ER premiered over 30 years ago, in 1994, and sucked viewers straight into the drama-filled chaos of County General Hospital. Everyone stationed here, including doctors, nurses, and even desk clerks, did their best to survive brutal shifts and messy relationships for 15 long seasons. Some cast members became movie stars. Some became TV legends. Some quietly kept working on everything from crime dramas to soap operas.
Here’s what the main cast of ER has been up to since leaving the emergency room behind.
Noah Wyle as John Carter
Noah Wyle played medical student John Carter. It was very fun for the viewers, as they basically watched him grow up throughout 11 seasons. After ER, he appeared in Falling Skies, The Librarians, and more. Then, in a full-circle moment, Wyle returned to his medical roots, and you can now watch him on The Pitt, playing Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch. Offscreen, he has been married to Sara Wells since 2014. They share a daughter, Frances, and Wyle also has two older children, Owen and Auden, from his previous marriage to Tracy Warbin.
George Clooney as Doug Ross
Before George Clooney became one of Hollywood’s most famous leading men, he played Dr. Doug Ross, the charming pediatrician with the famous Caesar haircut and serious commitment issues. Clooney stayed on ER for five seasons before making the full leap into movie stardom. After that, he appeared in hits like From Dusk Till Dawn, The Ides of March, and the Ocean’s franchise. Basically, he went from “that hot guy on ER” to “that’s George Clooney, obviously.” Offscreen, he married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in Italy in 2014, and they’re now raising twins, Alexander and Ella.
Anthony Edwards as Mark Greene
Anthony Edwards portrayed Dr. Mark Greene, the character who consistently attempted to maintain composure during chaotic situations. Before ER, Edwards had appeared in iconic projects like Top Gun and It Takes Two. He left ER after eight seasons to spend more time with his family, so the show gave him a heart-wrenching, emotional ending. In real life, he is now married to actress Mare Winningham after divorcing Jeanine Lobel in 2015.
Julianna Margulies as Carol Hathaway
Julianna Margulies’s nurse Carol Hathaway was originally supposed to be nothing more than just a short cameo, but the producers realized she was special. Margulies received an Emmy for her role in ER, and her career only got bigger from there. After six seasons on the show, she later joined the casts of The Sopranos, Snakes on a Plane, and Canterbury’s Law before landing the lead role on The Good Wife, which brought her two more Emmys. Since 2007, Margulies has been married to lawyer Keith Lieberthal, and they’re raising a son, Kieran, born in 2008.
Eriq La Salle as Peter Benton
Eriq La Salle played Dr. Peter Benton, the ambitious surgeon nobody wanted to mess with, because with just a single cold stare, he’d put anyone in their place. Before ER, La Salle appeared in Coming to America, and shows like A Different World and Quantum Leap. After ER concluded its airing, he elevated his career by being cast in projects such as 24, How to Make It in America, and Logan. La Salle has also tried his hand at directing and producing, proving he knew how to manage a project.
William H. Macy as David Morgenstern
Long before he was cast in Shameless, William H. Macy appeared on ER as Dr. David Morgenstern, the hospital’s chief of surgery. He also appeared in projects like The Lincoln Lawyer, Marmaduke, and, of course, Shameless. Macy married actress Felicity Huffman, and they’ve been together since 1997, raising two daughters, Sophia and Georgia.
Sherry Stringfield as Susan Lewis
Sherry Stringfield played Dr. Susan Lewis, one of the original doctors trying to juggle her professional and personal life. At one point, she left ER, but returned later, and remains one of the show’s most memorable cast members. After the show ended, she appeared in Tell Me You Love Me, The Stepfather, Under the Dome, and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
Emily Wagner as Doris Pickman
Emily Wagner played paramedic Doris Pickman throughout the show’s 15-season run. She may not have been one of the most memorable characters, but Doris helped give the series depth and that chaotic emergency room energy. After ER, Wagner appeared in shows and films like Judging Amy, Jack & Jill, Criminal Minds, and Mr. Woodcock.
Abraham Benrubi as Jerry Markovic
Abraham Benrubi played Jerry, the desk clerk. For some reason, the show made him very good at keeping tabs on the ER while being surrounded by complete medical mayhem. Benrubi has been acting since the late ’80s, starring in Living Dolls, Blossom, and Parker Lewis Can’t Lose. After ER, he got a few sweet gigs, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Criminal Minds, Sleepwalkers, and plenty more.
Yvette Freeman as Haleh Adams
Yvette Freeman played nurse Haleh Adams, one of those characters who made County General so memorable. She was there through thick and thin: the chaos, the staff changes, the drama, and all 15 seasons of the show. After ER, Freeman appeared in Days of Our Lives, Orange Is the New Black, and A Black Lady Sketch Show.
