Chicago Med Season 10: Who Was Dean Archer’s Ex-Wife Leanne?

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Contains spoilers for “Chicago Med” Season 10, Episode 17 — “The Book of Archer”

In “The Book of Archer,” Dr. Dean Archer (Steven Weber) experiences an extremely difficult day. His son Sean (Luigi Sottile) informs him that his former wife, Leanne (Paula Marshall), has sadly passed away. It’s revealed that she was a long-term alcoholic who had one last binge and died from a brain hemorrhage after hitting her head on the kitchen counter. Dean proposes to travel and assist Sean in arranging his mother’s funeral, but Sean explains that there’s no need – Leanne wished for cremation and her ashes to be scattered without a formal ceremony.

As a devoted fan of Chicago Med, I remember the brief but intense appearance of Leanne in Season 9, episode 2, titled “This Town ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us.” In that particular episode, she made her entrance to disrupt Sean’s plan to donate a kidney to Dean. You see, Dean was battling end-stage renal disease, and Leanne had some serious reservations about the move, suspecting an underlying motive from her ex. Despite the danger it posed to his life, Dean almost relented, opting to maintain harmony between himself and his son by calling off the surgery. I can still recall the bitter and cynical aura that surrounded Leanne’s character.

Maggie Lockhart (played by Marlyne Barrett) convinces Leanne to reconsider the surgery. She hangs around Chicago Gaffney Medical Center until she learns if both men are okay, then departs. Eventually, Sean is removed from “Chicago Med” and moves in with her in Florida. Regrettably, this change of location doesn’t bring happiness for either mother or son in the future.

Leanne’s death brings Sean and Dean closer

Unfortunately, despite Sean’s efforts to help, Leanne’s alcoholism continues to be a struggle. Meanwhile, as Sean navigates the chaos of his mother’s life, Dean finds himself grappling with her passing and his strained relationship with Sean during his entire shift at the Emergency Department. After work, he seeks solace in contemplation, eventually confiding in Hannah Asher (Jessy Schram) about the events that led to his estrangement from Leanne and Sean.

Dean admits he feels responsible for his mother and son’s addiction problems since they started while he was in the military. Hannah disagrees, stating that Sean and Leanne made their own decisions. She urges him to stop feeling guilty, but this leads to an argument between them, potentially disrupting their growing relationship.

Later on, she visits him to express her apologies, once Sean and Dean have had time to discuss their emotions concerning Leanne’s passing. This demonstrates that despite Leanne’s demise, Sean and Dean maintain a bond with one another. Additionally, Paula Marshall, who portrayed Leanne, continues to thrive in her acting career.

Paula Marshall is a journeywoman actor

Since 1989, Paula Marshall has been a consistent figure in the acting world. She’s graced various roles, such as portraying a cavewoman in Disney’s “Dinosaurs” and Iris West in the ’90s CBS adaptation of “The Flash.” Her film credits include appearances in “A Family Thing” and the 2003 remake of “Cheaper by the Dozen,” while her television resume includes regular roles on shows like “Chicago Sons,” “Gary Unmarried,” “Cupid,” “Out of Practice,” “Snoops,” and “Hidden Hills.

Previously, Marshall collaborated with Steven Weber in “The Weber Show,” and made appearances in multiple episodes of both “Nip/Tuck” and “Californication.” Lately, she portrayed Gale Davidson across ten episodes of “Walker” and Marsha in nine episodes of “Euphoria.” Moreover, since the second season, she has been a recurring character as Helena, Ryan Guzman’s mom (Eddie Diaz) on “9-1-1.

Marshall has a diverse acting background, stretching from horror films like “Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth” and “Warlock: The Armageddon,” to her guest role on “Seinfeld” as ‘Sharon’ in the episode titled “The Outing.” This versatility has enabled her to carve out a unique niche for herself, much like how Leanne is indelibly etched in the minds of Dean and Sean.

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2025-04-04 01:00