Famous Actors You Forgot Were On ER

The acclaimed series "ER" gave fans 15 seasons of intense hospital drama and complex character relationships, starting with its first episode in 1994. The show follows the complex lives of doctors and nurses at Cook County General Hospital, who must balance their professional and personal lives in an action-packed emergency room environment. Along the way, the series birthed some of the most memorable characters of its genre, many of which are still beloved by fans over a decade after the series finale aired.

However, "ER" did more than bring dynamic characters to life; the series also jump-started the careers of many actors behind those characters. Whether they became a central cast member, played a recurring character, or even made a brief cameo, most performers greatly benefited from their time with the series. Unfortunately, the list of actors who made this show possible is so long that even diehard fans may have forgotten some talented faces that walked through the emergency room doors over the years. Many have since enjoyed long, fruitful careers in film and television, but their appearances in "ER" remain noteworthy early highlights on their resumes.

Zac Efron has become a fixture in Hollywood blockbusters, but the actor started as a television star when he was a young teenager. One of his earliest performances was in the "ER" Season 10 episode, "Dear Abby." In this episode, Efron plays Bobby Neville, a young gunshot victim who fights for his life in the emergency room. He first encounters Dr. Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney) after a mysterious car drops him off at the hospital, already bleeding heavily but still conscious. Dr. Lockhart calls for a gurney, and the team rushes him into surgery.

The tense scene following Bobby's arrival at the hospital demonstrates what the high-stakes medical series does best. Unfortunately, Bobby dies from his injuries despite the Cook County General team's best efforts. Although Neville isn't a central character, his tragic death is nonetheless a memorable moment from early in Season 10. After this single-episode appearance, Efron continued to take on minor television roles before his break-out part in the "High School Musical" film series.

Lucy Liu has become well-known for her television and movie roles since the early 1990s. Although many of her early television roles were minor characters that appeared only once, Season 2 of "ER" gave her a three-episode arc as Mei-Sun Leow. She first appears in "Do One, Teach One, Kill One" as a young mother whose son is dying from AIDS. Leow comes to the emergency room after a clinic doctor erroneously gives her son two prescriptions for the same medication. She builds a connection with Dr. Doug Ross (George Clooney), who puts her nervous child at ease.

Leow's character arc is heartbreaking, especially her final appearance in "And Baby Makes Two." Dr. Ross determines that her son, Chia-Chia (Joshua Hoon Cho), needs a lumbar puncture. Unfortunately, Dr. Ross and a medical student botch the painful procedure by not retrieving enough spinal fluid the first time and subject the boy to a second procedure. In the end, Leow agrees with other doctors that her son is too far gone and takes him home to die peacefully.

Kirsten Dunst's acting career started when she was very young, and her list of credits grew steadily throughout the 1990s. Finally, in 1996, she took on a six-episode character arc as Charlie Chiemengo, a teenager that repeatedly crosses paths with Dr. Ross. She first appears in Season 3's "Ghosts," where a Halloween prank leads her to a community health outreach program staffed by Dr. Ross. The two build an instant rapport, which carries through the rest of Charlie's appearances. However, it becomes apparent that Charlie is willing to lie and steal whenever necessary to survive as a runaway.

Unfortunately, Charlie's appearances often feature the dark side of living on the streets. For example, she arrives at the hospital badly beaten after an apparent sexual assault in "Night Shift." Later, authorities find her near death in a local park after taking a cocktail of drugs. Charlie also breaks Dr. Ross' trust, makes horrible accusations against him, and ultimately proves herself to be beyond the doctor's salvation. She is among the most complex minor characters of the early seasons and is a memorable role for Dunst.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Thandiwe Newton's career spans multiple decades and genres, starting with her first role in 1991's "Flirting." In 2003, she took on the recurring part of Makemba "Kem" Likasu in "ER." Kem appears across three seasons, with most of her storyline occurring in Season 10. She first appears in "Freefall" as a clinic worker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who develops a relationship with Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle). When she comes to Chicago in "Makemb," she is pregnant with Dr. Carter's child.

From the start, Kem is a dynamic character, but her relationship with Carter is often tricky. For example, the couple's son is stillborn in the episode "Midnight," and the loss puts an understandable strain on the bond. Like many noteworthy characters from over the years, Kem returns for the series finale, "And In The End...," but the conclusion of her storyline is very open-ended. Dr. Carter has to choose between his relationship with her and his love of working in Chicago, and audiences never get a clear answer on his choice.

Throughout her career, CCH Pounder has frequently taken part in procedural television projects such as "The Shield," "Law & Order: SVU," and "L.A. Law." The multi-talented actress has also appeared in sitcoms, traditional dramas, and various films. In the first four seasons of "ER," Pounder appears as Dr. Angela Hicks, a recurring character that adds calm wisdom to the team. She first appears in the Season 1 episode, "Blizzard," where she helps the overwhelmed emergency room deal with a large influx of patients during a winter storm. This first episode establishes Dr. Hicks' ongoing role as someone the other doctors can turn to in a crisis. 

Although audiences see many instances of her mentoring some of the younger doctors — including Dr. Carter — Dr. Hicks never really has a chance to shine in her own right. She regularly takes a backseat to the more extroverted characters around her and slowly fades from the series with little explanation. However, CCH Pounder's compelling performance as Dr. Hicks still earned her a 1997 Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. 

In Season 7, audiences meet Dr. Lockhart's mother, Maggie Wyczenski, a character who brings Sally Field to the series. Wyczenski first appears in the episode, "The Visit," when she unexpectedly turns up at the hospital and makes life difficult for Dr. Lockhart. Audiences slowly learn that, although Wyczenski obviously cares about Lockhart, her bipolar disorder has led to unpredictable, sometimes dangerous behavior in the past. Understandably, this complex history makes Lockhart hostile toward her mother.

Field does an excellent job of bringing this complex character to life, especially in her multiple appearances across Season 7. Her behavior makes it easy to see why Lockhart keeps her distance, but audiences can simultaneously sympathize with Wyczenski. After Lockhart pushes her away again, Wyczenski only appears a few times after Season 7. Her final appearance is in Season 13's "Graduation Day," when she surprisingly reappears to help her daughter cope with the loss of her newborn son. The reunion is by no means perfect, but this somewhat redemptive moment brings her character arc to a satisfying close.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Angela Bassett's work touches nearly every genre imaginable, and the actress is well-known for playing deeply complex characters. Bassett joined the cast of "ER" in Season 15 as Dr. Cate Banfield, who first appears in the tense episode, "Another Thursday At County." Dr. Banfield's tough exterior makes her an influential physician and hides a checkered past, slowly revealing itself throughout Season 15. She expects top performances from her team and is consistently committed to doing her best in every emergency room case.

In "Heal Thyself," audiences see Banfield's first harrowing encounter with the hospital's staff through flashbacks. Bassett appears as Banfield alongside her real-life spouse, actor Courtney B. Vance, who plays her husband, Russell. The two appear not as doctors but as concerned parents on the verge of losing their young son to a mysterious illness. Although Banfield's son dies in the flashbacks, she uses her memory of his condition to save a patient in the episode's present-day narrative. Dr. Banfield continues to save lives under difficult odds until the series finale.