The hit drama 9-1-1 captivates audiences with its thrilling portrayal of Los Angeles first responders, delving not only into their heroic work but also their intricate personal lives. For many of the show’s stars, the lines between fiction and reality blur, especially when it comes to parenthood. From Angela Bassett’s inspiring journey to Jennifer Love Hewitt’s unique experience of being pregnant both on and off-screen, discover the real-life families behind your favorite 9-1-1 heroes.
The acclaimed series 9-1-1 has long drawn viewers into the intense and often emotional world of emergency services, where the challenges faced by its characters extend far beyond their demanding jobs. These first responders navigate complex family dynamics, personal struggles, and the profound responsibilities of parenting, themes that resonate deeply with fans.
What makes the show even more compelling for many enthusiasts is the striking parallels between the characters’ lives and those of the actors who portray them. Several members of the 9-1-1 cast are parents both on the show and in their personal lives, offering a unique blend of on-screen storytelling and authentic off-screen experiences. This deep dive explores the families of some of the show’s most beloved stars, revealing the joys, challenges, and touching moments of their real-life parenting journeys.
Angela Bassett: A Mother On-Screen and Off
On 9-1-1, Angela Bassett commands the screen as the formidable Sgt. Athena Grant, a dedicated mother to her daughter May and son Harry. In real life, Bassett shares two children with her husband, Courtney B. Vance, bringing a profound understanding to her character’s maternal role.
After seven years of a dedicated IVF journey, Bassett and Vance welcomed fraternal twins, Bronwyn Golden and Slater Josiah, on January 27, 2006, via surrogate. The acclaimed actress has spoken candidly about the guilt she sometimes feels due to the long hours spent on set away from her children.
Despite the challenges, Bassett hopes her children witness her dedication to her dreams. “I hope that what will come out of that is that they see a mama, a woman, a Black woman achieving her dreams, having success,” she shared with People in February 2024. “They’ll see that hard work pays off.” She also imparts a valuable lesson, telling her kids, “Find the good and praise it.”
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Slater Josiah Vance, Bronwyn Golden Vance, Angela Bassett, and Courtney B. Vance attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Interestingly, Bassett shared with Vulture in 2019 that her daughter Bronwyn had a tendency to imitate her from a young age, showcasing a natural inclination towards mirroring her mother’s actions and words. While both Bassett and Vance are successful actors, Angela has encouraged her children’s musical interests. Her son Slater has embraced this, releasing his first album, “Journey 2 Forever,” in 2021, followed by an EP titled “Holehearted” the subsequent year.
Jennifer Love Hewitt: Pregnancy On-Screen, Pregnancy in Real Life
Jennifer Love Hewitt’s character, Maddie Han, experiences the demanding balancing act of motherhood alongside her high-pressure role as a 9-1-1 dispatcher. This on-screen journey was particularly poignant for Hewitt, as she navigated her third real-life pregnancy while her character was also pregnant.
Jennifer Love Hewitt/Instagram
Jennifer Love Hewitt and Autumn James Hallisay.
Hewitt and her husband, Brian Hallisay, are proud parents to three children. Their eldest, daughter Autumn James, arrived on November 26, 2013, followed by son Atticus James on June 24, 2015. Their third child, son Aidan James, was welcomed in September 2021.
The timing of Aidan’s birth coincided remarkably with her character’s storyline. Hewitt revealed to People in May 2021 that she was expecting her third child, just a month after Maddie and Chimney (played by Kenneth Choi) became first-time parents on 9-1-1 during season 4. She described the experience as “the craziest, most surreal moment was having to give birth while being pregnant. That was very interesting.”
Upon Hewitt’s return to the series after Aidan’s arrival, 9-1-1 courageously explored Maddie’s journey with postpartum depression. This storyline held particular significance for Hewitt, who shared her personal connection to the topic. “I definitely personally had my worst postpartum after this pregnancy, so to come back so soon after that and be able to give those real things to Maddie has been very cathartic for me and really nice to be able to represent that for all the women out there,” she told People.
While Hewitt and Hallisay have largely maintained their children’s privacy over the years, they offered a rare glimpse of their faces for the first time on the cover of her 2024 memoir, Inheriting Magic.
Ryan Guzman: From On-Screen Dad to Real-Life Papa
Before embracing fatherhood in his own life, Ryan Guzman masterfully portrayed a devoted parent as Eddie Diaz on 9-1-1. This experience, he revealed, profoundly influenced his perspective on becoming a dad.
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Ryan Guzman attends the Premiere of “Tron: Ares” on October 06, 2025 in Hollywood, California ; Ryan Guzman and Chrysti Ane’s two kids.
“Playing a father before I was a father, it was incredible,” Guzman shared with People in March 2024. He recalled a particular scene, stating, “I could do that all day. I started almost tearing up every single take because I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to walk my own son.”
Guzman and his then-fiancée, Chrysti Ane, became parents to son Mateo on January 24, 2019, following their pregnancy announcement in September 2018. For their second child, daughter Genevieve “Gigi” Valentina, born on January 7, 2021, the couple took a different approach, keeping the entire pregnancy private.
Ane later confessed on Instagram, “Ry and I decided to be a little selfish this time around and keep this journey between us. I’m so happy we did that. It was so special,” as reported by Entertainment Tonight. While the couple welcomed their children together, Guzman and Ane eventually parted ways in 2023 after five years.
Peter Krause: Balancing Fatherhood with a Demanding Career
Peter Krause, known for his role as Capt. Bobby Nash on 9-1-1, is also a father in his personal life. While his character navigates a complex family, including step-children May and Harry, Krause has focused on balancing his acting career with raising his son.
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Peter Krause visits SiriusXM Studios on October 02, 2024 in New York City.
Krause and his girlfriend at the time, Christine King, welcomed their son Roman on November 20, 2001. Though they have largely kept Roman out of the public eye, Krause has spoken about the importance of integrating his professional and family life.
Reflecting on his time on the show Parenthood, Krause told TV Guide in 2015, “Parenthood allowed me to spend time with him on a weekly basis, but also gave me a big chunk of time in the spring to assistant-coach his baseball team and I got to be more involved with him because of the show.” He highlighted the continuous effort to find equilibrium: “I have a great appetite as an actor for more to do, but I try to balance my professional life with my real parenthood life and this show provided that.” His former partner, Lauren Graham, also wrote affectionately about Roman in her 2022 book, expressing her hope that he would “be a part of the rest of [her] life.”
The Enduring Appeal of Parenthood in 9-1-1
The lives of the 9-1-1 cast, both on and off-screen, offer a rich tapestry of experiences that resonate with fans. From the profound reflections of Angela Bassett on balancing career and family to the extraordinary alignment of Jennifer Love Hewitt’s real-life and character pregnancies, these stories add a layer of authenticity to the beloved series.
The dedication of actors like Ryan Guzman, who drew on his on-screen role to prepare for real-life fatherhood, and Peter Krause, who thoughtfully balanced his career with raising his son, underscores the universal themes of love, responsibility, and growth inherent in parenting. For the fan community, these insights into the personal lives of the 9-1-1 cast only deepen their connection to the show and its enduring narrative of heroes, family, and resilience.