Federico Diaz

PLAYED BY Freddy Rodriguez

VITAL STATS Partner, Fisher & Diaz; restorative artist.

INSTANT AUTOPSY ''America's perception of an embalmer is this sort of gloomy, 'Addams Family' type of character, whereas he's the total opposite,'' notes Rodriguez. ''He's just an enthusiastic artist. I think he feels shortchanged because of the years and dedication he's put into the funeral home, but [he's still] treated like a bastard stepchild.''

UPCOMING DEVELOPMENTS ''He is a partner this season, so you'll see a lot of conflict between Federico and the Fisher brothers,'' says Rodriguez, adding that we'll see Federico's ''vulnerable, at-home side.''

RANDOM CASTING FACT ''Freddy was the one person I had in mind when I was writing the pilot,'' says Ball, who'd worked with Rodriguez when he guest-starred on Ball's short-lived ABC sitcom, ''Oh Grow Up.''

CLOSEST BRUSH WITH DEATH ''When I was in the seventh grade I was riding a scooter and a car came -- he was doing, like, 40 miles per hour -- and crashed into a telephone pole right in front of me.''

CREMATED OR BURIED ''Buried,'' he says. ''I'm a traditional guy. I want to be pickled and put on display. I want my family to come see me for the last time.''