ER’s 30th Anniversary: How George Clooney and Julianna Margulies Honor Doug and Carol Three Decades Later
As ER approaches its 30th anniversary, it seems Julianna Margulies and George Clooney feel the nostalgia more than anyone.
In a recent conversation with the Television Academy (tied to the anniversary of ER‘s premiere on Sept. 19, 1994), Margulies revealed that she and Clooney — who played Cook County General Hospital co-workers and love interests Carol Hathaway and Doug Ross on the NBC drama — still pay a small tribute to their ER characters when they exchange emails after all these years.
“It always had to be Carol and Doug, in the end,” Margulies said. “George and I, to this day, still sign our personal emails to each other, ‘Love, Carol’ or ‘Doug.'”
Though Clooney departed ER at the end of Season 5, his character made a surprise return in the Season 6 outing “Such Sweet Sorrow” — Margulies’ own farewell episode — in which Doug and Carol reunited at his seaside home after she left Cook County.
Margulies recalled how Clooney’s return was kept a secret from the rest of the cast — including her, at first, prompting her to get emotional at the “Such Sweet Sorrow” table read when she thought Carol had been given a less-than-momentous goodbye.
“I quickly got up and ran to the bathroom and just cried,” she remembered. “Because I thought, ‘Oh my God, this character means so much to me. And I know she does to so many fans, and I can’t believe they’re not giving her a proper sendoff.’ And Noah [Wyle], bless his soul, he saw me and let me cry on his shoulder.”
Showrunner John Wells later revealed to Margulies that they’d be bringing Clooney back for Carol’s actual farewell, but ER‘s other cast members — and the home audience, of course — remained in the dark about his appearance until the episode aired on May 11, 2000.
“Honestly, every now and then I’ll catch it when I’m flipping channels or something. And I still — that music — I still get very emotional,” Margulies shared. “And I remember my mom saying to me — she was so shocked because everyone knew George was off the show — my mother said she screamed, which I think was a lot of people’s reaction. It was the right ending for them because Carol and Doug were destined to be together.”
I remember that episode. I did scream because I couldn’t believe Doug (Clooney) returned for the ep. I was so happy that Carol and Doug go their happy ending. If I’m not mistaken, they reprised their roles on the final season of ER when Carter was in need of a kidney or liver. Carol was head of nursing at the hospital and Doug was there and they oversaw the kidney transplant, even though they didn’t know it was for Carter.
And their characters were parents to twin daughters. :)
That episode was one of the best on TV ever. Never thought Clooney would actually come back. Figured the episode would end with the long shot of “someone” being at the end of the dock while she stood there and the scene faded out. I remember totally screaming with joy when I realized it was in fact George Clooney. Best kept secret ever that would never happen today
I loved both of these actors once and they’ve both disappointed me so much.
ER was my favorite show- from its first episode until its last. I was so invested in Carol and Doug’s story. I was both surprised and thrilled to see them end up together. Such a brilliant and poignant reunion. Carol and Doug forever!
I’ve just binged all 15 episodes of ER.. best show ever, even after all these years.. relevant story lines that don’t fade with time. A ground breaking show that other medical dramas measure themselves by.
The 90s had some great TV shows that still hold up today… Another one besides ER is NYPD Blue… Life was so much more fun on these shows when faces weren’t always looking at phones…
ER and NYPD Blue ran long enough where cell phones but not yet IPhones were a thing on these shows…
Clooney went on to make a few good movies and Julianna is probably more memorable on The Good Wife now…
I wish they’d both stick to entertainment..