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George Clooney ’s name is synonymous with the long - unravel hit medical dramaER — but he almost was n’t on the show . Novelist , MD , and filmmakerMichael Crichton is mainly have intercourse for creatingJurassic Park , but he was also the creator of the hit showER , which run for 15 seasons , first hit the air in 1994 on NBC and ending in 2009 . The ensemble cast , which also includedTop Gun ’s Anthony Edwards , made waves as the series research the In and outs of the exigency unit and staff of County General Hospital located somewhere in Chicago .

Top among the fan favorites was George Clooney ’s Dr. Doug Ross , the resident bad male child with a soft side who specialize in pedology . audience fell in love with Ross thanks to his rugged good smell , charismatic charm , and care for his patients . WhileGeorge Clooney leftERin season 5 , his absence was sorely feel , and showrunners take heed to their fan by bringing him back for the season 6 sequence " Such Sweet Sorrow " and the time of year 15 episode " Old Times . " However , George Clooney almost did n’t appear onERat all , as he was also offered another script for a lawyer show set in San Francisco simultaneously .

connect : ER : Why George Clooney Refused To Return For Anthony Edwards ' Exit

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Why ER Needed George Clooney To Be Doug Ross

Thankfully , George Clooney fall in dear with the pilot script forER , and the quietus is ancient history . The script for the medical drama was picked up late in the plot , and the casting department only had five short weeks to flesh out the ensemble show . Clooney , while not a big star then , was contacted almost immediately and receive with showrunners to perform a scene from soon - to - be15 - season - long serial publication . Though he had an hearing for the lawyer show advert above , Clooney was impressed with the conception ofER , and the production team was equally impressed with his portrayal of Dr. Doug Ross . According toThe fib Behind " ER,“the competition ’s carrying into action mellow out away and Clooney was the first to be mould on the show .

The part of Dr. Doug Ross onERwas much written for George Clooney — and the cogent evidence is in the pudding , considering this was the show that launch his illustrious calling . Few others could play a womanizer that audiences can sympathize with , and he played the bad boy with a tenderness - of - Au dichotomy exceptionally well . Ross also has a rather tragical story , not unlike Dr. Mark Greene , that guided him into becoming a pediatrist , something that Clooney tactfully underplay without giving too much away . All in all , it ’s clean-cut thatERneeded George Clooney to play Doug Ross , as he was simply work up for the role .

Why George Clooney Needed To Be Doug Ross

Despite the San Francisco lawyer show technically being a bigger and more well - known project , George Clooney decided to bless on toERbecause he needed to play Dr. Doug Ross . The actor was a fresh face then and scarcely had the chance to branch out in his career . ERafforded Clooney a role in which he could turn his spectacular muscle , something he had n’t had the opportunity to do yet . The television maven ultimately wanted to flesh out his repertory , andER allowed himto do that . It ’s toilsome to envisage a human race in whichactor / conductor George Clooneyisn’t play Dr. Doug Ross onER , and thankfully , no one has to do that .

Next : ER : Every Doctor Who Died On The Show ( & How )

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George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross on ER Hell and High Water episode

George Clooney Ross ER

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