RIP Eddie Diaz’s ‘9-1-1’ Mustache, The End Of An Era

9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 6 marked the end of an era.

After nearly six full installments of the hit ABC drama, firefighter Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) stood shirtless in front of a mirror, broke out the electric clippers, and shaved his symbolic mustache off in the comfort of his bathroom.

Earlier in the episode, Eddie finally admitted that he grew the signature Season 8 stache as somewhat of a disguise after his son Christopher (Gavin McHugh) went to live with his grandparents in El Paso, Texas. While the facial hair was born from grief and served as a constant reminder of Eddie’s loss, there’s no denying that it brought immeasurable joy and made a significant impact on 9-1-1’s fans, cast, and storylines.

Whether you loved Eddie’s lip rug, hated it, or were on the fence like Bobby (Peter Krause), we’re gathered here today to remember some standout moments in the statement stache’s life.

After being complemented by fellow mustachioed man Captain Gerrard (Brian Thompson) in 9-1-1’s Season 8 premiere, Eddie’s mustache braved Bee-nado, helped guide the rescue of an emergency plane landing, oversaw a lifesaving medical procedure on a cheerleader, attended a heart-to-heart with another father who was struggling to connect with his son, and helped complete a werewolf Halloween costume. Ted Lasso’s stache is shaking.

Survived by the stunning single curl that occasionally falls on Eddie’s forehead, the mustache will live on through our memories, in reruns, and in 9-1-1 social posts like this ode to the man with the lip skirt, this iconic shrine to being “seated,” and the seductive bee pun promo.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so look no further than Buck (Oliver Stark) and Josh’s (Bryan Safi) stick-on Halloween staches as a sign of the powerful influence Eddie’s mustache had in our world. Stark, friend and colleague of the facial hair, even shared a few words with Decider about the new addition to the 9-1-1 cast.

“The mustache became a character in itself to the online community,” Stark said. “I think at the beginning we made something of a big deal out of it [on set], but because it suits [Ryan] so well, it became just normal day-to-day. I forgot that it was anything different from what he used to look like.”

Prior to shaving, Eddie and his stache went for confession where 9-1-1’s resident Hot Priest (Gavin Stenhouse) encouraged the firefighter to stop punishing himself for his mistakes, focus on self-care, and work to earn forgiveness. So for those mourning the death of the lip rug, just consider it the result of divine intervention.

While stans of the serendipitous stache hated to see it go, its death ultimately set the stage for one of the greatest scenes in 9-1-1 history. And for that, we’re eternally grateful. When Father Brian suggested Eddie “do something frivolous, something fun, and something that expresses true joy,” the 118 member sprung into action, shaved his face bare, and went full Risky Business.

As Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock & Roll” blared through the Diaz household, 9-1-1 put Ryan Guzman’s dance moves on full display and let a mustache-free Eddie channel his inner Tom Cruise — from the pink button-down shirt, underwear, and socks to the carefree grooving around the house.

“When he did eventually shave it, I was like, ‘He’s going to look so weird without it.’ It turns out, he’s still just really handsome.”

Oliver Stark, 9-1-1

The comedic, sexy, freeing display of fun, frivolity, and joy (just what the Hot Priest ordered!) may never have happened without Eddie growing and subsequently shedding the stache. (Plus, how else would we have gotten that closing Buddie couch scene?!) So along with numerous feral fancams, the mustache leaves behind a brilliant, delightfully layered legacy.

While it may take some time to readjust to a mustache-free Ryan Guzman and Eddie Diaz, Stark reminded us that both men stay serving with or without facial hair.

“When he did eventually shave it, I was like, ‘He’s going to look so weird without it,'” Stark told Decider. “It turns out, he’s still just really handsome.”

New episodes of 9-1-1 Season 8 premiere Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC with next-day streaming on Hulu.