Anthony Edwards then
Before ER, Anthony Edwards was best known for appearing in the popular (though morally dubious) college comedy Revenge of the Nerds, before literally soaring to fame as Goose in 1986 classic Top Gun. ER cast Edwards as Dr Mark Greene, a role he would continue to play for the show’s first eight seasons.
Anthony Edwards now
Since ER, Edwards has made several movies including Zodiac, but has otherwise worked largely in TV, in such shows as Designated Survivor, Inventing Anna and Tales of the Walking Dead. Also, while he only appeared in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick in archival footage, his shadow hung large over the airborne blockbuster sequel.
George Clooney then
George Clooney had been struggling to establish himself in Hollywood for over a decade when he was cast in ER as Doug Ross – then almost overnight, the world fell in love with him. Clooney then side-stepped into major movies via From Dusk Till Dawn, One Fine Day, The Peacemaker and (unfortunately) Batman & Robin, and he was soon one of the biggest movie stars around.
George Clooney now
Clooney left Doug Ross behind after five seasons of ER, and beyond a few bit parts he’s largely stayed off the small screen since. His big screen success is considerable, though; also a successful writer, director and producer, he has two Oscars to date, as Best Supporting Actor in 2009’s Syriana and producer of 2013 Best Picture winner Argo.
Sherry Stringfield then
Sherry Stringfield had only two credits to her name (one appearance in TV’s Guiding Light, and an extended run on NYPD Blue) when she was cast as Susan Lewis in the first season of ER. The performance saw her land three Emmy Award nominations, yet Stringfield surprised many by quitting the show in its third series, citing exhaustion from the demanding shooting schedule.
Sherry Stringfield now
Outside of roles in 54 and Autumn in New York, Stringfield’s career failed to take off, so she returned to ER in 2001, again playing Susan Lewis from seasons eight to 12. She’s taken several other film and TV roles since, but has largely fallen off the radar since her last screen appearance in Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders in 2017.
Noah Wyle then
Aged 23 when the show began, Noah Wyle was the youngest member of the original ER ensemble, playing medical student (and later Doctor) John Carter. He also proved to be the longest-serving original cast member, remaining in the series for the first 11 seasons before finally departing in 2005.
Noah Wyle now
Despite roles in A Few Good Men, Donnie Darko and W., Wyle has never quite broken through as a movie star. He’s clocked up plenty more small screen credits, however, most recently as an ongoing cast member of Leverage: Redemption, of which he has also directed several episodes.
Eriq La Salle then
Eriq La Salle had been a jobbing actor for almost a decade, and was best known for his supporting role in Coming to America, when he was cast in ER as Dr. Peter Benton. Like Anthony Edwards, La Salle stuck it out at Cook County General Hospital for the first eight seasons, but later returned for guest spots in two of the show’s final episodes.
Eriq La Salle now
La Salle made plenty more film and TV appearances after leaving ER, but his last acting role to date was a small role in 2017’s Logan. These days he works primarily as a TV director, on such shows as Chicago Justice, The Librarians and Law & Order.
Julianna Margulies then
After making her debut in 1991 Steven Seagal movie Out for Justice, Julianna Margulies took a few more film and TV roles before being cast as Carol Hathaway in the first season of ER. She played the role for the first six seasons, leaving in 2000 to focus on her film career, which saw her appear in Ghost Ship and Snakes on a Plane.
Julianna Margulies now
After taking more TV work including a recurring role on The Sopranos, Margulies took on the lead role of Alicia Florrick in legal drama The Good Wife in 2009, a role that twice saw her win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, as well as a Golden Globe. More recently, she’s appeared in TV’s The Morning Show.
Gloria Reuben then
After starting out as a recurring character on season one, Gloria Reuben’s Jeanie Boulet was promoted to full-time cast member in ER’s second season. Reuben remained with the show until its sixth season, and during her run on ER she earned the rare merit of being named one of People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1996.
Gloria Reuben now
On top of being an accomplished actress, Reuben is also a singer and pianist, and after leaving ER she joined Tina Turner on a 2000 world tour performing back-up vocals. She continues to balance music and acting, and most famously had a recurring role on Mr. Robot from 2015 to 2019.
Laura Innes then
Introduced in season two then promoted to full cast member in season three, Laura Innes played Kerry Weaver. She proved to be one of the longest-standing ER cast members, remaining in the show all the way until season 13. A veteran of stage and screen, Innes had been in the business more than 15 years when she came to Cook County General Hospital.
Laura Innes now
After ER, Innes appeared on TV’s The Event and Awake, but in more recent years she’s largely steered clear of acting in favour of directing. Her directorial credits include episodes of Sneaky Pete, Mr. Mercedes and How to Get Away With Murder, the last of which she also appeared in.
Alex Kingston then
Alex Kingston rose to fame in her native UK in 1996 period drama The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders, alongside a then-largely unknown Daniel Craig. This paved the way to Kingston joining ER in its fourth season as Elizabeth Corday, a role she would continue to play until season 11.
Alex Kingston now
Since ER, Kingston has played the recurring role of River Song on Doctor Who, and has taken many more TV credits including Arrow, A Discovery of Witches and Treason. She has also taken many stage credits, including productions of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
Paul McCrane then
Prior to joining ER in its fourth season as Robert Romano, Paul McCrane was probably best known for his roles in early 80s musical Fame, his bad guy role in RoboCop and for his turn as a guard in The Shawshank Redemption. He would appear in ER until its tenth season.
Paul McCrane now
McCrane has largely disappeared from the limelight since leaving ER, but he’s made appearances in a number of hit TV shows, including 24, Ugly Betty, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, All Rise and The Terminal List.
Goran Višnjić then
Introduced as Luka Kovač in ER’s sixth season, Goran Višnjić joined the show just as George Clooney’s Doug Ross departed, and he promptly took over as the hospital’s premier heartthrob. The Croatian actor had been working in the US for a few years prior to casting, taking small parts in such movies as Rounders, Practical Magic and The Peacemaker (alongside Clooney).
Goran Višnjić now
During his time on ER, Višnjić was among the final four actors considered to take over from Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, but lost out to Daniel Craig. Since ER, his credits include The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, 2022’s Hellraiser and TV’s The Boys.
Ming-Na Wen then
First appearing as a supporting character in the first season, Ming Na-Wen’s Jing-Mei “Deb” Chen became a full-time ER cast member in the drama’s sixth season. At that point, Wen was best known for her roles in The Joy Luck Club, her turn as Chun-Li in 1994’s Street Fighter, and as the voice of the title character in Disney’s Mulan.
Ming-Na Wen now
Since ER, Wen has kept busy. Her many small screen credits include Inconceivable, Two and a Half Men, and Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens. She’s particularly noted for her fan-pleasing genre work, however, including recurring roles in Stargate Universe, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Star Wars TV shows The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.
Laura Cerón then
Laura Cerón joined ER as Nurse Chuny Marquez towards the end of the show’s first season, initially as a minor character on the maternity ward before transitioning to the emergency room and becoming a full-time cast member. Cerón is one of only six actors to appear in every single season of ER.
Laura Cerón now
Cerón remains best known for her portrayal of Nurse Marquez, but the actress has continued to act fairly consistently since ER came to an end in 2009, with recent TV credits including The Big Bang Theory, Firefly Lane and Station 19. The last movie Cerón appeared in was The Perfect Family, which was released in 2011.
John Stamos then
John Stamos kicked off his showbiz career in style, with his portrayal of Blackie Parrish on General Hospital earning the actor an Emmy nomination. Over twenty years later, Stamos joined ER as the headstrong Dr. Tony Gates, quickly becoming one of the show’s main characters and a firm fan favorite.
John Stamos now
Aside from George Clooney, John Stamos is arguably the most successful ER alumni. As well as starring in hit TV shows including Grandfathered, Fuller House (which he also executive produced) and You, Stamos has enjoyed an illustrious music career that has seen him regularly playing alongside The Beach Boys in concert. Stamos is also the national spokesman for Project Cuddle, an organization devoted to combatting baby abandonment.
Ellen Crawford then
After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Fine Arts, Ellen Crawford immediately pursued her goal of becoming an actress, making a number of minor TV appearances before landing the role of Nurse Lydia Wright on ER. Crawford is married to actor Mike Genovese, who portrays Alfred Grabarsky, her husband on the show.
Ellen Crawford now
Crawford has continued working in television, appearing in shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and Days of Our Lives. While Crawford is mostly known for guest starring in individual episodes of TV shows, the actress has also made several appearances on stage, most notably playing Miss Haversham in a production of Great Expectations at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
Deezer D then
Deezer D appeared in the very first episode of ER as Nurse Malik, and he carried on playing the role until the show ended 15 seasons later. Before he joined the cast of ER, Deezer D was best known for his roles in the mockumentary movies CB4 and Fear of a Black Hat.
Deezer D now
After ER ended, Deezer D carried on working as an actor, musician and Christian motivational speaker. In 2008, Deezer D released his third rap album, and he’d been working on a fourth, which was scheduled for release in 2021. Tragically, Deezer D suffered a heart attack and passed away on January 7th, 2021.
Maura Tierney then
Maura Tierney was already a successful actress by the time she guest starred in a season six episode of ER, portraying Abby Lockhart, a delivery and labor nurse. A few months later, Tierney was added to the regular cast of ER, where she remained until the show’s fifteenth and final season.
Maura Tierney now
Tierney had starred in several sitcoms prior to joining the cast of ER, and after leaving the show the actress decided to pursue a film career, turning in well received performances in a number of successful movies. In recent years Tierney has returned to TV, taking major roles in the Showtime series American Rust and Your Honor.
Julianna Margulies then
After a string of minor TV appearances, Julianna Margulies got her big break when she was cast as Nurse Carol Hathaway in the first season of ER. Margulies departed the show after season six, but made her return in season eight, eventually winning a Primetime Emmy Award for her critically acclaimed performance.
Julianna Margulies now
Soon after ER came to an end, Margulies landed the central role of Alicia Florrick in the CBS legal drama The Good Wife. The show made Margulies a household name and saw her win two more Emmys and a Golden Globe. The actress also has credits in a number of wildly successful films and TV shows, including The Sopranos, Billions and The Upside.
Abraham Benrubi then
Abraham Benrubi’s breakout part came in the American sitcom Wings, which led to roles in Married… With Children, Roseanne and, finally, ER. Benrubi portrayed desk clerk Jerry Markovic in the show, providing a bit of welcome comic relief in the midst of all the medical tragedies and personal dramas.
Abraham Benrubi now
In 2006, Benrubi joined the cast of ABC’s Men in Trees, with the role providing him much more screen-time and dialogue than previous shows. When the show was cancelled in 2008 Benrubi rejoined ER for its final season, and since then the actor has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, as well as providing voices for both TV and games.
Mekhi Phifer then
Mekhi Phifer got his showbiz break at the age of 18, attending an open casting call for Spike Lee’s Clockers and landing a role as a drug dealer caught in a plot to cover up a murder. Phifer joined the cast of ER in 2002, the same year he starred opposite Eminem in 8 Mile, and he portrayed Dr. Greg Pratt until the fifteenth season of the show.
Mekhi Phifer now
Phifer’s career has gone from strength to strength since his character on ER was killed off, with the actor landing recurring roles on hit shows including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Torchwood and Secret City. Phifer has also successfully cracked Hollywood, appearing in AAA titles such as Divergent and Dawn of the Dead.
Parminder Nagra then
A British actress of Indian-Punjabi and Sikh heritage, Parminder Nagra chose to skip college in favor of pursuing her acting career. The gamble paid off. After a number of appearances in British TV shows and films including Bend It Like Beckham, Nagra crossed the pond and landed the role of gifted but shy medical student Neela Rasgotra on ER.
Parminder Nagra now
Nagra’s career has continued to flourish since ER concluded in 2015, with the actress securing recurring roles in The Blacklist, Fortitude and 13 Reasons Why. Nagra is currently starring in two ITV dramas, DI Ray and Maternal, in which she plays a detective and a doctor, respectively.
Troy Evans then
After serving with the 25th infantry division during the Vietnam War, Troy Evans got into show-business, appearing in a number of successful films through the 80s and 90s. Evans appeared in the first season of ER as Frank Martin, a retired police officer and desk clerk of the County General ER. After reprising the role in season six, Evans remained part of the show until it ended.
Troy Evans now
Although Evans is still best-known for his role on ER, the actor has also still turned in a number of noteworthy performances in the last 20 years. Between 2014 and 2021, Evans portrayed Detective Johnson on the crime drama Bosch, a role he’s reprised for the Amazon Prime spinoff Bosch: Legacy.
Lily Mariye then
Prior to landing her role as Nurse Lily Jarvik on ER, Lily Mariye had appeared as both a doctor and a nurse in Fame and Knots Landing, respectively. Mariye appeared in 127 episodes throughout the show’s runtime, although she was never considered one of the main cast members.
Lily Mariye now
Following ER, Mariye has continued to act on and off, appearing in episodes of shows including Shameless, Teen Wolf and Criminal Minds. These days, however, Mariye seems to be more focussed on directing, having directed episodes of hit TV shows including The Walking Dead, Prodigal Son and NCIS: Los Angeles.
Linda Cardellini then
Linda Cardellini found fame at a young age with the teen drama Freaks and Geeks, before joining the cast of ER for the show’s tenth season as Samantha Taggart, a nurse and single mother. Cardellini quickly became a fan favorite, remaining on the show until it came to an end in 2015.
Linda Cardellini now
Carellini has continued to find success in TV, earning Primetime Emmy nominations for her roles in Mad Men and Bloodline. The actress has also appeared in a number of blockbuster movies including Avengers: Endgame, in which she portrayed Laura Barton, a role she reprised for the Disney+ spinoff series Hawkeye.
Yvette Freeman then
Yvette Freeman joined the cast of ER in the first season as Nurse Haleh Adams, with the actress continuing to portray the character until the show’s end. Prior to ER, Freeman had mainly appeared in individual episodes of TV shows including Over My Dead Body, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper and Tales from the Crypt.
Yvette Freeman now
Freeman successfully leveraged her ER fame in the years following the show’s end, landing recurring roles in hit TV shows including Days of Our Lives and Orange is the New Black. The actress has also appeared in a number of well-received films, including Blindfire and The Starling.
Scott Grimes then
Scott Grimes started acting at the age of 13, costarring alongside Mickey Rooney in It Came Along the Midnight Clear. Grimes joined the tenth season of ER as Dr. Archie Morris, a role he would continue to reprise until the show ended. Although initially Grimes was added to the show as comic relief, he was soon developed into one of the main characters.
Scott Grimes now
Since ER ended, Grimes has continued to find success as both an actor and a musician, with his record Sunset Blvd. spending several weeks in the charts. As well as appearing in shows like Band of Brothers and Justified, Grimes also provides voices for American Dad! and Family Guy, as well as securing himself a role in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.
Kristin Minter then
Kristin Minter got her first taste of fame in 1990, when she appeared in Home Alone as Heather McCallister. The actress joined the cast of ER in 1995 as Miranda “Randi” Fronczak, and – while she never became one of the main characters – Minter appeared in a total of 72 episodes, eventually departing the show in 2003.
Kristin Minter now
Minter has continued working steadily in showbiz, making appearances in TV shows and films including Ray Donovan, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Mentalist and Excess Flesh. Aside from her recurring role on ER, Minter is best known for portraying Rachel MacLeod in three episodes of Highlander: The Series.
Kellie Martin then
Kellie Martin joined the ER fun in season 5 as third-year medical student Lucy Knight, assigned to work under Dr Carter, whom Knight often clashed with. In season 6, Knight is stabbed by a schizophrenic patient called Paul in a fit of madness. To make matters worse, Carter is then stabbed after discovering a Valentine’s Day card from Knight.
Kellie Martin now
Kellie Martin continued to act after her shocking on-screen death in 2000. The following year, she also graduated from Yale University in 2001 with a degree in art history. As for her love life, Martin married Keith Christian in May 1999 in his hometown of Polson, Montana. They have two daughters.
Erik Palladino then
Erik Palladino played the highly unlikeable Dr Dave Malucci in ER until the character was fired by Kerry Weaver in season 8 for accidentally killing a patient due to negligence and making whoopee in an ambulance. Seeking to burn every bridge, Malucci calls Weaver a very unpleasant name.
Erik Palladino now
Palladino decided to leave ER in 2001 after two seasons as he felt his character was being underused. He was acted since, though sporadically. His last film credit was in 2014, while his last TV credit – in Watchmen – was in 2019. He is married with three children, Enzo, Roman and Paloma Rocky Faye.
Michael Michele then
Michael Michele burst onto the scene opposite Wesley Snipes in 1991’s New Jack City. By the end of the decade, she was a loyal member of the ER cast, portraying Dr Cleo Finch. Her character went through the wringer, dealing with an HIV scare after becoming ill from an anti-retrovirus.
Michael Michele now
Cleo eventually leaves for a job at a private hospital just outside of Chicago. In real life, Michele announced she was tired of making the cross-country commute to Los Angeles and would no longer work on ER. Not much is known about her personal life besides that she has a son born in 2004. Her latest TV credit was on the Dynasty reboot from 2019 to 2022.
Shane West then
Shane West’s plan was to forge a path in music until he got a guest spot on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. From that, he landed a role as Dr Ray Barnett on ER between the eleventh and thirteenth seasons. He later returned as a recurring guest star in three final season episodes, Haunted, Shifting Equilibrium and I Feel Good.
Shane West now
After West finished all his final appearances, he had a series of regular roles on Nikita and Salem and most recently, the fifth and final season of Gotham, in which he played Eduardo Dorrance. As far as the internet knows, West is single and without children.
Mariska Hargitay then
Mariska Hargitay played the sweet and sensitive Cynthia Hopper in 13 episodes of ER’s fourth season, appearing for the first time in the 1997 episode Something New in which she applies for the desk clerk position. After a bumpy interview with Dr Mark Greene and nurse Carol Hathaway, she lands the job.
Mariska Hargitay now
After leaving ER, Hargitay moved on to her most famous role as Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order. She would go on to feature in over 500 episodes of the long-running show. She has been married to Peter Hermann since August 2004. In June 2006, she gave birth to their son, and in April 2011, they adopted a baby girl named Amaya.
Sharif Atkins then
Sharif Atkins debuted as Michael Gallant in the eighth season of ER back in 2001 before dropping back in a guest appearance role between 2004 and 2006, with his character returning on leave from duty in Iraq as a US Army physician. In one of the first high-profile shows to deal with the casualties of the war, Atkins’ character was killed in Iraq.
Sharif Atkins now
Sharif Atkins has enjoyed a steady career in acting following his ER departure. At a 2014 fundraising event in New York, Atkins, an ambassador for the charity, publicly proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Bethany Hotchkiss. Thankfully, she said yes and the couple have been happily married for years now.
Maria Bello then
A major in political science, Pennsylvania gal Maria Bello is perhaps best known for starring as Dr Anna Del Amico in the fourth season of ER. She had appeared as a guest star in the last three episodes of the third season before being bumped up to a series regular in the fourth season. After ER she went on to star in Coyote Ugly.
Maria Bello now
Maria continues to act. She has a son Jackson with ex-boyfriend Dan McDermott but is now married to chef Dominique Crenn. The pair made their first public appearance as a couple in February 2020 at the 92nd Academy Awards. Bello had previously written about having a relationship with Clare Munn back in 2013.
William H. Macy then
Beginning with the medical drama’s pilot, William H Macy appeared in 31 episodes of ER as the County General’s chief of surgery, Dr David Morgenstern. Macy has often spoken fondly of John Wells, the executive producer of the show. “Every time he directs or writes or he’s on set, he looks like he’s having more fun than anybody else.”
William H. Macy now
Macy continued to act after ER, signing up for the American remake of Shameless playing the slovenly Frank Gallagher. He married his longtime girlfriend of fifteen years Felicity Huffman in September 1997. They have two daughters, Sophia Grace, born in 2000, and Georgia Grace, born in 2002.
Jared Padalecki then
Jared Padalecki wasn’t saving lives on ER, he was having his life saved. Playing the son of Jim Belushi, Padalecki’s character was recovering from a car accident. In a rogue POV, audiences see through the eyes of the father in the aftermath, showing interactions with the doctors as he tries to reunite with Padalecki.
Jared Padalecki now
Padalecki went on to nothing after ER. Kidding! He went on to star as Dean on Gilmore Girls and, of course, Sam Winchester on the hit horror drama Supernatural from 2005 to 2020. He married his Supernatural co-star Genevieve Cortese in February 2010 in Cortese’s hometown of Sun Valley, Idaho. The pair have three children.
Jorja Fox then
Born to non-acting parents, Fox got into acting in her late teens, finding minor roles in shows like Law & Order. She appeared in the groundbreaking episode of the sitcom Ellen, in which DeGeneres came out as gay. But it was with her recurring role as Dr Maggie Doyle in ER from 1996 to 1999 that she made her name
Jorja Fox now
After leaving ER, she joined the cast of CSI in 2000 as Las Vegas forensic scientist Sara Sidle. In 2007, she left the show, claiming she wanted a break “from the commitment of a weekly television series.” Not much is known about her personal life. She dated CSI co-star Gary Dourdan until their split in 2002.