‘ER’ closes doors, leaves satisfying legacy

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Original cast member Anthony Edwards played Dr. Mark Greene, a beloved character who died of a brain tumor. Greene's diagnosis allowed the series to thrust a physician into the often-nightmarish world of a patient trying to cope with the bureaucracy of the medical system.

Edwards returned to the series last fall in a flashback episode, just one of numerous cameos as old stars returned to bid farewell to County General.

“ER” is all about change,” Edwards says. “From the start, the series reflected the reality of the emergency room with a visual, writing and acting style that pays respect to that. You felt like you were watching a real world, with people coming and going, and the audience rewarded that with longevity.”

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Edwards says the series constantly challenged the actors, and he’s proud of his work.

“I can point to a lot of those big episodes with pride,” Edwards says. “But what I’m most proud of is the consistent quality of the show.”

Wells says a show like “ER” may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for him.

“To have done something that has had the kind of cultural imprint of ‘ER’ says you weren’t wrong about what you could accomplish in your life,” Wells says. “You had something to offer.”

Susan C. Young is a writer in Oakland, Calif.

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