The fifteenth season of the American fictional drama

Drama

Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...

 television series ER

ER (TV series)

ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...

premiered on September 25, 2008 and concluded on April 2, 2009, in a two-hour episode preceded by a one-hour retrospective

Retrospective

Retrospective generally means to take a look back at events that already have taken place. For example, the term is used in medicine, describing a look back at a patient's medical history or lifestyle.-Music:...

 special. The final season consists of 22 episodes.

Plot

The final season introduces Dr Cate Banfield as new ER chief, a woman with a seemingly mysterious past with County General. Pratt is revealed to be the victim of the ambulance explosion, Abby and Kovac leave for a new life in Boston, Brenner must deal with issues surrouding his childhood, Sam and Gates relationship suffers a setback while Neela is forced to make some tough decisions, both personal and professional.

To mark the end of the series and draw closure, several former cast members make a return to the show. Greene appears in a flashback episode that explores Banfield's history while Carter returns to work at County although unbeknowst to his colleagues he is in desperate need of a kidney transplant while the likes of Benton, Ross, Lewis, Hathaway, Corday, Weaver and Barnett all make surprise returns.

Main cast

• Goran Visnjic
  Goran Višnjic
  Goran Višnjić is a Croatian actor who has appeared in American and British films and television productions. He is best known for his role as Dr. Luka Kovač in the hit television series ER...
  
   as Dr. Luka Kovač
  Luka Kovac
  Dr. Luka Kovač is a fictional character on the television series ER portrayed by Goran Visnjic. Visnjic's character was added to the cast at the beginning of Season 6 following the mid-season 5 departure of leading character Dr. Doug Ross, played by George Clooney.Luka Kovač is an emergency room...
  
   - Resigned¹
• Maura Tierney
  Maura Tierney
  Maura Therese Tierney is an American film and television actress, who is best known for her roles as Lisa Miller on NewsRadio and Abby Lockhart on the television medical drama ER.-Early life:...
  
   as Dr. Abby Lockhart
  Abby Lockhart
  Dr. Abby Lockhart is a fictional medical doctor on the television series ER. She is portrayed by Maura Tierney...
  
   - Fifth Year Resident
• Mekhi Phifer
  Mekhi Phifer
  Mekhi Thira Phifer is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his multi-year role as Dr. Greg Pratt on NBC's long-running medical drama ER and his co-starring role opposite Eminem in the feature film 8 Mile...
  
   as Dr. Greg Pratt - Attending Physician
• Parminder Nagra
  Parminder Nagra
  Parminder Kaur Nagra is an English actress of Indian descent. She came to international prominence in 2002 after starring in Bend It Like Beckham. She starred as Dr. Neela Rasgotra in the Emmy Award-winning American medical drama series ER for six years until the series ended on 2 April 2009...
  
   as Dr. Neela Rasgotra
  Neela Rasgotra
  Dr. Neela Rasgotra is a fictional character portrayed by Parminder Nagra on the television show ER. Following the departure of Goran Visnjic, Maura Tierney, and Mekhi Phifer this left Nagra as the longest term cast member on ER and it also made her character the show's main character so, in terms...
  
   - Third Year Surgical Resident
• John Stamos
  John Stamos
  John Phillip Stamos is an American actor, singer and musician best known for his work in television, especially in his starring role as Jesse Katsopolis on the ABC sitcom Full House. Since the cancellation of that show in 1995, Stamos has appeared in numerous television films and series. From 2006...
  
   as Dr. Tony Gates
  Tony Gates
  Dr. Anthony "Tony" Gates is a fictional character on the television series ER. He is portrayed by John Stamos.-Paramedic appearances:Tony Gates was introduced as a paramedic during Season 12 . In Gates' first appearance in the series, he was fired at while trying to assist a young kidnapping victim...
  
   - Third Year Resident
• Linda Cardellini
  Linda Cardellini
  Linda Edna Cardellini is an American television and film actress. She is best known for her roles as high school student Lindsay Weir on Freaks and Geeks, as Velma Dinkley in the live-action Scooby-Doo films, and as Samantha Taggart on ER.- Early life :Cardellini was born in Redwood City,...
  
   as Nurse Samantha Taggart
  Samantha Taggart
  Samantha "Sam" Taggart is a fictional character on the NBC prime time drama ER. She is played by actress Linda Cardellini. Linda Cardellini's addition into the main cast opening credits was in the 5th episode of season 10.- Precursor :...
  
  
• Scott Grimes
  Scott Grimes
  Scott Richard Grimes is an American actor, voice artist and singer. Some of his most prominent roles are his appearances in ER as Dr. Archie Morris, Party of Five as Will McCorkle, Band of Brothers as Technical Sergeant Donald Malarkey, and the popular animated sitcom American Dad!, voicing Steve...
  
   as Dr. Archie Morris
  Archie Morris
  Dr. Archibald "Archie" Morris is a fictional character portrayed by Scott Grimes on the television show ER.-Early career:The character of Dr. Morris debuted in late 2003, in the drama's 10th season, and was notable for providing comic relief. Morris was an inept second-year resident who avoided...
  
   - Attending Physician
• David Lyons
  David Lyons (actor)
  David Lyons is an Australian actor. He is best known for his role on the Australian drama series Sea Patrol, in which he played the Leading Seaman Josh Holiday.-Early life and education:...
  
   as Dr. Simon Brenner
  Simon Brenner
  Dr. Simon Brenner is a fictional character portrayed by David Lyons on the television show ER.-Life at County General:Brenner was introduced as a new ER attending physician, first seen in bed with two women before arriving for his first shift. His character is superficially very charming,...
  
   - Attending Physician
• Angela Bassett
  Angela Bassett
  Angela Evelyn Bassett is an American actress. She has become well known for her biographical film roles portraying real life women in African American culture, including singer Tina Turner in the motion picture What's Love Got to Do with It, as well as Betty Shabazz in the films Malcolm X and...
  
   as Dr. Catherine Banfield
  Catherine Banfield
  Catherine "Cate" Banfield is a fictional character in the American medical drama ER, portrayed by Angela Bassett. She is an attending physician with a mysterious past with County General...
  
   - Chief of Emergency Medicine

Special appearances

The final season included special appearances by departed regular and recurring cast members:

• Anthony Edwards
  Anthony Edwards
  Anthony Charles Edwards is an American actor and director. He has appeared in various movies and television shows, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Top Gun, Zodiac, Revenge of the Nerds, Northern Exposure and ER.-Early life:Edwards was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Erika...
  
   as Dr. Mark Greene
  Mark Greene
  Dr. Mark Greene was a fictional medical doctor from the television series ER, portrayed by the actor Anthony Edwards. For most of his time on the series, Greene's role was that of a mediator and occasional authority figure, and he was considered the main character of the series for the first eight...
  
   - Episode "Heal Thyself"
• George Clooney
  George Clooney
  George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
  
   as Dr. Doug Ross
  Doug Ross
  Dr. Douglas "Doug" Ross is a fictional character from the television series ER, portrayed by George Clooney. George Clooney's removal from the main cast opening credits was in the 16th episode of season 5.-Plot details:...
  
   - Episode "Old Times"
• Julianna Margulies
  Julianna Margulies
  Julianna Luisa Margulies is an American actress and producer.After several small television roles, Margulies achieved success in her regular role as Nurse Carol Hathaway on NBC's long-running medical drama ER, for which she won an Emmy Award...
  
   as Nurse Carol Hathaway
  Carol Hathaway
  Nurse Carol Ross is a fictional character on the popular television show ER, portrayed by Julianna Margulies from 1994 to 2000. Julianna Margulies' removal from the main cast opening credits was in the final episode of season 6....
  
   - Episode "Old Times"
• Laura Innes
  Laura Innes
  Laura Elizabeth Innes is an American actress and director, probably best known for her role as Dr. Kerry Weaver on ER, and most recently, as Sophia on the NBC thriller The Event.-Career:...
  
   as Dr. Kerry Weaver
  Kerry Weaver
  Dr. Kerry Weaver, portrayed by Laura Innes, was an fictional character on the NBC television series ER; she first appeared as a recurring character actor in season 2, and became a regular cast member in season 3. In January 2007, Innes left the show after 12 years and Kerry Weaver moved to...
  
   - Episodes "Heal Thyself", "And in the End..."
• Alex Kingston
  Alex Kingston
  Alexandra Elizabeth "Alex" Kingston is an English actress. She is most widely known for her roles as Dr. Elizabeth Corday on the NBC medical drama ER and as River Song in Doctor Who.-Early life and education:...
  
   as Dr. Elizabeth Corday
  Elizabeth Corday
  Elizabeth Corday, MBChB, FRCS is a fictional surgeon on the television series ER. She was played by Alex Kingston and appeared from 1997 to 2004.-Background:...
  
   - Episodes "Dream Runner", "And in the End..."
• Eriq La Salle
  Eriq La Salle
  Eriq La Salle is an American actor and director, known for his portrayals of Darryl in the 1988 comedy film Coming to America and Dr. Peter Benton on the NBC drama series ER.-Early life:...
  
   as Dr. Peter Benton
  Peter Benton
  Dr. Peter Benton is a fictional character on the television series ER for its first eight seasons. He was played by Eriq La Salle. Benton was often portrayed as arrogant, irritable, or even hostile, but he is nevertheless an exceptionally talented surgeon who is passionate about medicine...
  
   - Episodes "Old Times", "And in the End..."
• Paul McCrane
  Paul McCrane
  Paul David McCrane is an American film, television and theatre actor, as well as an occasional television director. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Montgomery MacNeil in the 1980 film Fame and Dr. Robert Romano on the NBC medical drama television series ER.-Early life:McCrane was...
  
   as Dr. Robert Romano
  Robert Romano (ER)
  Dr. Robert 'Rocket' Romano is a fictional character on the TV series ER. He was portrayed by Emmy-winning actor Paul McCrane. Paul McCrane's removal from the main cast opening credits was in the 9th episode of season 10....
  
   - Episode "Heal Thyself"
• Sherry Stringfield
  Sherry Stringfield
  Sherry Lea Stringfield is an American actress. She is best known for playing the role of Dr. Susan Lewis on the medical television drama ER, a role for which she received three Emmy Award nominations. Stringfield was a member of ER's original cast, but she quit the show during its third season,...
  
   as Dr. Susan Lewis
  Susan Lewis
  Dr. Susan Lewis, played by Sherry Stringfield, is a fictional doctor on the television show ER between 1994–1996, and again from 2001-2005....
  
   - Episode "And in the End..."
• Maura Tierney
  Maura Tierney
  Maura Therese Tierney is an American film and television actress, who is best known for her roles as Lisa Miller on NewsRadio and Abby Lockhart on the television medical drama ER.-Early life:...
  
   as Dr. Abby Lockhart
  Abby Lockhart
  Dr. Abby Lockhart is a fictional medical doctor on the television series ER. She is portrayed by Maura Tierney...
  
   - Episode "Shifting Equilibrium"
• Shane West
  Shane West
  Shane West is an American actor, musician and songwriter. West is best known for portraying Eli Sammler in Once and Again, Landon Carter with Mandy Moore in A Walk to Remember, Darby Crash in What We Do Is Secret, and Dr...
  
   as Dr. Ray Barnett
  Ray Barnett
  Dr. Ray Barnett is a fictional doctor portrayed by actor Shane West on the television show ER. The character first appeared in fall 2004 at the start of the 11th season...
  
   - Episodes "Haunted", "Shifting Equilibrium", "I Feel Good"
• Noah Wyle
  Noah Wyle
  Noah Strausser Speer Wyle is an American film, television and theatre actor. He is best known for his role as Dr. John Truman Carter III in the Medical drama ER. He has also played Steve Jobs in the 1999 docudrama Pirates of Silicon Valley and Flynn Carsen in The Librarian franchise...
  
   as Dr. John Carter
  John Carter (ER)
  Dr. John Truman Carter III, portrayed by Noah Wyle, is a fictional character from the television series ER. The character, called simply "Carter" by most other characters, was introduced in the pilot episode and appeared for eleven consecutive seasons. Wyle decided to leave the show as a regular...
  
   - Episodes "The Beginning of the End", "T-Minus-6", "What We Do", "Old Times", "And in the End..."

Returning recurring characters

• Abraham Benrubi
  Abraham Benrubi
  Abraham Rubin Hercules Benrubi is an American character actor known for his appearances as Jerry Markovic on the long-running U.S...
  
   as Jerry Markovic - Multiple episodes
• Ellen Crawford
  Ellen Crawford
  Ellen Crawford is an American actress. Most recently, she co-starred as Edith, in The Man from Earth. She also played Nurse Lydia Wright on ER from 1994–2003 and then again in 2009 for the series finale...
  
   as Nurse Lydia Wright - Episode "And in The End..."
• Hallee Hirsh
  Hallee Hirsh
  Hallee Leah Hirsh is an American actress known for her roles as Daley in the children's series Flight 29 Down and as the second actress to portray Rachel Greene on ER...
  
   as Rachel Greene - Episode "And in the End..."
• William H. Macy
  William H. Macy
  William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
  
   as Dr. David Morgenstern - Episode "A Long, Strange Trip"
• Thandie Newton
  Thandie Newton
  Thandiwe Nashita "Thandie" Newton is a British actress. She has appeared in a number of British and American films, including The Pursuit of Happyness, Mission: Impossible II, Crash, Run, Fatboy, Run and W....
  
   as Makemba "Kem" Likasu - Episode "And in the End..."
• Matthew Watkins as Reese Benton - Episode "And in the End..."

Supporting cast

Doctors and Medical Students

• Amy Aquino
  Amy Aquino
  Amy Aquino is an American television, film, and stage actress.-Background and education:Aquino is the daughter of Adele and Salvatore Aquino...
  
   as Dr. Janet Coburn - Chief of Obstetrics
• John Aylward
  John Aylward
  John Aylward is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for playing the former DNC chairman Barry Goodwin on the NBC television series The West Wing and for playing Dr. Donald Anspaugh on the NBC television series ER. He also supplied his voice for Dr. Arne Magnusson in Half-Life 2: Episode...
  
   as Dr. Donald Anspaugh - Chief of Staff
• Leland Orser
  Leland Orser
  Leland Jones Orser is an American film and television actor. Orser is a character actor, whose career has included playing a number of deranged, psychotic, and degenerate characters. Orser has appeared in small roles in a wide variety of films and television shows, including Chief of Surgery Dr...
  
   as Dr. Lucien Dubenko - Chief of Surgery
• J.P. Manoux
  J.P. Manoux
  Jean-Paul Christophe Manoux is an American actor.-Life and career:Manoux is the oldest of seven and a native of Fresno, California. He is perhaps best known for his work in multiple Disney series: as S.T.A.N...
  
   as Dr. Dustin Crenshaw - Surgical Attending Physician
• Gina Ravera
  Gina Ravera
  Gina Ravera is an American actress from San Francisco, California. She is best known for the role of Irene Daniels during the first four seasons TNT's Emmy Award winning crime drama The Closer, and was the only regular cast member to leave the series during its run...
  
   as Dr. Bettina DeJesus - Radiologist
• Michael Buchman Silver as Dr. Paul Meyers - Psychiatrist
• Shiri Appleby
  Shiri Appleby
  Shiri Freda Appleby is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her leading role as Liz Parker in the television series Roswell...
  
   as Dr. Daria Wade - ER Intern
• Julian Morris
  Julian Morris (actor)
  Julian David Morris is a British actor known for his roles in the films Cry Wolf and Sorority Row. He also played a recurring character in the TV show ER as Dr. Andrew Wade. He also plays Wren Kim in the TV show Pretty Little Liars.-Career:Morris was born in London, where he began acting at the...
  
   as Dr. Andrew Wade - Surgical Intern
• Victor Rasuk
  Victor Rasuk
  Victor Rasuk is an American actor.Rasuk was born in Harlem, New York to Dominican parents. He has one brother, Silvestre, with whom he starred in Raising Victor Vargas....
  
   as Dr. Ryan Sanchez - ER Intern
• Emily Rose
  Emily Rose (actress)
  Emily Rose Maier is an American actress. She is best known for her lead role in the Syfy TV series Haven .-Early life:...
  
   as Dr. Tracy Martin - ER Intern
• Sam Jones III
  Sam Jones III
  Samuel L. Jones III is an American actor, best known for playing Pete Ross on the first three seasons of the television series Smallville.-Career:...
  
   as Chaz Pratt - First Year Medical Student/Part Time EMT
• Alexis Bledel
  Alexis Bledel
  Alexis Bledel is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Rory Gilmore in the television series Gilmore Girls and Lena Kaligaris in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.-Early life:Bledel was born Kimberly Alexis Bledel in Houston, Texas...
  
   as Dr. Julia Wise - ER Intern
• Gil McKinney as Dr. Paul Grady - Second Year ER Resident
• Bresha Webb as Laverne St. John - ER Intern
• Julia Jones
  Julia Jones
  Julia Jones is an American actress best known for playing Leah Clearwater in the 2010 film The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third film based on the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer.-Personal life:...
  
   as Kaya Montoya - ER Intern

Nurses

• Deezer D
  Deezer D
  Deezer D , whose real name is Dearon Thompson, is an American actor, rapper and motivational speaker. He is best known for his role as Nurse Malik McGrath in the US TV series ER, and, to a lesser extent, his roles in the films CB4 and Fear of a Black Hat...
  
   as Nurse Malik McGrath
• Laura Cerón
  Laura Cerón
  Laura Cerón is an Alma Award winning Mexican-American actress. Her most recognizable role is that of Nurse Chuny Marquez on the television series ER.-Early life:...
  
   as Nurse Chuny Marquez
• Yvette Freeman
  Yvette Freeman
  Yvette Freeman is an American actress best known for her role as Haleh Adams, a registered nurse, on the NBC drama ER...
  
   as Nurse Haleh Adams
• Lily Mariye
  Lily Mariye
  Lily Mariye is an American actress and filmmaker.From 1994-2009 she had a regular role as nurse Lily Jarvik on the NBC television series ER, for which she has won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble in a Drama Series four times.Mariye was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and graduated from...
  
   as Nurse Lily Jarvik
• Dinah Lenney
  Dinah Lenney
  Dinah Lenney is an American actress and writer. She is the author of Bigger than Life: A Murder, a Memoir, a 2007 book about the murder of her father, Republican Party politician and businessman Nelson G. Gross.-Biography:...
  
   as Nurse Shirley
• Angel Laketa Moore as Nurse Dawn Archer

Staff and Paramedics

• Abraham Benrubi
  Abraham Benrubi
  Abraham Rubin Hercules Benrubi is an American character actor known for his appearances as Jerry Markovic on the long-running U.S...
  
   as Desk Clerk Jerry Markovic
• Troy Evans
  Troy Evans (actor)
  Troy Evans is an American actor who is perhaps best known for his role as Desk Clerk Francis "Frank" Martin in the television drama series ER. He has also appeared in the movies Tiger Cruise , Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Under Siege, Teen Wolf, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Black Dahlia and The...
  
   as Desk Clerk Frank Martin
• Emily Wagner as Paramedic Doris Pickman
• Monté Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro
• Lyn Alicia Henderson as Paramedic Pamela Olbes
• Brian Lester as Paramedic Brian Dumar

Notable guest stars

• Louis Gossett Jr.
• Susan Sarandon
  Susan Sarandon
  Susan Sarandon is an American actress. She has worked in films and television since 1969, and won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. She had also been nominated for the award for four films before that and has received other recognition for her...
  
  
• Tom Arnold
  Tom Arnold (actor)
  Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
  
  
• Ernest Borgnine
  Ernest Borgnine
  Ernest Borgnine is an American actor of television and film. His career has spanned more than six decades. He was an unconventional lead in many films of the 1950s, including his Academy Award-winning turn in the 1955 film Marty...
  
  

Crew

• Christopher Chulack
  Christopher Chulack
  Christopher Chulack is an American television producer and director. He has worked extensively on ER and has won several awards.-ER:Chulack began working on the NBC medical drama ER as a director and producer with the first season. He was promoted to co-executive producer midway through the third...
  
   - Executive Producer
• Michael Crichton
  Michael Crichton
  John Michael Crichton , best known as Michael Crichton, was an American best-selling author, producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted...
  
   - Creator/Executive Producer
• John Wells
  John Wells (TV producer)
  John Marcum Wells is an American theater and television producer, writer and director. He is best known for his role as executive producer and show runner of the television series ER, Third Watch, and The West Wing. His company, John Wells Productions, is currently based at Warner Bros. studios in...
  
   - Executive Producer
• David Zabel
  David Zabel
  David Zabel is an American television producer and writer. He has worked extensively on ER becoming an executive producer and the series showrunner. He has won an Humanitas Prize for his writing for ER...
  
   - Executive Producer
• Joe Sachs
  Joe Sachs
  Joe Sachs is an American television writer and producer. He has worked extensively on ER in both capacities.-Career:Sachs is a qualified doctor who first became involved with ER as a technical advisor midway through the first season...
  
   - Executive Producer
• Janine Sherman Barrois - Executive Producer
• Lisa Zwerling
  Lisa Zwerling
  Lisa Zwerling is an American physician , television writer and producer...
  
   - Co-Executive Producer
• Tommy Burns
  Tommy Burns
  Thomas Burns may refer to:*Thomas Burns , Nationalist Northern Irish politician*Thomas Burns , founding settler of Dunedin, New Zealand*Thomas Burns , Catholic bishop...
  
   - Producer
• Wendy Spence Rosato - Producer
• Charles M. Lagola - Production Designer
• Arthur Albert - Director of Photography
• Martin Davich - Music
• Randy Jon Morgan, A.C.E. - Editor

• Mimi Leder
  Mimi Leder
  Mimi Leder is an American film director. She was the first female graduate of the AFI Conservatory in 1973.-Movie career:...
  
  , a frequent director during ERs first two seasons, returned as a director for the episode "A Long, Strange Trip".
• Rod Holcomb
  Rod Holcomb
  Rod Holcomb is an American television director and producer. He has directed episodes of television series such as Quincy, M.E., The Six Million Dollar Man, Battlestar Galactica, Fantasy Island, The A-Team , ER, The District, The Lyon's Den, Lost, Invasion, Moonlight, Shark, The Pentagon Papers,...
  
  , the director of the 1994 pilot episode as well as several other early episodes, returned to direct two episodes in this season, among them the series finale.

Episodes

"Series #" refers to the episode's number in the overall series, whereas "Season #" refers to the episode's number in this particular season.

Season #	|Writer(s)	|Original airdate