Dr. John Carter and Dr. Doug Ross scrubbed back in for one special night.

George Clooney and Noah Wyle enjoy a touching *ER *reunion over 30 years later

Dr. John Carter and Dr. Doug Ross scrubbed back in for one special night.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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January 11, 2026 7:14 p.m. ET

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Noah Wyle and George Clooney at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards on Jan. 10. Credit:

Michael Kovac/Getty

Paging Dr. Doug Ross: Dr. John Carter has a special award for you.

Noah Wyle and George Clooney had an *ER *reunion Saturday, 31 years after the beloved medical procedural first premiered, when they shared the stage at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards. Wyle was given the honors of presenting the Best Actor award to his former costar, whom he lavished with praise for his performance in Noah Baumbach's meta-hagiography *Jay Kelly*.

"We all keep aces up our sleeves, rehearsed mannerisms and behaviors that favor us, make us look cool or beautiful or mysterious. And when you work closely with someone and know them for over 30 years, you get to know their tricks and their shtick pretty well," Wyle said at the event attended by **. "But true artists reinvent themselves continually, and they have the courage to abandon the tried-and-true gimmick for the vulnerable discomfort of honest expression."

That, Wyle declared, is exactly what Clooney has accomplished, again and again.

"They embark on journeys to reach the higher levels of self-awareness, to arrive at the most organic interpretations. Sometimes these journeys are met with success, sometimes they are not, but they are never taken without risk, and they are what separates the artist from the celebrity," Wyle continued.

George Clooney in 'Jay Kelly'.

"With his performance in *Jay Kelly*, George has completed another successful journey of artistic reinvention, and creating yet another unforgettable character." Wyle then summarized the plot of Baumbach's 14th film as a director, which sees Clooney's titular movie star struggle to repair his bond with his daughter, fractured by so many years of prioritizing himself instead.

Wyle concluded that "through the chaos that ensues, George pulls off quite a feat of magic. He makes us care and root for a guy who leaves damage in his wake."

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"Well, thank you to the AARP. I have to say, 'Movies for Grownups' just means, you know, old people," Clooney joked after accepting the award from Wyle. "I got to be in a film with a really wonderful filmmaker. Noah, the script is beautiful. I couldn't believe my luck that I got to play the part."

Clooney also remarked that he was stunned by his "luck" that he was able to work with the "beautiful actor" Laura Dern. 42 years ago, Clooney made his acting debut in the unreleased (until 2020) horror film* Grizzly 2: Revenge*, which co-starred Dern. "It's so embarrassing, because it comes out, I'm getting like s--- reviews 40 years later, but we have been family ever since then."

George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross and Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter in 'ER'.

Sven Arnstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Wyle shared his feelings about the *ER *reunion and fondness for Clooney in an interview with PEOPLE at the AARP ceremony.

"Those bonds that were forged during that show are so lovely and intimate that I feel like we don't have to be totally present in each other's lives to be able to have a context for each other's lives," Wyle shared.

Wyle nearly starred on the full series run of *ER *as Dr. John Carter, except for the break he took between seasons 13 and 14. Clooney, meanwhile, left after only five seasons, but returned as a special guest in season 6 for his lauded surprise reunion with Julianna Margulies' nurse Carol Hathaway.

"He's been a real touchstone figure in my life and one who seems to pop up with great regularity at the right moments," Wyle said of Clooney. "So I'm honored to be here to share this one tonight."**

*With reporting from Gerrad Hall.*

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