Premium cable network HBO did a stellar job of keeping secret this week's shocking death of "Six Feet Under" lead character, Nate Fisher.

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In Sunday night's episode, viewers were led to believe Nate was going to recover from a cerebral hemorrhage as he awakened from a coma with minimal damage, told his pregnant wife he's leaving her, had a number of interesting dreams -- then died with his brother David napping in a chair next to him.

Entertainment Weekly said HBO's publicity team promoted the series' remaining episodes very carefully -- with nary a hint of the plot twist.

With the series' penchant for having the living commune with the dead, one can bet Fisher's portrayer, Peter Krause, will be earning his paycheck through the series' final season.