Harry Dean Stanton's 'Big Love'

Last week's explosive finale of "Big Love's" third season offered many revelations, but perhaps none quite as shocking as the death of polygamist patriarch Roman Grant.

It was a seismic shift that registered on screen and off, for Roman's passing was a send-off not only to the critically acclaimed HBO drama's public enemy No. 1, but also to Harry Dean Stanton, who plays him. The esteemed actor endeared himself to "Big Love" fans as the righteous, megalomaniacal, charismatic head of the Juniper Creek compound who served as main antagonist for lead character Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton).

"It was a calculated risk," explained "Big Love" co-creator Will Scheffer. "HBO was nervous about it: They didn't want to lose Harry, and for God's sakes, we didn't want to lose Harry. . . . But we felt we had to go bold and take away that character that might have been one of the most precious to us, and let everyone deal with the loss."

Scheffer maintained that Roman's deliverance was necessary to move the series forward. "Other characters have the possibility of growing," he said. "We never wanted there to be any sort of redemption for Roman. That was not in the cards for him, ever. So there was really no place to go."

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(Photo courtesy HBO)