Julianna Margulies Turns Down Final "ER" Cameo

NEW YORK — The final "ER" season is bringing back some of its original stars for guest shots, but Julianna Margulies won't be among them. She was invited, she says, but declined.

Margulies, who played nurse Carol Hathaway on the NBC hospital drama from its 1994 premiere, exited after six seasons. Her character left Chicago's County General for Seattle, settling down with Dr. Doug Ross, who had been played by George Clooney.

"I feel like I left Carol Hathaway in the best scenario possible," Margulies said Saturday, laying to rest speculation about her return. "I can't imagine making it any better than that."

In the farewell lap of its 15-season run, "ER" last week featured Anthony Edwards reprising his role of Dr. Mark Greene. NBC has announced upcoming appearances by fellow alums Noah Wyle and Eriq La Salle, who will also direct an episode.

Still a mystery is whether Clooney, yet another charter cast-member, will be back. He left in 1999.

Margulies, 42, departed from the Los Angeles-based series in 2000 despite a reported offer of $27 million to stay for three more seasons. She expressed a wish to return home to New York and pursue other projects.

She then, she has appeared in a number of films and TV shows, including a memorable guest role as a real estate agent with a heroin habit on "The Sopranos." Last spring she starred in the short-lived Fox legal drama "Canterbury's Law."

Margulies lives in Manhattan with attorney husband Keith Lieberthal and their son Kieran, who was born in January.

She recently finished shooting "City Island," a comedy that also stars Andy Garcia, Alan Arkin and Emily Mortimer.

___

On the Net:

http://www.nbc.com

Comments

[liberalsrheros]

i've watched ER from the beginning, so take that into account. i think the soul of the show was edwards and then wyle. all the other characters were fine but for me they weren't the soul. i'll admit i laughed when the helicopter landed on whatshisname but it was clearly a jumping the shark moment. i still watch but.......

[KristenfromMA]

It would have been nice for the fans. You know, the people who made the show a megahit, allowing her to live a very nice lifestyle?

How quickly they forget...

[Fixxin2]

Wow. I was really hoping for a Doug-Carol cameo, updating that last scene they had together on the dock. Maybe they could do something with Clooney and have a reference to Carol being with the twins somewhere or something. George seems like a classy enough guy to realize ER made his movie career possible and one last appearance would be the right thing to do. Too bad Julianna isn't as grateful.

[bookworm123]

I think she's absolutely right - Doug and Carol had a perfect ending - I can't think of how it could have been better - and I admire her being loyal to her character rather than just taking the money. I think, for example, that Sex and the City would have been far better left as it was with the ending of the TV series rather than things being spoilt in the film.

Oh, and to all the posters saying she must be kicking herself now for turning down the three year contract, there are more important things in life than money :-)

[Kire]

Julianna "No Imagination" Margulies

That is her name from now on.

[stagebandman]

I never really liked her character, anyway. I would much rather have seen Eriq LaSalle and Michael Michelle come back. And why, with all this talk about returning cast members, has Sherry Stringfield not been mentioned? Come on, people, she was a big part of ER's history.

And just once before it leaves, let's see one episode exploring the nurses lives. Especially the ones that have been there from the beginning, Laura Ceron (Chuny Marquez), Deezer D (Malik McGrath), Dinah Lenney (Shirley), Yvette Freeman (Haleh Adams), Lily Mariye (Lily Jarvik) and let's bring back Conni Marie Brazelton (Connie Oligario), Gedde Watanabe (Yosh Takata), and especially Ellen Crawford (Lydia Wright). These actors, most of whom had been on since the beginning, have either been ignored or discarded. And what a shame. They could really have their own show.

One more thing, how about some sort of update of ER characters, played by Maria Bello, Jorja Fox, Michael Ironside, Erik Palladino (never understood why he didn't work out), CCH Pounder, Harry Lenix, Gloria Ruben, or show whatever happened to Kirsten Dunst's character (the homeless 15 year old, remember?). Hey, it could be fun! Maybe she's in medical school now(?)!

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

And Juliana is busy doing what exactly.........?? Buehler? Buehler? anyone? anyone?

[tlgeiger62]

I'm a big fan of ER. Having lost it's creator, Michael Crichton, it is nice to see this show is still striving to be original. This last episode with Anthony Edwards was the first great one in a long time.

[texastrixie]

Since Carol and Doug are supposed to be together, it would make little sense for Clooney to pop back in by himself. I understand their reluctance to reappear, but surely both of them have projects to promote which they could do on the talk shows as everyone would want to interview them about any cameo. Think Margulies is still one of the most beautiful women who ever appeared on tv, but she is over 30, and that seems to be the cut-off date for actresses. I try to go see any movie that has the leading lady within 15 years of the leading man's age, just to promote the idea that men do marry women over the age of consent!

Will miss ER, even if its long in the tooth. Only series I still watch faithfully - otherwise, I'm a news junkie.

[rzan1]

She was a very important character on ER. I quit watching around the time that Margulies left the show.

[Gil76]

Good that she turned it down! Her character's exit was perfect. Not everybody is a sheep, or does things just for money. She choose family over money. Also, I am a big ER fan, but it should have ended 3 years ago. I will watch it 'til the end, but the good days are gone. I don't think Clooney will return: Why should he? He doesn't need ER, they need him.

[shockjock]

Passed up 27million to pursue other projects. After several years and only a few gigs - bet she's thinking "oopps! I F*-up.

[tlgeiger62]

I'm sure she was offered plenty to come back. I'm thinking she wanted to leave it alone.

[blondecuban]

I would like to know why the writer of this blog listed Julianna's age, but did not do so for Noah, George, Eriq and Anthony? And, please explain to me why age is even relevant in this or any other discussion? This is an industry that is extremely age biased against women, so why are you contributing to it?

[happycat]

Excellent point!

[Hemkit]

It's common for entertainment articles to list the age of the subject. Wyle's and La Salle's and Edwards' ages weren't listed because the article is not about them. Pick up any entertainment magazine, and you'll see that ages are listed for men as well. Mountains out of molehills, mountains out of molehills...

[trianna007]

I always like the character of Nurse Hathaway. I am disappointed that she chose not to return. I can somewhat understand her saying that she left Carol in the best possible way. No need to have her return to County only due to some type of sickness.

[HGL]

Not that I care that much but I don't understand these ingrates. This show made a careers for a lot of people and for them to suddenly think they'd be slumming is messed up.

[trianna007]

Did she ever speak negatively about ER? I'm just wondering why all of the negative comments because she made a decision not to return. People don't always want to go back to the beginning. Now if Clooney declines, will he get the same flack as she?

[ObiW]

These people could do a cameo. It doesn't have to be a full story for them to come back. Just a good like tidbit on screen would work. But I understand if they are just too busy to even signal a last goodbye.

[ObiW]

I understand why people may not be able to come back, IF THEY HAVE A JOB IN EUROPE!! But to not turn up for the finale is arrogant, not to mention the fans would love to see the Old Gang back. How many of us invested in making this show what it is or what is was? We'd like to see a ROI (return on investment) since we as viewers put so much into making this show!

Shame on those who have not returned, are too busy to return, or just think their current flatlined careers are so much more important than the fans and viewers!!!

[happycat]

I agree. Not classy at all!

[tallky]

and didn't Anthony Edward's sad and competent face bring depth to another epidsode!!! I couldn't get enough of him, didn't want him to leave the room, much less the show - what an incredible run this show has had and that original crew is not easily followed. I hope they will all pay homage and I especially hope George Clooney makes the time. Not sure I'll miss Julianne anyway, but she certainly was catapulted to another realm (and didn't deliver) from ER. My whole family fretted through Thursday nights for years - issue oriented, sad or exciting. We loved it. God bless Michael Crichton.