William "Billy" Tyson is a character on FOX's 9-1-1: Lone Star who was the former captain of the 126 before Owen Strand arrived in Austin. He debuts in the sixth episode of the first season and is portrayed by guest star Billy Burke.
History[]
Early Life[]
Formerly, Billy was a firefighter under Station 126. He was on medical leave during the factory incident, where everyone in 126 save for Judd Ryder were killed.
Wanting the 126 back[]
When Owen came to Austin, Billy was reassigned to the 121 and became the captain of the station. He and Owen met at a poker night organised by Judd even though he was worried about introducing them because Billy disliked Owen. After the game night, Owen invited Billy to the firehouse to show him what he has done with the place, when Owen mentioned not finding a spot to golf, Billy told him to come to where he's golfing and having a game together.
At the golf, Owen told Billy that he had cancer and quickly Billy realised that it was the way to get the 126 back and went to tell the Deputy Chief about it.
In "Bum Steer", they go to play golf together again where Owen tries to convince Billy to not fire any members of his crew if he does get the 126 back. Billy doesn't really agree and after he mocked TK's overdose back in New York, he gets struck by lightning through his golf stick. Owen picks him up on his back and brings him to the restaurant at the golf and do CPR on Billy, saving his life. At the hospital, they both agree that they should be friends and not enemies.
Cancer Coming Back[]
In "Slow Burn", when Owen is on medical leave, Judd tells him that Billy is at home too and that he should go see him. Owen goes and learns that Billy's thyroid cancer came back and that during his medical leave, he's listening to the 911 dispatch app, trying to not get bored.
After a series of arsons, Owen asks Billy his opinion on the cases and that he needs his help. Billy refuses because breaking and entering a propriety is a bad idea and that he could lose his pension. In "The Big Heat", Billy saved Owen from a fire and then he helps Owen and Gabriel trying to catch the arsonist while looking really guilty. Later, he saves TK and Carlos' lives with Owen and Judd, getting burns on his arms while doing so.
Becoming Deputy Chief[]
In "Dust to Dust", Billy hears from Owen that Deputy Chief Radford is retiring and decides to go ask for the promotion. After the dust storm passed, he goes to the 126 where they're rebuilding it on his own and Billy announces the 126 that he's closing down permanently the station due to budget. Owen punches him in the face when he tells them that and a week later, at a hearing, Owen tells Billy and the Fire Chief that he's not sorry about punching Billy and that they can fire or suspend him as long as they let the rest of the team together. The Chief refuses.
Ice Storm[]
In "The Big Chill", Billy bails Marjan out of jail. She tells him that he should put her back into jail and starts walking away to live the police station. Billy tells her that he could've fired or suspended her but didn't, she tells him that if he did fire her, her story would've gotten more traction. Billy continues by saying that he needs her help, building up the department instead of tearing it down. She asks him why would she help him when he closed down their firehouse and railroad Owen too. Billy is confused about that and Marjan tells him that Owen satisfy every term of his suspension: community services, anger management,... but it wasn't enough for the department. Billy tells her that Owen might not have been totally honest with her and that this isn't the reason why Owen is gone. Billy decides to Airdrop Marjan Owen's contract of employment so she can learns the truth and before Marjan leaves, Billy asks her to tell Judd to call him back because he's dodging Billy's calls. She replies that maybe he should take a hint.
Billy goes to Grace and Judd's house where Grace opens the door to him. She tells him that Judd isn't here and he replies that's why he is. He asks her if he can comes inside because he feels like he's getting frosbites on his earlobes. Billy tells her that he brought sandwiches from the deli. Grace asks him what he's doing here and Billy says that he's been trying to get ahold on Judd and that he won't take his calls. Grace asks him "and?" and Billy replies that it's a matter of some consequence. Captain Carter at the 125 is moving on and Billy wants Judd in the running to take his place as captain. Grace scoffes and tells him that it's quite an offer, Billy says that it's an offer that comes with a big raise which he's sure a growing family like them could put to good use. Grace asks him if he really thinks he could come in here with "30 pieces of silver and buy her husband's soul". Billy says that he understands that feeling are a little raw at the moment but he's not trying to buy him out, he's trying to get the best man for the job, and that he'd also like his best friend back. Grace tells him that he destroyed that friendship when he destroyed the 126. Billy replies that he didn't destroy it, an arsonist did, that the place was burned down to the ground and the department would've gone bankrupt trying to rebuild it. Grace tells him that she learns that people do things for two reasons: the good one and the real one. She continues by saying he should admit that when he saw a chance to shutter the place permanently, he couldn't resist. He couldn't stand to see that house thriving under Owen. She says that she doesn't want to think about what his brothers from the 126 would say if the could see him right now but she hopes he thinks about it and that it keeps him up at night the way losing the 126 keeps Judd up at night. She finishes by saying she promised Judd she would stay relaxed and that she's not feeling relaxed at all right now, so he should pick up his sandwiches and get out of her house. Billy replies by saying that he believes her water just broke.
After getting her things, Grace prays the Lord to have one cell service bar so she can call Judd. Billy tells her that all the service towers are down and Grace asks him what he's still doing there. Billy says that her water just broke and they need to go to the hospital, Grace says there's no "them" and that he'll only make himself useful if he gets to the 122 station house and tells Judd to meet her at the hospital. Billy asks her how is she planning on going to the hospital and Grace replies that she has been driving since she was 16 so she got it. She goes to her car, Billy following her and she tells him he's not officially trespassing. Billy tells her that she's in active labor, she can't drive herself to the hospital. Then, he offers to go in his truck and Grace replies that she wouldn't go in his truck even if it was the last ride out of hell. She tells him to step back and Billy replies that she thinks he'll tell Judd how he let her go out on her own in an ice storm. He jumps into her car and when she's asking him what he's doing, he tells her that she's not the only crazy one and that if he's driving, he's riding shotgun.
In the car, Billy tells Grace that she should ease up just a skosh because of the weather conditions. Grace replies that if Billy keeps talking, he'll walk in these conditions. He continues by saying that what she said about being jealous of how Owen and the 126 thriving, there might have some truth to that and that he still thinks about Judd and his fallen brothers of the 126, that he sees their faces every night. Grace gets a contraction and when Billy offers his hand for her to squeeze she tells him to not touch her because he's not a friend, he's not family, he's just a man who jumped into her car. On the road, they found abandonned car in the snow, while she drives, Grace's car get stuck in the snow.
In "Push", Grace attemps to call Judd once again but fails since the phones are down. Billy tells her that the only thing her phone will be good to will be keeping her ear warm but that a radio would come in handy. Grace asks him to repeat that and Billy says that it'd be easier if they had taken his truck like he had suggested earlier. Grace tells him that if Billy is on his way of an "I told you so" she will "rip his weasel tongue out, stuck it to the windshield and watch it freeze". Grace gets another contraction and when Billy offers her to squeeze his hand, she tells him to keep his weasel hand as far away from her as possible. Billy decides to go looking for a car that still drives or has at least a working radio. Later, Billy comes back and asks her to open the car, which Grace does. Grace asks him if he found anything and Billy says that it won't be the answer to her prayers but it will get her out of that icebox. He asks her how far Grace can walk and she replies that she will walk as far as it takes before they both get out of the car.
Billy leads Grace to a tour bus where they'll be able to shelter for a moment. They get into the bus and Grace lays on the couch and stops Billy when he tries to put a blanket on her, telling him she brought her own and that she doesn't where that blanket have been. Billy tells her he's going try to turn the heat on and looks under the driver's seat, hoping to find the keys but failing. Billy takes out the wires under the driving wheel and starts the bus right before it turns itself off since there's no gas. Grace tells Billy they have to find another place but since Grace's contractions are getting closer, there's no way they're going outside right now. When she asks him where does he think he'll be able to find fuel, Billy tells her he's going to siphon it. Billy goes outside and manages to siphon fuel from another truck before going back to the bus.
Billy comes back after and asks Grace how is she doing, she asks him it'd be better if he could her he found an epidural outside. He replies that he didn't but he found a gallon of diesel. He starts the bus and turns heat on full blast before going back to Grace. She asks him if he's okay and he tells her that he just took a sip or two of diesel while siphoning. Grace asks him if he's sure because his eyes look a bit glassy, Billy tells her that he's fine and that he's the one who has to look after her before passing out. Grace asks him if he's sure because his eyes look a bit glassy, Billy tells her that he's fine and that he's the one who has to look after her before passing out. Grace uses ice to wake up Billy, putting it on his head before telling him that she thinks it's time. Billy asks her what she needs while she's screaming in pain, he starts to ramble and Grace just asks him to hold her hand. Billy tells her that it won't be long now but Grace replies that she needs her husband to be there. They're quickly joined by Tommy, Owen and Judd and Grace ends up giving birth to a beautiful little girl.
Return of the 126[]
Weeks later, Billy is present at the opening ceremony of the 126 as Deputy Fire Chief, he stands behind Owen. At the party, Judd asks Billy if he wants to hold Charlie, Billy replies that he'll most likely make her cry and Judd jokes about this being the aspect he has on most people anyway but she still has to get used to Billy at some point. Judd gives him his daughter and Billy jokes about having a future fire chief right there. Owen joins Billy while he's observing the memorial for the 126 and offers him a drink and Billy jokes about it hopefully not being diesel. Billy tells Owen that "he did it" and Owen replies that it was with his help. Billy says that the only thing he did was get out of the way and Owen tells him that it's all he had to do.
Personality[]
Relationships[]
Owen Strand[]
Billy and Owen are frenemies. They appear to get along at some point but Billy is always putting himself before anyone else and when he wants something, he'll do anything to get it. After Billy closed down the 126 and Owen punched him, they're again on bad terms until the 126 reopens, whereupon they realize they are better off fighting together instead of each other.
Judd Ryder[]
Billy and Judd were close friends. They're the only survives of the factory explosion that killed members of the 126 and he was present at Judd's wedding, giving him a beautiful toast. Judd calls him a snake after Billy shut down the 126. It seems like they are friendly again after Billy helps Grace when she was in labor during the storm and Judd lets him hold his daughter during the 126 reopening party.
Trivia[]
- He and Judd Ryder are the only members of the original 126 crew to survive the factory explosion.
- His Full Name is mentioned in The Big Chill, "Deputy Chief William Tyson".
Appearances[]
| Season One | ||||
| "Pilot" | "Yee-Haw" | "Texas Proud" | "Act of God" | "Studs" |
| "Friends Like These" | "Bum Steer" | "Monster Inside" | "Awakening" | "Austin, We Have a Problem" |
| Season Two | |||||
| "Back in the Saddle" | "2100°" | "Hold the Line" | "Friends With Benefits" | "Difficult Conversations" | |
| "Everyone and Their Brother" | "Displaced" | "Bad Call" | "Saving Grace" | "A Little Help From My Friends" | |
| "Slow Burn" | "The Big Heat" | "One Day" | "Dust to Dust" |
| Season Three | |||||
| "The Big Chill" | "Thin Ice" | "Shock and Thaw" | "Push" | "Child Care" | |
| "The ATX-Files" | "Red vs. Blue" | "In the Unlikely Event of an Emergency" | "The Bird" | "Parental Guidance" | |
| "Prince Albert in a Can" | "Negative Space" | "Riddle of the Sphynx" | "Impulse Control" | "Down To Clown" | |
| "Shift-Less" | "Spring Cleaning" | "A Bright and Cloudless Morning" |