Ray Barnett
Encyclopedia
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. He is a talented doctor
but has struggled with conflicting commitments to the medical profession and his life as a rock musician.
. In season 11, he showed a crude, laidback, and manipulative
personality. Barnett had almost compromised patient care by not cooperating with the other doctors. At times he gave advice to med students that was irrelevant, impairing them from being effective doctors. He often made open comments about other colleagues. Because of his manipulative tendencies, Barnett was often called upon to help those who needed to work around the system. He often lied to his patients to get them to do what he wanted. In season 12, his character became romantically involved with roommate and colleague Neela Rasgotra
. His feelings for her created tension between the two, because Neela at the time was married to Dr. Michael Gallant
, who was serving in the Army Medical Corps in Iraq
. In the episode "If Not Now," Ray's band received an offer to go on tour. Ray's request for time off was denied, and he was given an ultimatum by Doctor Weaver—the hospital or the band. Ray picked the band, but his band members rejected him because they felt he was too committed to his job at the hospital. Ray returned to County General lying to Dr. Weaver stating that she did not fire him and that she was on drugs while they were talking. Ray and Neela remained friends and after Gallant's death, he attempted to become closer to her. The attempt at cultivating a relationship proved unsuccessful and was affected by the arrival of new character Tony Gates
, played by John Stamos
.
Ray did not keep his feelings for Neela a secret. Still he remained bitter and hung up over her. Late one night, Ray was hit by a truck when walking home drunk from a bar following a fight with Tony Gates at Luka Kovač
and Abby Lockhart
's wedding. As the newly renovated ER reopened, the staff was unaware of his accident.
However, it was later revealed Ray was alive and had been transported to another hospital across town. When Neela visited him, she discovered that both of his legs had been amputated. Ray expressed his disappointment and resentment toward Neela for leading him on. Shortly after, Ray left Chicago to return home to Baton Rouge with his mother. Barnett's final appearance as a series regular was in the season 13 finale "The Honeymoon is Over".
During the 15th and final season of ER, at the end of the episode The Book of Abby, long-serving nurse Haleh Adams shows the departing Abby Lockhart
a closet wall where all the past doctors and employees have put their locker name tags. Amongst them, the tag "Barnett" can be seen.
Ray Barnett returns to the ER in the Season 15 episode "Haunted", surprising Neela in a Frankenstein outfit during Halloween. He is in much better spirits and revealed to the staff that he left emergency medicine and now works in the disability and physical rehabilitation field
, helping amputees and handicapped patients in a clinic in Baton Rouge. He shows off his cutting edge prosthetic legs to everyone, walking on his own and appearing in no way disabled. He briefly met Dr. Simon Brenner
and but the two found themselves at odds after Brenner came on to Neela right in front of him. Barnett later raced Neela when they went jogging the shoreline of the Chicago River. The two spent the evening at Neela's apartment and appeared to express the same strong feelings for each other. However, Dr. Simon Brenner, after having a bad day at work, steps in on the two but Neela shuts him away immediately. Ray Barnett has a girlfriend he met at the gym, which was announced in season 15's 8th episode "Age of Innocence", which made Neela extremely jealous. In season 15, episode 20, "Shifting Equilibrium", Neela leaves County and, though many thought she was headed immediately to a position at Duke University's Hospital, she flies to the rehab clinic where Barnett is working. In the final moments of the episode, Neela and Ray are finally reunited.
He makes a cameo along with Neela in episode 21, where he is seen on Neela's webcam moving her things into her office, and he says hello to everyone at County.
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...
on the television show 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...
. The character first appeared in fall 2004 at the start of the 11th season. He is a talented doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
but has struggled with conflicting commitments to the medical profession and his life as a rock musician.
Hospital and Personal Life
In his first year at County General Hospital, Barnett's cowboy personality got him into trouble with his superiors, especially his Attending, Dr. John CarterJohn 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...
. In season 11, he showed a crude, laidback, and manipulative
Psychological manipulation
Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at the other's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative,...
personality. Barnett had almost compromised patient care by not cooperating with the other doctors. At times he gave advice to med students that was irrelevant, impairing them from being effective doctors. He often made open comments about other colleagues. Because of his manipulative tendencies, Barnett was often called upon to help those who needed to work around the system. He often lied to his patients to get them to do what he wanted. In season 12, his character became romantically involved with roommate and colleague 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...
. His feelings for her created tension between the two, because Neela at the time was married to Dr. Michael Gallant
Michael Gallant
Dr. Michael Gallant is a fictional character in the TV series ER, portrayed by Sharif Atkins. He was a regular character from 2001 to 2004 .- At County :...
, who was serving in the Army Medical Corps in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. In the episode "If Not Now," Ray's band received an offer to go on tour. Ray's request for time off was denied, and he was given an ultimatum by Doctor Weaver—the hospital or the band. Ray picked the band, but his band members rejected him because they felt he was too committed to his job at the hospital. Ray returned to County General lying to Dr. Weaver stating that she did not fire him and that she was on drugs while they were talking. Ray and Neela remained friends and after Gallant's death, he attempted to become closer to her. The attempt at cultivating a relationship proved unsuccessful and was affected by the arrival of new character 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...
, played by 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...
.
Ray did not keep his feelings for Neela a secret. Still he remained bitter and hung up over her. Late one night, Ray was hit by a truck when walking home drunk from a bar following a fight with Tony Gates at 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...
and Abby Lockhart
Abby Lockhart
Dr. Abby Lockhart is a fictional medical doctor on the television series ER. She is portrayed by Maura Tierney...
's wedding. As the newly renovated ER reopened, the staff was unaware of his accident.
However, it was later revealed Ray was alive and had been transported to another hospital across town. When Neela visited him, she discovered that both of his legs had been amputated. Ray expressed his disappointment and resentment toward Neela for leading him on. Shortly after, Ray left Chicago to return home to Baton Rouge with his mother. Barnett's final appearance as a series regular was in the season 13 finale "The Honeymoon is Over".
After County
After Ray's departure, we learn that Ray has been writing to Neela. Katey and Neela have another altercation and Neela tells her that she will not take the blame for what happened to Ray. She also reveals that Ray himself doesn't blame her for the accident.During the 15th and final season of ER, at the end of the episode The Book of Abby, long-serving nurse Haleh Adams shows the departing Abby Lockhart
Abby Lockhart
Dr. Abby Lockhart is a fictional medical doctor on the television series ER. She is portrayed by Maura Tierney...
a closet wall where all the past doctors and employees have put their locker name tags. Amongst them, the tag "Barnett" can be seen.
Ray Barnett returns to the ER in the Season 15 episode "Haunted", surprising Neela in a Frankenstein outfit during Halloween. He is in much better spirits and revealed to the staff that he left emergency medicine and now works in the disability and physical rehabilitation field
Physical medicine and rehabilitation
Physical medicine and rehabilitation , physiatry or rehabilitation medicine, is a branch of medicine that aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities. A physician having completed training in this field is referred to as a...
, helping amputees and handicapped patients in a clinic in Baton Rouge. He shows off his cutting edge prosthetic legs to everyone, walking on his own and appearing in no way disabled. He briefly met 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,...
and but the two found themselves at odds after Brenner came on to Neela right in front of him. Barnett later raced Neela when they went jogging the shoreline of the Chicago River. The two spent the evening at Neela's apartment and appeared to express the same strong feelings for each other. However, Dr. Simon Brenner, after having a bad day at work, steps in on the two but Neela shuts him away immediately. Ray Barnett has a girlfriend he met at the gym, which was announced in season 15's 8th episode "Age of Innocence", which made Neela extremely jealous. In season 15, episode 20, "Shifting Equilibrium", Neela leaves County and, though many thought she was headed immediately to a position at Duke University's Hospital, she flies to the rehab clinic where Barnett is working. In the final moments of the episode, Neela and Ray are finally reunited.
He makes a cameo along with Neela in episode 21, where he is seen on Neela's webcam moving her things into her office, and he says hello to everyone at County.