David James Fisher is a fictional character played by Michael C. Hall on the HBO television series Six Feet Under. The character is the middle child of three and is a third-generation funeral director. Initially, the character is portrayed as conservative, dutiful to his family, emotionally repressed, and conflicted about his homosexuality. Over the course of the series, he faces struggles and triumphs both personally and professionally. His most significant challenges are related to keeping his funeral home in business, navigating his relationship with Keith Charles, surviving being carjacked, and coping with the death of his father. By the show's end, he reconciles his religious beliefs, personal goals, and homosexuality, and he and Keith settle down. They adopt two children: eight-year-old Anthony and 12-year-old Durrell. The series finale and official HBO website indicate that Keith is murdered in a robbery in 2029, and that David at some point finds companionship with Raoul Martinez, with whom he remains until David's death at the age of 75.
Critics have cited David Fisher as the first realistic portrayal of a gay lead male character on American television, and the character is popularly regarded as one of the most beloved of the series. Michael C. Hall was widely praised for his portrayal of the character, and was nominated for and won major awards as a result.
Character conception
The show's creator, Alan Ball, says he based the characters Nate, Claire, and David on himself. About David, he said: "I'm like David in that for years I tried to do everything right, as if that would some way redeem me."Peyser, Marc; Gordon, Devin; Scelfo, Julie (March 18, 2002), "SIX FEET UNDER OUR SKIN". Newsweek. 139 (11):52 Ball said in one interview, when he first conceived the characters: "David was just always gay. He was the brother who was 'the best little boy in the world' who did everything to please everybody, and that's such a classic gay thing."Podeswa, Jeremy (June 21, 2005), "Six Feet over". Advocate. (941):154–157
Jeremy Sisto (who was cast as Billy Chenowith) and Peter Krause (who was cast as Nate Fisher) both auditioned for the role of David.Levin, Gary, (March 01, 2002) "'Six Feet Under' and over the top". USA Today However, director Sam Mendes had just finished working with Hall on the Broadway show Cabaret and called him one day at noon to invite him to audition for the role that evening.Stockwell, Anne (June 8, 2004), "Hall of Love and death". Advocate. (916):36–45 Ball (who had worked with Mendes on the film American Beauty) said that, after four days of auditions "[Hall] started reading, and I just saw the character come to life. And it was David."
Character progression Show's outset
David is the second son (four years younger than Nate and 14 years older than Claire) of Nathaniel Sr. and Ruth Fisher's. The family owns and operates Fisher & Sons Funeral Home which Nathaniel Sr. inherited from his own father. Some years prior to the pilot episode, David abandoned his desire to become a lawyer and instead, went to mortuary school to assist his father with the business. These decisions cause him to resent his older brother, who left home at 17 and only visits for major holidays. David's relationship with his mother is affectionate, but his relationship with his father is conflicted."Pilot". Six Feet Under. 3 June 2001. No. 1, season 1 His father's death in the show's pilot episode brings their unresolved issues to the fore.
David is in many ways conservative (more so than either of his siblings) and he was even a Young Republican in college. Although he began to suspect he was gay in childhood, Season 3 reveals that he spent "ten years" dating women,"Making Love Work". Six Feet Under. 6 April 2003. No. 6, season 3 going as far as getting engaged to a woman named Jennifer Mason."The Will". Six Feet Under. 10 June 2001. No. 2, season 1 Their relationship ended when David revealed he was gay, but he remained closeted about his homosexuality. In the pilot, he is in a several-month-long relationship with Keith Charles, a police officer he met at a gay-friendly church.Tucker, Ken, (June 01, 2001) "Sunday Best?". Entertainment Weekly. (598):70
Season 1
Soon after his father's death, David becomes angered at Nate's sudden and permanent return home. Worse, their father bequeaths half of the business to Nate,Levin, Gary (March 01, 2002), "Step into the parlor of 'Six Feet Under'". USA Today which David takes as a trivialization of the sacrifices he has made for the family business. His anger is complicated when a major funeral home chain called Kroehner Service International, harasses the brothers to sell to them. Nate initially wants to sell and then changes his mind; Ruth backs Nate both times and as a result, David feels even further marginalized.
Meanwhile, he relies emotionally on his boyfriend Keith in private, while he publicly declares them to be racquetball partners. Claire observes them at her father's funeral and deduces that they are a couple. Weeks later, when Nate chances upon the couple having lunch, David tacitly outs himself by taking Keith's hand, which the couple considers a personal triumph. However, moments later David chastises Keith after he angrily confronts a man who called them "fags"."Familia". Six Feet Under. 24 June 2001. No. 4, Season 1 Keith accuses David of self-loathing and dumps him."An Open Book". Six Feet Under. 1 July 2001. No. 5, season 1 David is devastated. In the wake of their break-up, David is offered and accepts his father's deacon position at the Episcopalian Church while secretly engaging in a series of one-night stands and risky sex. He is even arrested for having sex with a prostitute, and is helped out by Keith who uses his position in the LAPD to get the charges dropped."The Trip". Six Feet Under. 12 August 2001. No. 11, season 1 The brutal murder of a young gay man spurs him to clean his life up and come out of the closet. His mother accepts him, but he is asked to resign as deacon, while the Fisher family in turn leave the church in solidarity with David.
Season 2 By the time David comes out, however, Keith is in a relationship with an emergency medical technician named Eddie. However, after Keith kills someone while on duty, he seeks David for comfort and they have sex, but to David's disappointment, Keith considers it a mistake."The Invisible Woman". 31 March 2002 No. 5, season 2 David begins dating a lawyer named Ben, but cannot shake his love for Keith."In Place of Anger". Six Feet Under. 7 April 2002. No. 6, season 2 When David's and Keith's respective relationships fail, they get back together."Back to the Garden". Six Feet Under. 14 April 2002. No. 7, season 2 Over time, David moves into Keith's apartment. David bonds with Keith's young niece Taylor of whom Keith gets custody after Taylor's mother is incarcerated."The Secret:. Six Feet Under. 5 May 2002. No. 10, season 2 The two begin adoption proceedings. The growing pressures on Keith exacerbate his anger management problems, and he becomes increasingly distant and verbally abusive. After getting suspended from work for use of excessive force,"I'll Take You". Six Feet Under. 19 May 2002. No. 12, season 2 Keith sends Taylor to live with his parents without consulting David. David tolerates his behavior until an argument about attending Claire's graduation turns violent and erupts into the two men grappling on the floor before engaging in rough sex that leaves both of them slightly injured."The Last Time". Six Feet Under. 2 June 2002. No. 13, season 2
Season 3 David and Keith decide to start therapy together to help resolve some of their communication issues."Perfect Circles". Six Feet Under. 2 March 2003. No. 1, season 3 When the therapist suggests that David have an independent hobby, David joins the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles. The difference between his and Keith's social circles is highlighted when Keith reluctantly plays a game of leading ladies with David's friends at a brunch,"Timing & Space". Six Feet Under. 13 April 2003. No. 7, season 3 and later when Keith invites David to play combat-style paintball with Keith's gay cop friends."Tears, Bones & Desire". Six Feet Under. 20 April 2003. No. 8, season 3 When one of the paintball players (named Sarge) is too inebriated to drive home, he stays over, which leads to the men having a three-way sexual experience. A part of David enjoys "being wild," but he feels conflicted about having an open relationship; still, he hesitantly agrees to more such encounters."The Opening". Six Feet Under. 27 April 2003. No. 9, season 3
When David and Keith travel to San Diego for Keith's aunt's funeral, David defends Keith during an explosive and violent argument between Keith and his father, but Keith rejects his support and David, furious and humiliated, catches the bus back to Los Angeles."Everyone Leaves". Six Feet Under. 4 May 2003. No. 10, season 3 His chorus buddy, Patrick, picks him up, and the two have sex. The incident coincides with the disappearance of Nate's wife, Lisa, and David stays with his brother for a time while avoiding Keith. Soon after he returns home, a fight about a telemarketer escalates into another battle about the San Diego incident, so David breaks up with Keith and moves back to the family home."Twilight". Six Feet Under. 18 May 2003. No. 12, season 3 A few weeks later they encounter each other at their church and have a long talk."I'm Sorry, I'm Lost." Six Feet Under. 1 June 2003. No. 13, season 3
Season 4 In the season premiere, after a hard night, Nate tells his family that a body that washed ashore has been identified as Lisa's."Falling into Place". Six Feet Under. 13 June 2004. No. 1, season 4 After mediating a contentious discussion between Nate and Lisa's family, David handles the bulk of the funeral arrangements. David then assists Nate in deceiving Lisa's family by giving them the unclaimed cremains from storage at the mortuary, while Nate buries Lisa's body in an open field according to her wishes. After the funeral, David and Keith revisit their relationship and decide to "start over," but without therapy and on the condition that Keith quit his job. However, Keith and David's relationship remains open and David receives oral sex from a plumber."In Case of Rapture." Six Feet Under. 20 June 2004. No. 2, season 4 Keith finds employment with a private security agency to celebrities, but does not come out at work."Can I Come Up Now?" Six Feet Under. 11 July 2004. No. 4, season 4 Soon, he is assigned to go on a three-month tour with a pop star named Celeste."That's My Dog." Six Feet Under. 18 July 2004. No. 5, season 4