ER lasted 15 seasons, making it one of the longest-running medical dramas on TV. With so many seasons, numerous cast-members have been making their way in and out of the show. Big Hollywood names starred on ER, such as George Clooney and Maura Tierney. Have you ever wondered what they have been up to since the show ended?
During the show started in 1994, multiple actors appeared on ER that were unknown at the time but famous today. Get ready to see if your favorite ER characters are still acting, or if they chose to live a quiet family life, away from the spotlight. Plus we gathered the most famous actors that you probably didn’t know were on the show.
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Charles Edwards was on ER for eight wonderful seasons. He played Dr. Mark Greene until – SPOILER ALERT – his character sadly died of a brain tumor. In the final season of the show, Edwards returned for a flashback episode. Edwards won a Golden Globe for his role on the hit medical drama. Although his most notable role is a doctor, Edwards can portray many other characters.
After his departure from the show, Edwards starred in Zero Hero and had a reoccurring role on Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders. In addition, the actor has directed My Dead Boyfriend, and you can see him on season three of Netflix’s Designated Survivor. The multi-talented star was nominated for six Screen Actors Guild Awards.
George Clooney
We know George Clooney is very successful in the entertainment industry. He won three Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards. However, Clooney portrayed Dr. Doug Ross in ER for five years before movies started calling his name. His bad-boy character moved to Seattle. He made a secret appearance in season six when he helped Julianna Margulies leave the show. Both returned for an episode in the final season.
After ER, we got to see Clooney on the big screen. He starred in Ocean’s Eleven, Gravity, The Monuments Men, and Caesar, just to name a few. He is making his return to TV in Hulu’s Catch-22 series. His success clearly didn’t go unnoticed when he won the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sherry Stringfield
Sherry Stringfield left ER in season three, making her the first cast member to leave the show. Her character, Dr. Susan Lewis, moved away so that she can be closer to her niece. However, she returned as a regular in season eight before leaving again. She was nominated for a number of awards and even won a Q Award for “Best Actress in a Quality Series” in 1997 with her ER co-stars.
Stringfield has been acting since the early ‘90s, and there is nothing stopping her now. Since the finale of ER, the actress appeared in TV shows such as Under the Dome and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. We cant wait to see what this actress will do next!
Noah Wyle
Although he got his big break in ER, Wyle has been acting all through the ‘90s. He even appeared on two episodes of Sesame Street in 1996. After Edwards left, Noah’s character, Dr. John Carter, became the main focus of the show. He also departed a few seasons later. However, like many of his co-stars, Wyle returned at the end of the series.
After the show ended, Wyle didn’t stop acting. He continued to act on multiple movies and TV shows. He most notably appeared in Falling Skies and The Librarians. You can also catch him on CBS’s The Red Line. In 2012, Wyle showed his support for ADAPT (a disability rights group). He was even arrested during a protest against Medicaid cuts.
Julianna Margulies
Julianna Margulies is known for her portrayal of Carol Hathaway on ER. Initially, her character was supposed to die of an overdose in the pilot episode. Instead, she became an essential character in the NBC drama. The actress was offered over $20 million to stay and won an Emmy Award for her role!
After the show ended, there was no shortage of roles for Julianna. She appeared in several shows, but you probably recognize her from The Good Wife. She then appeared in the show Dietland, which was canceled after season one. In 2007, the actress married lawyer Keith Lieberthal. The two had a son together just one year later. The happy family is living in Manhattan.
Eriq La Salle
Eriq La Salle stayed on ER for eight seasons before he left. However, his character returned as a guest star in the show’s last season. After the show ended, he landed a few roles here and there. Although he is well known for his portrayal of Dr. Peter Benton, he was already famous for his performance in Coming To America.
Salle appeared in Covert Affairs, Without a Trace and 24. However, lately, his focus has been behind the camera and has directed shows including, Chicago P.D., Once Upon a Time, and Chicago Med. He’s currently a co-executive producer on the show Chicago P.D. His career has been extremely successful and he doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
Gloria Reuben
Gloria Ruben is a Canadian actress who got her breakout role in ER. Reuben appeared on season one of ER, playing Jeanie Boulet. She then became a regular cast member from seasons two to seven. She returned as a guest star in season 14. There was no shortage of roles for this talented actress.
After leaving the show, Reuben was a backup singer for Tina Turner. She also had roles on Law & Order: SVU, 1-800-Missing, Mr. Robot, and Falling Skies. Next, you can catch her on the Marvel series, Cloak and Dagger. Although she left in ER after season seven, Gloria has been very open about how that role led her to become an HIV/AIDS activist.
Laura Innes
Laura Innes appeared in the second season of ER as a guest star. In season three, she was a regular on the show until the end of season 13. She became known for her role as Dr. Kerry Weaver on the show. In the final season, her character returned.
After ER, you can see the actress on The Event, Colony, and How to Get Away with Murder. She directed a few episodes of ER and The West Wing. In addition, she directed episodes of shows, including the Affair and Sneaky Pete. Laura is married to David Brisbin. The two have a son together who was born in 1990, and the couple also adopted a daughter from China.
Maria Bello
Maria Bello played Dr. Anna Del Amico and came on the show in season three as a guest star. She lasted just one season of ER before exiting the show. After her departure, Bello spent some time on the big screen. She landed roles in Coyote Ugly, The Cooler, Thank You for Smoking, and History of Violence. She returned to TV in Prime Suspect and, most recently, in NCIS.
Her latest movie role was in 2018. She played Carly Winter in Giant Little Ones. In 2013, the actress publicly wrote about being in a same-sex relationship with her friend. In 2015, she published her book, Whatever…Love is Love: Questioning the Labels We Give Ourselves. Today she has one son from her ex-boyfriend, Dan McDermott.
Alex Kingston
Alex Kingston is an experienced English actress who studied in London at the Royal Acadamy of Dramatic Arts. She has been acting since the ‘80s but in 1997 she got her breakout role in ER. Kingston portrayed the role of surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Corday from season four of the show until season eleven. Like many of her co-stars, Kingston returned as a guest in the last season.
After ER, Alex Kingston landed roles in other TV shows such as Law & Order: SVU, Upstairs Downstairs, Arrow, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the life, and of course, Doctor Who. In 2019, she played Judith Gray in eight episodes of The Widow. The actress is also happily married to Jonathan Stamp.
Kellie Martin
Kelly Martin portrayed Lucy Night on ER. If you watch the show, you know the tragic fate of her character. Martin stayed on the show for two seasons, before her character was sadly killed off. Before ER, you may have already recognized her for her portrayal of Becca Thatcher in Life Goes On.
After she left ER, Kellie Martin got to star in the Mystery Woman TV movie series and also the Hailey Dean Mystery TV movie series. In addition, she appeared in The Guest Book, Army Wives, and Mad Men. This girl doesn’t seem to be stopping! If you’re a fan of mysteries like me, you can catch her in 2019’s Hailey Dean mystery. Martin plays Hailey Dean.
Paul McCrane
Paul McCrane played Dr. Robert “Rocket” Romano on the show. His character wasn’t very loved by the ER staff. He was initially a recurring character, but in season six, he became a main cast member until season 10. Before he joined the hit medical drama, he was known for portraying Montgomery MacNeil in the film Fame. After he left ER, his career did not slow down.
He appeared in a flashback in the last season, even though his character is dead. After leaving ER, McCrane had a few acting roles but has been focusing more on directing. He directed episodes of Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Scandal, and more. In 1998, the actor married Dana Kellin after meeting in a yoga class. The couple has two children.
Goran Visnjic
Goran Visnjic has been acting for most of his life. He finally got his big break when he portrayed Luka Kovac on ER. In season six, he became a regular cast member and was all the way until season 13. Like many of the other cast members, he returned as a guest star in the final season.
After ER, Goran continued to act. He appeared on Pan Am, Red Widow, Extant, and Timeless. More recently, he has a role in season three of This Is Us. He is married to an artist and sculptor. The couple adopted two children and have one biological child together. Visnjic has also been very open about another biological daughter. He fathered her in 2006 during an affair with Mirela Rupic.
Michael Michele
Michael Michele portrayed the character of Cleo Finch on her time on ER. However, she wasn’t on the show for long. She came on season six and left after season eight. Although her stay on the show was short-lived, Michele had no problem getting roles, and she is still actively working in the entertainment industry.
After her time in ER, Michele appeared in some of your favorite TV shows including, Gossip Girl, Law and Order: SVU, House, Queen Sugar, and more. She had a recurring role as Dominique Deveraux on Dynasty, and by season two, she became a main cast member. In 2012, Complex Magazine named the actress one of the “50 Hottest Women.”
Erik Palladino
Erik Palladino was working as an actor since the 90s. Despite only being on the show for two seasons, Palladino is well known for his portrayal of Dr. Dave Malucci on ER. The role opened many doors for the actor. He had some notable roles after leaving ER in 2001. What you may not know about this actor is that he is the lead singer of a band called Hearing Red.
He had a recurring role in Joan of Arcadia, and he more recently appeared in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. In addition, he appeared on NCSI: Los Angeles, Criminal Minds, Six and Suits, and much more. His most recent TV role was in 2019. He played Leo foster in The Fix.
Ming-Na
Ming-Na is mostly remembered for her portrayal of Melinda May in the hit ABC series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Before landing that role, she played the character of Dr. Jing-Mei “Deb” on ER. She was originally a season one guest star, but in season six, she returned as a full-time cast-member. She stayed on the show up until season 11.
After ER, Ming-Na lent her voice to multiple animated projects such as Batman, Phineas and Ferb, and Robot Chicken. You can also catch her on a few TV shows and, most recently, on the Marvel TV series. The actress now has two children with her second husband Eric Michael Zee. Her daughter Michaela got her mother’s talent and started voice acting.
Maura Tierney
Maura Tierney portrayed Abby Lockhart on ER. Her character started a nurse and then a med student before becoming a doctor. She joined the cast in season six and lasted on the show until season 14. She portrayed Abby Lockhart beautifully and won a Golden Globe for the best-supporting actress.
Tierney’s character made an appearance in season 15. After leaving the show, Maura continued to act appearing in Rescue Me, The Good Wife, The Whole Truth, and more recently, The Affair. In 2009, Tierney had to get a tumor removed from her breast. She got cast in Parenthood but due to her cancer treatments schedule conflicts occurred. Unfortunately, she had to be replaced by Lauren Graham. Thankfully she recovered and was back to work by 2010.
Sharif Atkins
Michael Gallant was a medical student on ER played by Sharif Atkins. Unfortunately, his character wasn’t on the show for that long, but he didn’t leave before starting a romance with Dr. Neela Rasgotra played by Parminder Nagra.
After ER, Atkins made guest appearances in shows such as STEAL Team, The Gifted, and Shameless. In addition, he had a starring role on White Collar. You may have noticed Atkins in The Good Wife when he showed up as Assistant United States Attorney Rivers. The actor has not been slowing down. In 2018, he portrayed Chris in The Open House, and in 2019, he played Detective Richard Johnson in Magnum P.I. I wonder what the actor will do next.
Mekhi Phifer
You probably recognize Mekhi Phifer from when he starred in the movie 8 Mile, opposite Eminem. If you’re not the biggest rap fan, then you probably know him for his portrayal of Greg Pratt on ER. He spent seven years on the show before his character met his unfortunate fate.
Phifer stayed in the entertainment industry after leaving the show, and he continues to act. He appeared in TV shows, including Lie to Me, Torchwood, House of Lies, Are You Sleeping, and Frequency. Phifer used to be married to Malinda Williams, and the two have a son together. In 2007, he had his second son with Oni Souratha. In March of 2013, the actor finally married his girlfriend, Reshelet Barnes.
Parminder Nagra
Parminder Nagra gained recognition after starring in Bend it Like Beckham. That’s when she came to the US and won the role of Dr. Neela Rasgotra on ER. She joined the cast in season 10 and stayed until the show concluded in season 15.
Once ER ended, Nagra continued to act. She appeared on some of your favorite shows, such as Alcatraz, The Blacklist, Psych, and God Friended Me. She also joined Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Ellen Nadeer for the fourth season of the show. After a seven-year relationship with Photographer James Stenson, the actress finally married him in 2009. Unfortunately, the couple officially got divorced in 2013. More recently she joined season 2 of 13 Reasons Why as the new school counselor.
Linda Cardellini
Linda Cardellini is remembered for her breakout role in Freaks and Geeks. However, in season 10 of ER, she received another notable role, playing nurse, Samantha Taggart. She stayed on the show until it ended. Prior to the show, Cardellini made her first film debut in the movie Good Burger starring Kenan and Kell.
After the finale of ER, Cardellini continued to act. You can catch her shows, including Mad Men, Bloodline, New Girl, A Simple Favor, Green Book, and currently in the new series Dead to Me. Her most notable movie role was when she portrayed Velma Dinkley on Scooby-Doo. After giving birth to their daughter in 2012, Cardellini finally got engaged to her boyfriend, Steven Rodriguez.
Shane West
Shane West got his breakout role as Landon Carter in Nickolas Sparks’ A Walk to Remember. He then landed the role of Dr. Ray Barnette when he joined the cast of ER in season 11. He left the show after season 13 when his character sadly lost both of his legs. However, he did return to the show in season 15 for a multi-episode arc.
After leaving the show, West had regular roles on shows like Nikita and Salem. He also had movie roles on What We Do is Secret and Red Sky. More recently, he played Eduardo Dorrance/Bane in four episodes of Gotham. West also dabbled in some music and was the lead singer of a band called Jonny Was.
Scott Grimes
Scott Grimes was known for his portraying Will McCorkle in Party of Five. He then landed another notable role when he played Dr. Archie Morris, a recurring character on ER for two years. However, in season 12, he joined ER as a main cast member and stayed until the conclusion of the show.
After ER ended, Grimes had numerous guest roles. He appeared in NCSI, Dexter, Harry’s Law, Suits, Criminal Minds, and Shameless. He also got to voice multiple Family Guy episodes. He’s currently on Fox’s The Orville where he played Lieutenant Gordon Malloy. He has two children with his ex-wife and in 2011, he married Megan Moore. Unfortunately, they filed for divorce in 2017. On a happier note, he is not engaged to his co-star Adrianne Palicki.
John Stamos
John Stamos will always be remembered as Uncle Jesse. However, in season 12 he joined ER as a guest star and played medical student Tony Gates. By season 13, he was a full-time cast member and stayed on the show until it ended.
After ER, Stamos had recurring roles on both Glee and The New Normal. He made appearances on other shows including Scream Queens and starred in Grandfathered. Since 2016, Stamos reprised his role as Uncle Jesse. He has been a recurring guest star and an executive producer for Fuller House. Stamos has always been open about wanting kids. His dream finally came true when he and his model girlfriend Caitlin McHugh announced their pregnancy. The two are now happily married.
David Lyons
David Lyons is an Australian actor. In season 14 of ER, we were introduced to Dr. Simon Brenner, played by David Lyons. He became a reason regular and main cast-member in the last season of the medical drama. He portrayed the role of Dr. Simon Brenner. At the time, he was already known for portraying Josh Holiday on Sea Patrol.
After the show ended, he had a role in A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne and starred in the short-lived The Cape. Other roles include Game of Silence, Electric Dreams, and more. Most recently he played Mike Diangelo as a series regular in Seven Seconds. He attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art and has a very impressive acting career.
Angela Bassett
Angela Basset is mostly remembered for her notable performance as Tina Turner in the biopic What’s Love Got to do With it. In season 15 of ER, we were introduced to Dr. Catherine Banfield, the chief of emergency medicine at the hospital. Angela Basset played her character until the series finale.
After ER ended, Basset got roles in TV and movies. She had roles in Olympus Has Fallen, London Has Fallen, Mission Impossible, American horror story, and plenty more. The actress was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress when she played Tina and she won the Golden Globe award for Best Actress for the same role. She is now more recognized from her role in Black Panther.
Josh Peck
Before Josh played the nerdy, lovable and hilarious Josh Nichols on Drake & Josh, he appeared on an early episode of ER. Josh played a teenager named Nick, who needed a third heart transplant. During this time, he was already a Nickelodeon star, acting in hit shows such as All That and The Amanda Show.
Josh had several TV and film roles before starring in Drake & Josh. Although he was known as a chubby kid, Josh was noticeably skinnier in that season of the show. You can catch him on Grandfathered featuring John Stamos. He even made a guest appearance on Fuller House. In 2017, Josh married his girlfriend, Paige O’Brien. The two have an adorable son named Max.
Alexis Bledel
Alexis Bledel may be forever remembered as Rory Gilmore. However, the actress made a guest appearance in the final episode of ER. Her character was a new intern, Dr. Julia Wise. Alexis Bledel starred in movies such as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants prior to guest starring on ER.
Ever since then, she made appearances in several different movies and TV shows. In 2016, she reprised her most notable role as the delightful Rory Gilmore. The actress married Vincent Kartheiser in 2013. She met him when she guest-starred on three episodes of Mad Men. Bledel gave birth to their baby boy in 2015. You can currently catch Alexis Bledel in the hit show, Handmaid’s Tale.
Mariska Hargitay
Before famously playing detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU, Mariska Hargitay appeared on ER in 1998. She played Cynthia Cooper, a front desk clerk, on the fourth season of the show. Personally, I can’t picture her as anyone but Olivia Benson.
After leaving the show, she got her lead role on Law & Order: SVU in 1999. She starred as Olivia Benson for twenty years of the show and isn’t going anywhere. She plays a New York detective in the police department, focusing on rape, assault, and special victims. You can catch her on season 21, which premiers in 2019. She also made a recent cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live. The actress is also happily married to actor Peter Hermann.
Shia LaBeouf
You may not have known that Shai LaBeouf had a role in ER before making a name for himself. He played a smart-mouthed boy named Darnel Smith. His character had muscular dystrophy and had to use a wheelchair. He played the part in 2000, just as he landed his most popular role as Louis Stevens.
Shortly after his stint on ER, Even Stevens finally premiered on the Disney Channel. Shia was the adorable child star with the main role. He later appeared in Holes, Transformers, and plenty of other movies. Now he calls himself a “method actor.” Labeouf shocked fans in 2013 when he appeared in Sia’s music video for Elastic Hearts, opposite Maddie Ziegler. His latest project is a film called Tax Collector.
William H. Macy
William H. Macy had a recurring role in the first four seasons of ER. His character was Dr. David Morganstern, the hospital’s Chief of Surgery and Emergency Medicine. Macy reprised his role in 2009 for one episode of ER. Today, of course, he is famous for his portrayal of Frank Gallagher, the alcoholic father of five on the hit show, Shameless.
Since his role on ER, William H. Macy has not slowed down. He appeared in multiple different TV shows and movies. In 2011, he was recognized all around because of his role in Shameless (which is still on today). After dating Felicity Huffman on-and-off for 15 years, the couple married in 1997. They have two daughters together, and their family was famously involved in the recent college admission scandal.
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union is another actress who appeared in ER in the year 2000 before she got famous. Union played Tamara, an injured high school basketball player on season six of the show. Her talent was quickly noticed, and she began making numerous TV appearances. She even appeared on the hit sitcom Friends.
Soon after her ER appearance, Union played in a number of movies throughout the early 2000s, including Bring it on and Welcome to Collinwood. Her latest movie role is for a film called Bad Girls that will premiere in 2021. Union famously married basketball player Dwane Wade in 2014 and she is the stepmother to his three sons. Today you can catch her as a judge on America’s Got Talent.
Kirsten Dunst
In 1994, after her breakout role in the movie Interview with a Vampire, Dunst had a recurring role in season 3 of ER. The character she played was a young prostitute named Charlie, who was being rehabilitated by Dr. Ross.
After the show, she continued to act and was more focused on acting. Her career skyrocketed and had many big movie parts. Her most notable roles were in Bring it On, and in the Spider-Man trilogy where she played Mary Jane. Dunst got engaged to her Fargo co-star Jesse Plemons in 2018 and their son was born in May of that year. Like many other celebrities, Dunst is involved in charity work. She is working for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Dakota Fanning
Dakota Fanning was in everything since her breakout role in I Am Sam, so it’s not surprising that she made a guest appearance on ER. She played a little girl named Delia Chadsey in ER. Her character was taken to the hospital after a car accident where she found out she had leukemia.
After ER, there was no shortage of roles for this rising star. She became a movie star and had lead roles in dozens of films, including War of the Worlds, Hide and Seek, and Uptown girls, just to name a few. More recently you can catch her on Ocean’s Eleven and Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. It’s hard to believe that Dakota is now 25 years old! During high school, the actress was involved in cheerleading and was voted homecoming queen.
Eva Mendes
You may not know this, but Eva Mendes’s first IMDb credit was in 1998 when she guest-starred in ER. She played a character named Donna, a worried babysitter who brought in a little girl she was taking care of. Mendes has come a very long way.
After her appearance in ER, Eva landed roles in multiple movies throughout the 2000s. In 2007, she made a guest appearance in Knocked Up, and her most recent movie role was in 2014’s Lost River. In 2011, the actress began dating heartthrob Ryan Gosling. They met on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines, which they both starred in together. Now the couple has two beautiful daughters.
Zac Efron
Believe it or not, heart-throb Zac Efron was on a 2003 episode of ER. His character was Bobby Neville, a young man with a fatal gunshot injury. One year later, he won the role of Cameron on the show Summerland.
Efron then landed his most notable role as basketball player Troy Bolton in the High School Musical movies. Since then, he earned plenty of roles in numerous movies. He most recently portrayed Ted Bundy in the Netflix movie, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile. He will always be a high school basketball player in my heart, but Efron proved he could portray more serious roles as well. In addition, Efron has also been doing some voice acting.
Jared Padalecki
Jared Padalecki rose to fame in the 2000s. In 2001, Jared Padalecki appeared in an episode of season 7 of ER. He portrayed Paul Harris, a patient who was involved in a pretty bad car crash with his dad. At the time, his only other significant role was in Dean Foster.
In 2003, he played a high school bully in Cheaper by the Dozen. He then moved on to his more notable roles in Gilmore Girls and Supernatural. In 2016, he reprised his role as Dean Forester in the Gilmore Girls spin-off. The actor even appeared in some horror films, including House of Wax and Friday The 13th. In 2010, the actor married his Supernatural co-star Genevieve Cortese. They have three children together, and the family lives in Texas.
Lucy Liu
Lucy Liu is a well-known actress who has been in the entertainment industry since the ’90s. Before gaining fame, Liu landed a role in a 1995 episode of ER. She played a mother who had a son with AIDS. She was relatively unknown at the time but quickly gained recognition.
After ERm she appeared in plenty of movies, including Charlies’ Angels in 2000. She continued to appear on TV shows and act on the big screen. In 2006, she landed the role of Lindsay in Lucky Number Slevin. Although she appeared in many projects through the years, her most recent role is in a new hilarious show called Why Women Kill. I personally love it and highly recommend it.