LOS ANGELES, March 7 (UPI) -- Actor Louis Lombardi says he was just as surprised as viewers to learn his good guy character Edgar Stiles was being killed off Fox TV's "24."
Lombardi told Tuesday's New York Post he only learned of his demise a few episodes ago.
"They told me in like episode 9 or 10. They said, 'Hey, can we talk to you a minute?' and I knew right then and there by the tone of their voices," Lombardi said. "When I heard, it was pretty shocking to me. They said, 'The good news is you're one of the most-loved characters on the show. The bad news is we have to shock the audience."
Edgar died in the final minute of Monday night's show when he inhaled nerve gas pumped by terrorists into CTU headquarters.
Lombardi said the death scene was "tough and weird" but he was glad his character did not die in a hail of bullets.
"That would've cheapened it and wouldn't have been as powerful as him dying on his own." he said. "Kiefer (Sutherland) said to me, 'Louie, this is one of the best scenes we've ever shot.' I think it's going to touch so many people."
