Death takes a familiar '24' figure

Spoiler alert: If Monday's episode of "24" is waiting on your DVR, unwatched, do not read any further. The following contains spoilers regarding the departure of a regular character.

As far as deaths on "24" go, Bill Buchanan's on Monday night was fairly quick and painless.

At least it was for actor James Morrison, who has played Jack Bauer's coolheaded boss for the past four years. But longtime fans of the Fox action drama, starring Kiefer Sutherland, still might have been a little shellshocked. 

Buchanan goes out on his own terms -- he blows himself up alongside a group of terrorists who have overtaken the White House. The character's death ends a three-season run for the actor, who was supposed to be a  one-appearance  guest star who soon became the ongoing source of pushback for Jack.

"The moment you step aboard '24' you're taught to expect that you're going to bite it," Morrison, 54, said in an interview Friday. "In this solar system you have one sun. The rest of us are just planets that are invited to orbit, and sometimes we're just yanked out of the sky."

There have been plenty worse ways for good guys on the show to die: Lynn McGill died foaming at the mouth after inhaling nerve gas -- ditto for agent Edgar Stiles. Meanwhile, Michelle Dessler  was rubbed out by a car bomb, Counter Terrorist Unit   director Ryan Chappelle was unceremoniously executed by Jack himself, and President David Palmer was assassinated.

This season, "24" has spent much time confronting its own controversial theme: Jack's use of torture to extract information from terrorists. The season launched with CTU disbanded and Jack standing trial for his illegal methods. Buchanan had gone underground -- sporting the 5 o'clock shadow and dramatic all-black get-up to prove it -- working with computer whiz Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) to suss out a mole in the FBI.

In last week's episode, Buchanan clashed with Bauer over torturing a compromised government official. Buchanan refused to do it.

"It was nice that Bill [Buchanan] didn't have to become someone else," said Morrison, a certified yoga instructor. "It was more in character to have him say, ambiguously as he did, 'I can't do that. Not only am I not trained to do that, but I can't do that. That's not me.'"

For his final goodbye, cast and crew gathered with cake on the White House set.

"I spent a moment with them basking in their appreciation of  what I felt like was sort of a family member leaving the fold," Morrison said. "It was the most familial set I'd been on."

Since he's been assured Bill's staying dead  (onetime dead agent Tony Almeida was resurrected this season),  Morrison plans to record some of his own music -- "blues, folk stuff," he says -- and finish work on "Showing Up," a documentary he's producing with his wife, Riad Galayini, about the audition process for actors.

He'll also appear in the final two episodes of ABC's "Private Practice." "I can only reveal that I play someone who comes in to shake things up at the clinic," he said.

"It was so great to do something where there's no angst, no intensity," he added. "Where you're just having a conversation with somebody and the safety of the world is not at stake."

denise.martin@latimes.com

Comments

[D]

unfortunately, this article was posted on the site before the show aired in LA!

anyways, im going to miss Bill Buchanan. He was a very good character and the actor did a very good job in the role.

Another great episode. This season of 24 is shaping up to be in the top 2 or 3. A shootout in the white house is surreal. i cant wait for next week. i almost wish i had this season on DVD so i can just watch back to back.

[blackartist]

"The moment you step aboard '24' you're taught to expect that you're going to bite it,"

i would say wow, Bill Morrison is my all time favorite.

[Janice Dodero]

There were more than 50 useless, good-for-nothing hostage extras that could have detonated that explosion. Instead we lose one of the hotter characters on the show. And, make no mistake about it, the Ka-chunk, Ka-chunk time clock was silent when they went to commercial. There’re ain’t no way Bill is going to pull a Tony and rise from the dead.

I just hope that Bill and Edgar Stiles got along because they are going to be spending eternity together in “24 Victims’ Heaven” along with President Palmer, George Mason, Lynn Magill, Ryan Chappell, Michelle Dressler and Curtis (remember him?)

Note: Next Monday night’s episode is one of the two Baueral Equinoxs this season. These occur when the clock on the show matches the clock on your wall.

This is celebrated in pagan ceremonies where the traditional “Kim vs the Mountain Lion” battle is recreated in pantomime. Afterwards Kim is hung in effigy.

[TJ]

Hey Morrison fans. Found this site for his Showing Up project mentioned above. Check it out!

http://www.showingupmovie.com

[goodnightsweetprinciplecharacter]

Bill was one of the only reasons to like 24 this season. Now we're down to just caring about Jack. Mr. Morrison (and Bill), you will be missed. As for 24, this will definitely be my last season watching it.

[timshel]

Thinking this is it for me. Bill was a moral compass for Jack and now that's gone especially in a season where there has been a lot violence against "average" citizens (remember the wife and baby?) It gets tiring to lose so many good guys - with Bill gone, not sure what will happen to Jack and he has become so damaged, I don't care enough to continue with the day. "24", you've pushed it too far.

[blackholes]

I'm sorry but i have to say, although it is very sad to see Bill go, you should have heard me cry out 'NO' when he sacrificed himself, but when you say your not going to watch 24 anymore because they killed off your favourite character then you need to get a grip. I am a huge fan of the show but you got to expect this by now its the seventh season fgs people in this show get killed off, in order to keep it shocking and it keep it fresh you must realise this. You can't oust the best show on TV (and I defy ANYONE to prove me wrong) just becuase it upset you a little bit!!!!!

[JustABill]

Season 7 of 24 has been amazing so far. It was sad to see Bill go.

To those who are "done" with 24.....maybe Dancing With The Stars is more your speed.

Don't go away mad, just go away!

[Mrs Martin]

I agree with u D. I wish I had the entire season on DVD so I could watch it back to back. We've DVR'd the season so far so that my husband and I could do just that.

[Elsie M]

I am so damn sad! I have to keep reminding myself that the actor didn't die. I don't usually take tv characters' deaths so seriously. Bill Buchanan was terrific - and, as has been mentioned - looked especially hot this year. Loved the hair.

24 is so hard to watch. First I started to like George Mason - then he died. Then I liked Tony Almeida - then he died. I was over him by the time they brought him back, had moved on to Bill Buchanan - then he died. How much more can a girl take? I can't fall for Jack as he reminds me too much of my nephew so I have aunt-ly feelings for him.

Bill, Bill, Bill. This is just too sad. :(

[Baidas]

Mrs Martin u made me laugh after two-hours of sadness, Bill WAS my favourite character, sometimes more than Jack! i wished to bring him back in season 7 and i voted for him in their site, im so shocked that he dies, i mean i sensed that he or Pierce may get hurt, but death!! :(
as for now, the time has come to Jack to go rogue and get things moving, Tony disappeared in the last 3 episodes, i think they did that to bring him suddenly in the next episode when jack is rogue, cause he'll need help (and cloe of course)..
any ideas about Ethan?! the president daughter think he is a traitor, do u think he is?

[Priyanka]

how can bill dieee?
im not a fan of good characters dying but this is just getting worse.
who's going to be killed off next?
bill shouldnt have died :( :( :(

[Uncle Bill]

This was a dynamite (NPI) show. BUT>>>what blew me away(again NPI) was Madame President slipping in a global warming advertisement during a break. WTF...on FOX???

[CLK24]

I too voted for Bill Buchanan to return this season. Elsie M, you hit the nail on the head. Grrrrr...for the sexy, blackturtle neck wearin', outside-the-law-but-with-intergrity age-appropriate fantasy man of the year BIll Buchanan. I couldn't speak when he made for the lockdown room and the explosion went off! BUT these are the events 24 is made of. I wouldn't want it any other way. Superb production.

[Mark]

Agree with D that this is one of, if not the best seasons for 24. Kudos to the producers, including Mr. Sutherland, for reinvigorating the franchise. This is some of the best drama on tv and helps me get over the closure of The Shield. The pace of this show is amazing. Bill was cool but collateral damage plays no favorites. Now if Chloe bites it, then I'll be upset - but would continue to watch with groupie-like fervor. Rock on 24, rock on.

[jaypeakay]

I am so disappointed that James Morrison's character Bill was killed off on the last episode. Along with Chloe, he was my favorite character on the show. At least James will be appearing on some episodes of "Private Practice." However, I'm not counting on his staying around there for long; I started watching the show when David Sutcliffe started appearing. They've gotten rid of his character, so I'm worried James might not be on for long either. I hope I'm wrong.

[Joseph]

Waaaah! Of all people there, why did bill Buchanan die?? It's better if the senator made that move and not Bill himself because that senator is too stupid..! =(

[Swan]

It was sad to see beloved boss BILL died... Another great character ended just like DAVID PALMER!!! Anyways the SHOW must go on But I'll definitely miss BILL!!!!!

[Pam Hivnor]

I cried over this one. I loved Bill Buchanan, I remember thinking during the episode, "I hope Bill doesn't get killed", oh well, still a BIG fan...

[TA]

I had the pleasure of meeting Jim Morrison (Bill Buchanan) in Vegas this week at the Beatles Love show at the Mirage. The show was at the same time 24 airs and as we were commenting on the Beatles show better be good because we were missing 24 to see it, I looked up and said well at least Bill Buchanan is ok because he just walked in. We talked to him after the Beatles show and I have to say he is as cool in person as he was in the show. All around great guy, great sense of humor and great family. Will miss him on the show as I have missed many of my favorites that have gone by the way side. If good people finish first, him and his wife will be very successful in their future endeavors.