Eric Balfour was only supposed to be introduced as "Claire's Meth Date" for the show's pilot, but the director found his chemistry so satisfying with Lauren Ambrose that his role was developed into the character Gabe Dimas. Similarly, Dina Spybey-Waters's and Gary Hershberger's roles were only listed as "Chatty Mourner" and "Kroehner Representative (though the latter was already identified by the name Matthew Gilardi in the episode).
The pilot's opening death was the only one not to be announced by an obituary, since it was Nathaniel's death that set the series in motion, and also because the mock funeral product ads took up screen time.
On the evening of the airing of the pilot, Frances Conroy was commended for her performance by a fellow shopper at an L.A. supermarket. This shocked her because the show had not yet aired on the West Coast. The complimenter explained that he had seen the program's premiere via the East Coast feed.
According to the Six Feet Under obituaries, Nathaniel Samuel Fisher's, the only one never to be shown on the show, is 1943-2000 (though it was mistyped to read 2001, the year which the first season's other deaths occurred in after New Year's).
Tim Maculan starts his recurring role as priest Father Jack during Nathaniel Sr's funeral. Tim Maculan had previously worked with Peter Krause (Nathaniel Jr) and Alan Ball (show creator) on the sitcom Cybill.