I’ve always been fascinated by the intriguing stories of actors and their journeys in Hollywood. Among those who have left indelible marks on both the small and big screens are the talented individuals who graced the set of ER in its formative years.
Over the span from its initial airing with a two-hour premiere in September 1994 until its final broadcast in 2009, ER was an unstoppable ratings powerhouse. It often led the annual rankings during its impressive 331-episode stint and kickstarted numerous careers, including George Clooney among others. Besides well-known actors such as Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Maura Tierney, and Eriq LaSalle on the main cast, the show also welcomed a multitude of guest stars and rising talents throughout its run. Here’s a glimpse at some of the most prominent ones:
Nick Offerman
1. Nick Offerman is primarily recognized for his portrayal of Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation, a character who frequently delivered some of the show’s funniest lines. In contrast, his single role on ER didn’t offer any comedic moments; he played a bandmate of a troubled bass player in the emergency room.
Taraji P. Henson
As a gaming enthusiast, let me share my insights about Taraji P. Henson’s acting career. In recent years, she’s been showered with recognition for her exceptional skills, but she’s been impressing us on screen since the late ’90s. You might remember her from a Season 4 episode of ER, and then again in Season 5, playing a different character. Over time, she snagged guest roles on shows like CSI and Boston Legal. Her big break came with the starring role in Empire, and since then, her story has been etched in television history.
Bradley Whitford
Before landing the role of Josh Lyman on “The West Wing” which catapulted him to stardom, Bradley Whitford had already been acting consistently for about a decade. In 1995, he made appearances in two episodes of “ER”. For a few more years following this, he secured smaller roles here and there until his breakthrough on “The West Wing”. Since then, he has been a highly sought-after actor.
Kristin Davis
Prior to becoming a frequent cast member on “Melrose Place” and one of Jerry’s love interests on “Seinfeld,” Kristin Davis made a brief appearance as a character infatuated with George Clooney’s role in an ER episode during its initial season. Although she graced the screen just once, this small part paved the way for significant opportunities and iconic cocktails in the time to come.
Zac Efron
Zac Efron wasn’t always the beloved heartthrob we know from “High School Musical.” Previously, he was often given roles as troubled teens. For instance, on “ER,” he portrayed a teenager who arrived at the hospital after being shot. Additionally, in an early appearance on “NCIS,” his character caused trouble. Presently, he’s a leading Hollywood star, but back then, he merely got into mischief during filming!
Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor holds various identities for different age groups. To some, he’ll forever be Renton from “Trainspotting.” For others, he’ll always be the young Obi-Wan Kenobi. Yet, there are those who recognize him as the motorcycle traveler in “Long Way Round.” It’s intriguing to ponder if his moniker on that adventure show was influenced by his appearance on “ER” in a Season 3 episode titled “The Long Way Around,” which aired in 1997.
Julie Bowen
Currently, Julie Bowen is predominantly recognized for her role as Claire Dunphy in “Modern Family,” but her career has a much longer history. Her initial TV appearance was in the early ’90s, and she gained significant recognition with her role in the 1993 movie “Happy Gilmore” alongside Adam Sandler. In the late ’90s, she played a recurring character named Roxanne on “ER” for nine episodes, where she was John Carter (Noah Wyle)’s girlfriend.
Ving Rhames
1994 marked a significant milestone for Ving Rhames. Besides playing a memorable role in “Pulp Fiction”, he also secured a recurring part as Walt Robbins, Dr. Peter Benton’s (Eriq La Salle) father-in-law. Across three seasons, he graced the screen in eight episodes. By then, he had already appeared in “Mission: Impossible”, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Lucy Liu
Lucy Liu has had a long-standing association with popular TV series. In the ’90s and ’00s, she was a leading actress on Ally McBeal, while she graced our screens as a main character on Elementary during the teens. Earlier in her career, she made appearances in supporting roles on hit shows like NYPD Blue and The X-Files, and she featured in three episodes of ER, back in 1995.
Chris Pine
Surprisingly enough, Chris Pine wasn’t always a famous Hollywood star with blockbuster movies under his belt. In his beginnings, he was just like countless other aspiring actors, striving to secure any role that came their way. Fortunately for Pine, his breakthrough came during the ninth season of “ER,” marking his first credited acting appearance on this successful medical drama.
Don Cheadle
2002 saw Don Cheadle gracing the screens of ER for a four-episode stint as a doctor, yet he had already built a strong reputation as an actor prior to this role. Interestingly, his acting prowess was recognized to such an extent that he could remove his name from the credits of Ocean’s Eleven, all while delivering some of the most memorable one-liners in the film.
J.K. Simmons
Any supporter of “Law & Order” is familiar with J.K. Simmons’ prominent role in prime-time TV towards the end of the last century. He was a consistent presence on that series, and he made appearances in numerous others as well. Notably, he featured in an “ER” episode in 2004. Regardless of what he acts in, you can anticipate an exceptional performance from J.K. Simmons.
Christina Hendricks
Prior to her stardom on “Mad Men,” Christina Hendricks had been appearing in various shows without truly establishing herself as a leading star. However, this changed with the AMC series, although before that point, she was simply a dedicated actress grinding it out in Hollywood. One of her initial roles was on “ER” in 2002.
Adam Scott
1. Adam Scott is not the only “Parks and Recreation” actor who made an early appearance in “ER”, but he did play a particularly intense character, portraying a man fighting for his life in the emergency room back in 1995. It’s astonishing that it took another 15 years for Scott to receive the recognition he deserved after landing his role on “Parks and Recreation”.
Glen Howerton
2005 marked the explosive debut of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” which eventually cemented itself as one of television’s longest-running sitcoms. A significant contributor to this success was Glen Howerton, who starred and co-created the show. Interestingly, a few years prior, he portrayed a character quite distinct from his “Sunny” persona – a doctor in six episodes of “ER,” during its 10th season.
Keiko Agena
Keiko Agena, known for her roles in both Gilmore Girls and Prodigal Son, is among a select group of actors who portrayed distinct characters on ER. Her first appearance was back in 1998 during her early acting days, while she returned to the show in its final season in 2009.
Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain, with three Oscar nominations and one win to her name, has solidified her place as one of Hollywood’s finest actors. However, her exceptional talent was evident long before these accolades. A shining example can be traced back to her early role in “ER,” where she made a significant impact in just her second credited appearance on the show, in an episode titled “Forgive and Forget,” which aired in 2004.
Aaron Paul
Generally recognized for his iconic performance in Breaking Bad, Aaron Paul actually portrayed a character quite similar to that role earlier, in 2003’s ER episode titled “A Saint in the City.”
Octavia Spencer
1998 marked the point where Octavia Spencer made an appearance on “ER”, which was another stepping stone in the series of supporting roles she had been securing during the early phase of her career. This trend persisted for some time before she eventually became one of the most adored stars of the late teens and ’20s, following her breakthrough performance in “The Help”.
Mena Suvari
For Mena Suvari, the film “American Pie” was a significant breakthrough in her career. Prior to this, she had been working in Hollywood for several years, landing minor roles in shows like “Boy Meets World” and movies such as “The Slums of Beverly Hills.” She also appeared in an episode of “ER” in 1998, portraying a rebellious high school cheerleader who ignored her doctors’ advice.
Kirsten Dunst
When Kirsten Dunst was only six years old, she began her acting career as a child star. A number of years passed before she secured a short-term role as a distressed teenager in six episodes of the third season of ER.
Dakota Fanning
Several childhood acting stars who later achieved notable success passed through the gates of Cook County General Hospital, among them was a young Dakota Fanning. At the hospital, she portrayed a young girl named Delia who had been in a car accident. Unbeknownst to viewers, Delia was revealed to be a survivor of cancer.
James Cromwell
1. James Cromwell, one of Hollywood’s most renowned actors, has spent several decades honing his craft. His career truly took off in the mid-’70s and since then, he has consistently taken on both supporting and leading roles. In the seventh season of ER, he portrayed a priest with a drug addiction across four episodes.
Josh Peck
Initially gaining fame as one-half of the popular Nickelodeon series “Drake & Josh“, Josh Peck didn’t start there, though. Prior to that, he took on minor roles and had recurring appearances in “The Amanda Show“, which eventually led him to “Drake & Josh“. In the year 2002, before his breakout, he played a child with heart issues in an episode of “ER“.
Eva Mendes
Prior to Eva Mendes focusing on raising her family with Ryan Gosling, she was among the most renowned actors globally. Her journey in show business can be traced as far back as 1998 when she made her debut in an episode of “ER.” It’s intriguing to reflect on her early acting appearances, such as those alongside George Clooney, without considering the remarkable futures that awaited them both.
Shia LaBeouf
Indisputably, Shia LaBeouf’s career has been one of the most unpredictable and eventful in the 21st Century. He’s experienced peaks where he ruled Hollywood, and valleys when he was far from his glory days. A significant milestone early in his career was when he was a patient at Cook County General Hospital during Season 6.
Milana Vayntrub
Milana Vayntrub eventually gained widespread recognition for her role as the AT&T spokesperson in advertisements. However, before that, she had humble beginnings like many child actors, making appearances on the TV show “ER.” Specifically, she starred in three episodes during Season 1, marking her first credited roles where she played a Russian character.
John Mahoney
Prior to landing the coveted role of Martin Crane on “Fraiser” in the late 1990s, John Mahoney had been a consistent actor since the 1970s. Following his success on “Fraiser,” he gained significant creative freedom and selectively accepted roles. One such part was that of a self-proclaimed “drag queen” whose ailing boyfriend was in the hospital on “ER” in 2006, using this opportunity to boldly advocate for same-sex marriage long before it became widely accepted.
Janel Moloney
One actress among many talented ones, Janel Moloney, started her acting career on “ER.” She had only a few roles before joining “The West Wing,” but what a find for both shows! “ER” was fortunate to have her in its initial season when she made an appearance in a single episode. “The West Wing,” too, was lucky to have her later on.
Amy Ryan
One of the least recognized characters from the series “The Wire” is Beadie Russell, portrayed by Amy Ryan. Prior to her appearance in Season 2, she made a one-time appearance in the first season of “ER”. Since then, she has appeared in numerous television shows and films, including a cherished recurring role on “The Office” and the underappreciated Netflix original “Worth”.
Rosemary Clooney
As a gamer, I can tell you that the Clooney family isn’t just led by George Clooney. My aunt Rosemary Clooney, an unforgettable singer from yesteryears, also left her mark. Although she had fewer than twenty acting roles in her career, one of them was on ER during its debut season. Can you imagine the excitement for both of us? Her son, Miguel Ferrer, who’s also an actor, made a cameo in the very first episode of ER as well, uncredited.
Dan Hedaya
1. If you were born in the 90s, Dan Hedaya might have seemed omnipresent to you, but he’s likely most famously recognized as Cher Horowitz’s stern yet caring father in “Clueless.” On “ER,” he portrayed a lawyer with some morally gray areas, but a golden heart. He made appearances in four episodes across the entire series run. Most people remember him by this role. (Paraphrased version)
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2024-07-30 06:10