ER (TV series)

See E/R for the similarly titled 1980s sitcom.

ER
Image:ERSeason12.jpg Cast of ER at the beginning of Season 12
Format	Drama
Run time	60 Minutes (including commercials)
Creator	Michael Crichton
Starring	Goran Višnjić Maura Tierney Mekhi Phifer Parminder Nagra Linda Cardellini Shane West Scott Grimes Laura Innes
Country	USA
Network	NBC
Original run	September 19, 1994 – Present
No. of episodes	251, as of October 10, 2005

ER is a popular NBC serial drama primarily set in the emergency room of the fictitious teaching hospital County General Hospital (loosely based on Cook County General) located on Division Street in Chicago, Illinois. The series was created by novelist Michael Crichton. The first episode (known as "24 Hours", "Pilot", or even "E.R.: The Movie") aired in the United States on Monday, September 19 1994. The show is produced and co-written by John Wells. Steven Spielberg was an executive producer for the first episodes. The series exists in the same television universe as the series Third Watch and Medical Investigation.

The show has won at least one Emmy every year of its production up to and including 2005, except for 2004, in which is was nominated for, but didn't win, four awards. It also won the People's Choice Award for "Favorite Television Dramatic Series" every year from 1997 to 2002. Over the years, it has been nominated for and/or won numerous other awards including BAFTAs, Screen Actors Guild awards, TV Guide awards, Image Awards, GLAAD awards, and Golden Globes, among others. [1]

The show is also notable for broadcasting a live episode, "Ambush", in 1997, with the NBC camera crew disguised as a PBS crew making a documentary film in the hospital. Even more unusual, the actors performed the show again three hours later so that the West Coast airing would be live as well. Other notable episodes include "Love's Labor Lost," "Hell and High Water," "All in the Family," "On the Beach," "The Lost," and "Time of Death."

Several guest stars have made memorable appearances on the show, including Rebecca De Mornay in 1999 (as breast cancer survivor Elaine Nichols) and Ed Asner in 2003 (as thieving clinician Dr. James McNulty). Guest stars whose performances garnered them an Emmy nomination include Rosemary Clooney in 1995 (for playing Mary Cavanaugh/Madame X), Alan Alda in 2000 (for playing Dr. Gabriel Lawrence, an aging doctor and one-time teacher of Kerry Weaver), Don Cheadle in 2003 (for playing Paul Nathan, a medical student with Parkinson's), and Bob Newhart in 2004 (for playing Ben Hollander, an architect losing his sight). Sally Field (playing Maggie Wyczenski, Abby Lockhart's mother) and Ray Liotta (playing Charlie Metcalf, a regret-ridden, dying alcoholic) both won Emmys in 2001 and 2005, respectively, for their portrayals.

The show has remained popular despite the periodic departure of all of its original stars. The first such departure was that of George Clooney (Dr. Doug Ross) in 1999. Other actors who have recently left include Anthony Edwards, Alex Kingston, Ming-Na, and Noah Wyle (who had been with the regular cast from the first episode in 1994 until his departure at the end of the eleventh season). In August 2005, Sherry Stringfield, who left in 1996 and returned in 2001, announced that she, too, would be leaving ER as the show progressed into its twelfth season.

Currently, the first three seasons of ER have been released on DVD. The fourth season is expected to arrive on DVD on December 20, 2005.

1 Current stars of the series
2 Former cast members
3 Notable guest stars/memorable characters
4 Other long-serving (4+ years) regular cast not credited as stars
5 Broadcasters
6 External links

[edit]

Current stars of the series

Goran Višnjić as Dr.Luka Kovač (1999–)
Maura Tierney as Dr. Abby Lockhart (2000–)
Mekhi Phifer as Dr. Gregory Pratt (2002–)
Parminder Nagra as Dr. Neela Rasgotra (2003–)
Linda Cardellini as Nurse Samantha Taggart (2003–)
Shane West as Dr. Ray Barnett (2004–)
Scott Grimes as Dr. Archie Morris (recurring 2003–2005) (2005–)
Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver (recurring 1995–1996) (1996–)

[edit]

Former cast members

Sharif Atkins as Dr. Michael Gallant (2001–2004; guest star 2005)
Maria Bello as Dr. Anna Del Amico (1997–1998)
George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross (1994–1999)
Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene (1994–2002)
Alex Kingston as Dr. Elizabeth Corday (1997–2004)
Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton (1994–2001)
Julianna Margulies as Nurse Carol Hathaway (1994–2000)
Kellie Martin as med student Lucy Knight (1998–2000)
Paul McCrane as Dr. Robert Romano (1997–2003)
Michael Michele as Dr. Cleo Finch (1999–2001)
Ming-Na as Dr. Jing-Mei ('Deb') Chen (1995, 2000–2004)
Erik Palladino as Dr. Dave Malucci (1999–2001)
Gloria Reuben as Physician assistant Jeanie Boulet (1995–1999)
Sherry Stringfield as Dr. Susan Lewis (1994–1996; 2001–2005)
Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter (1994–2005)

[edit]

Notable guest stars/memorable characters

Alan Alda as Dr. Gabriel Lawrence (1999)
Mädchen Amick as Wendall Meade (2004–2005)
Ed Asner as Dr. James McNulty (2003)
Eion Bailey as med student Jake Scanlon (2004–2005)
Michael Beach as Al Boulet (1996–1997)
Eileen Brennan as Betty (1996)
Blair Brown as Dr. Vicki Ford (2004)
Red Buttons as Jules 'Ruby' Rubadoux (1996, 2005)
Don Cheadle as med student Paul Nathan (2002)
Rosemary Clooney as Mary Cavanaugh/Madame X (1994)
James Cromwell as Bishop Stewart (2001)
John Cullum as David Greene (1997–2000)
Julie Delpy as Nicole (2001)
Rebecca De Mornay as Elaine Nichols (1999)
Kirsten Dunst as Charlene 'Charlie' Chiemingo (1996–1997)
George Eads as Paramedic Greg Powell (1997–1998)
Ron Eldard as Paramedic Ray 'Shep' Shepard (1995–1996)
Christine Elise as Dr. Harper Tracy (1995–1996)
Omar Epps as Dr. Dennis Gant (1996–1997)
James Farentino as Ray Ross (1995)
Sally Field as Maggie Wyczenski (2000–2003)
Frances Fisher as Helen Kingsley (2005)
Louise Fletcher as Roberta 'Birdie' Chadwick (2005)
Jorja Fox (credited as Jorjan Fox) as Dr. Maggie Doyle (1996–1999)
Malgoscha Gebel as Dr. Bogdanilivestsky 'Bob' Romansky (1994–1995)
Jami Gertz as Dr. Nina Pomerantz (1997)
Sara Gilbert as med student Jane Figler (2004–)
Danny Glover as Charlie Pratt (2005)
Michael Gross as John 'Jack' Carter Jr. (2001–2004)
Mariska Hargitay as Cynthia Hooper (1997–1998)
Glenne Headly as Dr. Abby Keaton (1996–1997)
Dan Hedaya as Atty. Herb Spivak (1997, 2005)
Marg Helgenberger as Karen Hines (1996)
Michael Ironside as Dr. William 'Wild Willy' Swift (1995, 1998, 2002)
Kristen Johnson as Nurse Manager Eve Peyton (2005–)
John Leguizamo as Dr. Victor Clemente (2005–)
Ray Liotta as Charlie Metcalf (2004)
Lucy Liu as Mei-Sun Leow (1995)
Donal Logue as Chuck Martin (2003–2005)
Chad Lowe as med student George Henry (1997); as Dr. George Henry (2005)
Ewan McGregor as Duncan Stewart (1997)
Mary McDonnell as Eleanor Carter (2001–2002)
Elizabeth Mitchell as Dr. Kim Legaspi (2000–2001)
Rebecca De Mornay as Elaine Nichols (1999)
Bob Newhart as Ben Hollander (2003)
Thandie Newton as Makemba 'Kem' Likasu (2003–2005)
Cynthia Nixon as Ellie Shore (2005)
Charles Nolan as E-Ray (1995–1997)
Leland Orser as Dr. Lucien Dubenko (2004–)
Judy Parfitt as Isabelle Corday (2000–2002)
Andrea Parker as Linda Farrell (1994–1995)
CCH Pounder as Dr. Angela Hicks (1994–1997)
Ving Rhames as Walt Robbins (1994–1996)
Beah Richards as Mae Benton (1994–1995)
Alan Rosenberg as Samuel Gasner (1994)
Rick Rossovich as Dr. John 'Tag' Taglieri (1994–1995)
Jonathan Scarfe as Chase Carter (1997–1998, 2001)
Tom Everett Scott as Eric Wyczenski (2002–2003)
John Terry as Dr. David 'Div' Cvetic (1994–1995)
Joe Torry as Chris Law (1997)
Lisa Vidal as CFD Lt. Sandy Lopez (2001–2004)
Bradley Whitford as Sean O'Brien (1995)
Kathleen Wilhoite as Chloe Lewis (1994–1996; 2002)
Mare Winningham as Dr. Amanda Lee (1998–1999)

[edit]

Other long-serving (4+ years) regular cast not credited as stars

Khandi Alexander as Jackie Robbins (1995–2001)
Sam Anderson as Dr. Jack Kayson (1994–1995, 1997–1999, 2001–)
Amy Aquino as Dr. Janet Coburn (1994–)
John Aylward as Dr. Donald Anspaugh (1996–)
Abraham Benrubi as desk clerk Jerry Markovic (1994–1999, 2002–)
Michelle Bonilla as EMT Harms (1999–)
Conni Marie Brazelton as Nurse Connie Oligario (1994–2003)
Lisa Nicole Carson as Carla Reese Simmons McGrath (1996–2001)
Laura Cerón as Nurse Chuny Marquez (1995–)
Ellen Crawford as Nurse Lydia Wright (1994–2003)
Deezer D as Nurse Malik McGrath (1994–)
Troy Evans as desk clerk Frank Martin (1994 pilot; 2000–)
Yvette Freeman as Nurse Haleh Adams (1994–2005)
Mike Genovese as Officer Al Grabarsky (1995–1996, 1998—2000)
Erica Gimpel as Adele Newman (1997—2003)
Matthew Glave as Dr. Dale Edson (1996–1999, 2001–2002)
Rose Gregorio as Helen Hathaway (1996–1999)
Christine Harnos as Jennifer Greene (1994–1996); as Jennifer Simon (1996–1998; 2001–2002)
Lynn A. Henderson as Paramedic Pamela Olbes (1995–)
Ed Lauter as Fire Captain Dannaker (1998–2002)
Dinah Lenney as Nurse Shirley (1995–2004)
Brian Lester as EMT Dumar (1996–)
Louie Liberti as Paramedic Bardelli (2003–)
William H. Macy as Dr. David Morganstern (1994–1998)
Lily Mariye as Nurse Lily Jarvik (1994–)
Vanessa Marquez as Nurse Wendy Goldman (1994–1997)
Kristin Minter as desk clerk Randi Fronczak (1995–2003)
Demetrius Navarro as EMT Morales (1998–2004)
Kyle Richards as Nurse Dori (2000–)
Lucy Rodriguez as Nurse Bjerke (1996; 2000–2003)
Monté Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro (1995–)
Michael B. Silver as Dr. Paul Myers (1995, 1997–2000, 2003, 2005)
Frances Sternhagen as Millicent Carter (1997–2003)
Emily Wagner as Paramedic Doris Pickman (1994–)
Gedde Watanabe as Nurse Yosh Takata (1997–2003)
Yvonne Zima as Rachel Greene (1994–2000)