ER shocked everyone when George Clooney's Doug Ross didn't show up at Mark Greene's funeral — here's why. As the name says, ER followed the inner life of the emergency room of the fictional County General Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, and the many critical cases faced by the physicians and staff — and, of course, their personal lives, which often overlap with their professional ones. As with any other long-running TV show, the medical drama saw many of the ER cast members leave as it progressed, and fans had to say their goodbyes to its most popular and beloved characters. Such was the case of Dr. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) and Dr. Doug Ross (George Clooney), who left in season 8 and season 5, respectively.
Though many had hoped for a Dr. Ross ER return, Clooney didn’t return for his ER character's friend’s final episode. George Clooney's Doug Ross was a major favorite of the ER cast members. Naturally, people were devastated when Clooney decided to resign from the series. Many expected Doug to at least show up for his friend Mark Greene's funeral. However, Doug was noticeably absent while the entire staff appeared. Here's the reason why George Clooney's Doug Ross didn't show up to Mark Greene's funeral, and whether there should be an ER revival — with Clooney included.
Why George Clooney’s Doug Ross Wasn’t At Mark’s Funeral
As it turns out, George Clooney was reportedly asked to reprise his role as Doug Ross for Anthony Edwards’ final episode in ER, specifically for the funeral scene. However, Clooney declined not because he wasn’t interested or too busy, but because he didn’t want his cameo appearance to overshadow the departure of a major character. Clooney eventually returned with the ER cast members in season 15. Along with Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies), he convinced a grieving grandmother to donate her grandson’s organs, with one of his kidneys going to none other than Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle). As for Anthony Edwards, Mark Greene also returned in season 15, but in a flashback.
Ross resigned from County in ER season 5 following a scandal that nearly ended his career. Ross went against protocol and gave a terminally ill boy and his mother pain medication that endangered an ongoing study. This got him into trouble, but the incident was kept private. However, in ER he later helped the mother end her son’s suffering by showing her how to bypass the lockouts on a Dilaudid PCA, so she could give him a lethal dose of medication. Ross faced criminal charges that were ultimately dropped, but he resigned and moved to Seattle. On the other hand, Greene died in ER season 8 after a battle with brain cancer. Greene’s co-workers were present at his funeral in the episode “On The Beach,” except for Clooney’s Ross, and not returning was actually Clooney’s decision.
Should There Be An ER Revival, And Would It Include George Clooney?
While many would be thrilled to see an ER revival, especially one featuring George Clooney, the popular medical series Grey's Anatomy has taken over the show's place in popular cultural awareness. That being said, Hollywood is obsessed with nostalgia as of late. And with many series receiving reboots and revivals, ER would be a popular choice. In any potential revival series, it's very possible that could return. Unlike ER's Dr. Greene, George Clooney's character wasn't killed off, so could be rewritten in despite the scandal. Clooney's reappearance in a reboot series would be more than welcomed by his adoring and loyal fanbase. The long-running show launched the career of many well-known modern actors, and medical dramas aren't going out of style any time soon. However, reviving the series based on nostalgia alone probably isn't a good idea – and in the case of ER, it might be best to leave the show alone.
Mark Greene’s funeral and Anthony Edwards’ departure were heartbreaking. While it would have been nice to see George Clooney’s Doug Ross attend Greene’s funeral, it ultimately served the story and characters more faithfully that he didn’t. Unlike other cases in many TV shows, actor/director George Clooney’s absence from such an important event in ER wasn’t due to behind-the-scenes drama, but because he wanted the people's attention to go to where it should: the final goodbye to Dr. Mark Green.
George Clooney's Fame Overshadowed The ER Cast
Out of all the ER cast members, George Clooney has by far become the most famous — even though there were plenty of other talented people on the show. In retrospect, the fact that Clooney became the only recognizable figure is somewhat unfair. There were plenty of other breakout performances on ER. Anthony Edwards, for example, had a phenomenal 8-season run, with a complex and tragic arc. Since ER, Edwards has only appeared in several TV shows in minor roles, such as Law & Order: True Crime and Tales of the Walking Dead. Sherry Stringfield, who played Susan Lewis, has done a slew of TV movies and had a stint on Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. John Carter's Noah Wyle was almost on ER for its entire 15-season run, but has seen a bit more success, appearing in The Librarians and Leverage: Redemption. Either way, none of these names are as recognizable as Clooney's. There's no telling why Clooney's presence has overshadowed the rest of the ER cast members, given that he was only on the show for just a couple of seasons. If there were a revival it would perhaps even be better without Clooney, if only to give his talented former cast-mates their own chance to shine.