Who Plays Kai Bartley On Grey's Anatomy?
In 2021, E.R. Fightmaster joined the cast of "Grey's Anatomy" as Dr. Kai Bartley, a neuroscientist on a Parkinson's research team. If there's a surefire way to reach the upper echelons of "Grey's" fandom, it's by securing a helpful nickname — think McDreamy, or a couple portmanteau like Calzona — and Kai nabbed one early as half of Kaimelia, the short-lived yet deeply shipped relationship between Kai and Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone).
Fightmaster had hoped to play a McDreamy-caliber love interest, they told NBC, and to get to do it as the series' first nonbinary character was all the more rewarding. "To get to be someone who's happy and in love and warm and being accepted by another person who, most of the time in these storylines, is not nonbinary or trans — I'm sure that there's some comfort that the audience holds, especially the queer audience, in getting to see queer people just be happy."
"Grey's Anatomy" is Fightmaster's most high-profile role to date, though the actor is a seasoned performer, having appeared in a number of short films, TV shows, and as a member of Chicago's Second City.
E.R. Fightmaster had a recurring role on Shrill
Prior to "Grey's Anatomy," E.R. Fightmaster had roles in short films like "Ancient Methods" and "Pathetic Woman," but they are perhaps best known for their recurring role in "Shrill," the Hulu series from "SNL" alum Aidy Bryant, between 2020 and 2021. Fightmaster played Em, the love interest to Lolly Adefope's Fran.
In addition to being Fightmaster's first big TV role, "Shrill" gave them the space to consider what nonbinary visibility could look like on a larger stage. "I was just like, 'Oh, you do kind of have to create the character yourself,'" Fightmaster told Indiewire in 2021. "'You have to create nonbinary characters. You have to decide that these characters are going to be nonbinary because the industry is not creating them for us.'"
Roles on "Shrill" and Showtime's "Work in Progress" have been resumé builders and representation wins alike for Fightmaster, but "Grey's Anatomy" is a whole new ballgame — especially since it courts viewers like Fightmaster's mother. "I think she was very excited about it," the actor recalled to NBC. "One of the most satisfying things I've ever gotten to do was to call her and say, 'Haha, I'm also a Ph.D. It just took me mere minutes.'"