If you’ve spent any time watching ABC’s high-octane procedural 9-1-1, you know the writers have a bit of a sadistic streak when it comes to Howard "Chimney" Han. Honestly, it’s become something of a running joke among fans. How much can one man actually survive? You're probably here because you just finished a cliffhanger episode and your heart is in your throat, or maybe you’re catching up on old seasons and need to know if it's safe to keep getting attached to Kenneth Choi’s character.
The short answer? No, Chimney does not die in 9-1-1. But man, they’ve come close to killing him off so many times that it’s almost impressive he’s still standing. From rebar through the skull to multiple stabbings and a harrowing battle with viral infections, Chimney has basically become the immortal heart of the 118. He's survived things that would have written any other character off the show in season one.
The Rebar Incident: The Moment We All Thought He Was Gone
Let's go back to Season 1, Episode 4, titled "Worst Day Ever." This was the first time the show really tested our loyalty. Chimney is involved in a horrific car accident where a piece of rebar pierces right through his skull. It looked definitive. Most medical dramas use that kind of injury to say a tearful goodbye.
I remember watching it and thinking, "There is no way a character survives a pole through the brain."
But the show leaned into the "miracle" aspect of emergency medicine. It’s actually based on real-world medical anomalies—most famously Phineas Gage—where the brain is pierced but the person survives. Chimney spends time in the ICU, goes through a grueling recovery, and eventually makes it back to the firehouse. This set the tone for his entire character arc: resilience against impossible odds.
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Doug Kendall and the Season 2 Nightmare
If the rebar wasn't enough, Season 2 brought us Doug Kendall. Played by Jennifer Love Hewitt’s real-life husband Brian Hallisay, Doug was the abusive ex-husband of Maddie Buckley. In the episode "Chimney Begins" and the following "Fight or Flight," Doug stalks Chimney and stabs him multiple times in the gut right outside Maddie’s apartment.
It was brutal.
Seeing Chimney bleed out on the sidewalk while Doug kidnapped Maddie was a peak "9-1-1" moment of pure stress. Fans were convinced that if the rebar didn't kill him, a vengeful ex-husband surely would. Yet, once again, the writers chose to keep him. He survived the surgery, recovered from the trauma, and his relationship with Maddie only grew stronger because of it. It’s that specific blend of soap opera drama and emergency action that keeps people asking does Chimney die in 9-1-1 every single season.
The Close Calls Keep Coming
You’d think after a brain injury and a stabbing, he’d get a break. Nope.
- In Season 5, Chimney leaves the 118 for a while to find Maddie, who is struggling with postpartum thyroiditis and had disappeared. While he wasn't in immediate physical danger from a fire, the emotional toll and the "will he return to the show" meta-commentary had fans worried Kenneth Choi was leaving for good.
- Then came the 100th episode and the crossover events. There’s always a fear that in a big spectacle—like the bridge collapse or the cruise ship disaster—a veteran character like Chimney will be the sacrificial lamb to raise the stakes.
- In Season 7, we saw him deal with a life-threatening case of viral encephalitis. He was literally wandering the streets of Los Angeles, hallucinating and out of his mind, right when he was supposed to be getting married.
He missed his own wedding because he was hospitalized. Again.
It’s a trope at this point. If there is a way for Howard Han to end up in a hospital bed, the writers will find it. But he always wakes up. He always finds his way back to Maddie and their daughter, Jee-Yun.
Why the Writers Keep Putting Him in Peril
There’s a narrative reason for this. Chimney is the "everyman" of the group. While Bobby is the stoic leader and Buck is the impulsive young hero, Chimney represents the soul and the endurance of the first responder community. Every time he survives, it reinforces the theme of hope that the show relies on.
Also, Kenneth Choi is an incredible actor. He plays the "near-death" scenes with such vulnerability that it generates massive social media engagement. People tweet about it. They search for his status. They stay glued to the screen. From a production standpoint, putting a beloved character in danger is the easiest way to maintain high ratings during sweeps week.
What the Future Holds for Chimney
As of the current episodes airing in late 2025 and heading into 2026, Chimney is very much alive. He’s navigating the complexities of marriage and fatherhood while still serving as a paramedic/firefighter at Station 118.
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Is he safe forever? In the world of 9-1-1, nobody is truly safe. Showrunner Tim Minear has shown he isn't afraid to hurt his characters, but killing Chimney would feel like a betrayal of the show's core DNA. He’s the guy who survives. He’s the one who beats the odds.
If you are a new viewer, don't let the cliffhangers scare you off. Watching Chimney overcome these disasters is actually one of the most rewarding parts of the series. It’s not about whether he dies; it’s about how he chooses to live after coming so close to the end.
Actionable Steps for 9-1-1 Fans
If you're worried about future spoilers or character exits, here is how you can stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the "Begins" Episodes: If you want to understand Chimney’s resilience, go back and watch "Chimney Begins" (Season 2, Episode 12). It gives you the full backstory on why he joined the LAFD and his first major brush with death.
- Follow the Trades: Keep an eye on Deadline or The Hollywood Reporter. Usually, if a main cast member like Kenneth Choi is leaving a show, there are "casting shakeup" rumors months before the episode airs.
- Check the Credits: In many "cliffhanger" situations, you can see if the actor is credited for the following episodes on IMDB, though be careful as this can sometimes be masked by the production team to avoid spoilers.
- Engage with the Community: Join the 9-1-1 subreddit or Twitter (X) threads. Fans are remarkably good at spotting filming locations and identifying which actors are currently on set, which usually confirms their character's survival long before the "death" episode even finishes airing.
The "Chimney dies" scares are just part of the experience. Buckle up, keep the tissues handy, and trust that the 118 usually finds a way to bring their own home.