5 seasons of Six Feet Under, Ruth struggled with loneliness, identity, and the burden of caring for others, especially after the death of her husband Nathaniel. Her later life is marked by a desire for peace and simplicity, and she finds companionship in Bettina, a friend who becomes one of her final emotional anchors.

In the Six Feet Under ending montage, Ruth's death is quiet and natural. She dies in a hospice bed surrounded by loved ones, including her daughter Claire and a vision of her late son, Nate. The moment is bathed in soft light, giving Ruth's ing a bittersweet serenity. Her final moments feel earned - a culmination of her lifelong journey to find solace and emotional balance. Her death in the Six Feet Under finale montage is a powerful representation of aging, acceptance, and the profound impact of family.

Keith Dwayne Charles (Mathew St. Patrick)

1968-2029

Keith Charles, portrayed by Mathew St. Patrick, was David’s long-term partner and one of the series’ most grounded characters. As a former cop turned security business owner, Keith provided structure and stability in the often-chaotic Fisher household. His relationship with David was fraught with challenges, but ultimately, they created a loving and ive family life together.

The montage doesn't linger long on the moment, but its brutality stands out, emphasizing the fragility of life amid the show's more peaceful ings.

Keith's death in the Six Feet Under finale montage is perhaps the most shocking. While working as a security guard on an armored truck, Keith is shot and killed during a robbery. It's a violent and abrupt end for a character who spent much of his life trying to build safety for others. Keith’s death in Six Feet Under serves as a jarring reminder that life is unpredictable and unfair - even for those who strive to do everything right. The montage doesn't linger long on the moment, but its brutality stands out, emphasizing the fragility of life amid the show's more peaceful ings.

David James Fisher (Michael C. Hall)

1969-2044

David Fisher, played by Michael C. Hall, was the tightly wound funeral director who spent much of Six Feet Under grappling with his identity, sexuality, and place within the Fisher family legacy. He was a man who sought order in a world of emotional chaos, and his relationship with Keith was one of the show's most enduring love stories.

In the Six Feet Under finale montage, David dies of natural causes at a family gathering, after years of building a happy and fulfilling life. The scene shows him sitting on a bench, watching his son play football, when he suddenly has a vision of a younger Keith smiling at him, a moment that suggests David is at peace and ready to let go. His death feels like a culmination of his arc, closing the loop on years of inner turmoil with a sense of wholeness. The character deaths in the Six Feet Under finale are often reflections of each character’s inner life, and David's is no exception - quiet, warm, and ultimately redemptive.

Hector Federico Diaz (Freddy Rodriguez)

1974-2049

Freddy Rodriguez played Federico "Rico" Diaz in Six Feet Under, the gifted mortician and business partner who went from employee to co-owner of the Fisher & Diaz funeral home. His journey on Six Feet Under was one of ambition, familial duty, and self-discovery, often struggling with his role as both a professional and a patriarch.

Rico’s death in the Six Feet Under finale montage is revealed to occur while on a cruise ship with his wife Vanessa. He collapses unexpectedly, and while the show doesn’t cover much of the aftermath, it’s clear he dies far from the funeral home where he spent so much of his life. The suddenness of his death, paired with the relatively mundane setting, underscores one of the show’s core messages: death comes to everyone, often without warning. As with all the character deaths in the Six Feet Under finale, Rico’s is a mix of the poetic and the practical, closing out his story with an echo of the unexpected.

Brenda Chenowith (Rachel Griffiths)

1969-2051

Brenda, portrayed by Rachel Griffiths, was Nate Fisher’s on-and-off partner and eventual wife. A deeply intelligent and emotionally complex character, Brenda’s life was shaped by trauma, instability, and the pressure to be someone she wasn’t. Over the course of Six Feet Under, she becomes a mother, a therapist, and someone who finally learns how to live in the moment, even if that moment is often fraught with pain.

In the finale montage, Brenda dies in a hospital bed while her brother Billy, still battling his mental health difficulties, sits by her side. Her death is marked by a flatlining monitor and clinical finality. Unlike some of the more sentimental deaths, Brenda’s is cold and detached, but that emotional distance is entirely fitting for a character who spent her life trying to separate herself from the chaos around her. The Six Feet Under finale montage doesn’t glorify her death, but it doesn’t diminish her journey either. In a quiet way, it respects her constant battle for control and dignity.

Claire Simone Fisher (Lauren Ambrose)

1983-2085

Claire Fisher, played in Six Feet Under by Lauren Ambrose, is the youngest member of the Fisher family and arguably the emotional core of the series’ final moments. An aspiring photographer with a rebellious streak, Claire often felt like an outsider both in her family and the world. The series finale sees her driving away from Los Angeles to start a new life in New York - the beginning of her stepping into a future filled with unknowns.

Claire's death is the final one shown in the Six Feet Under finale montage and fittingly brings the sequence full circle. She dies in 2085 at the age of 101, alone in bed, surrounded by framed photographs representing her life and legacy. As her vision fades, we hear Sia’s “Breathe Me” swell, echoing the earlier moments of the montage. Claire’s death represents the age of time and the completion of an era. It’s a serene and quiet ending that honors the life she fought to build. Among the character deaths in the Six Feet Under finale, hers is the most forward-looking - not a tragedy, but the peaceful conclusion to a long and meaningful life.