John Truman Carter III,
M.D.
Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated M.D., from the Latin ''Medicinae Doctor'') is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional degree. ...
is a fictional character from the
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
television series ''
ER.'' He was portrayed by
Noah Wyle
Noah Strausser Speer Wyle (; born June 4, 1971) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as John Carter in the television series '' ER'' (1994–2009), which earned him nominations for three Golden Globe Awards and five Primetime Emm ...
and appeared as one of the series' principal characters from the
pilot episode until the
eleventh season finale. Carter's career path is one of the main story arcs of the series, beginning as a third-year
medical student
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, MB ...
, becoming a
resident
Resident may refer to:
People and functions
* Resident minister, a representative of a government in a foreign country
* Resident (medicine), a stage of postgraduate medical training
* Resident (pharmacy), a stage of postgraduate pharmaceuti ...
, first in surgery and then in emergency medicine, before being promoted to an
attending physician
In the United States and Canada, an attending physician (also known as a staff physician or supervising physician) is a physician (usually an M.D. or D.O.) who has completed residency and practices medicine in a clinic or hospital, in the spec ...
.
In the twelfth season, Wyle made guest appearances in four episodes, from "Quintessence of Dust" to "There Are No Angels Here". During the fifteenth season, Wyle again reprised the role for eight additional episodes, first returning in "The Beginning of the End" and ending with the
series finale. Carter is the only character that appears in the first and last episode of the series.
Character history
Carter arrived at County General as a third-year
medical student
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, MB ...
. His career got off to a rocky start when on his first day at County, he nearly vomited in the emergency room after seeing a critically wounded patient and had to be consoled by Chief Resident
Dr. Mark Greene
Mark Greene, M.D. is a fictional character from the American medical drama series '' ER,'' portrayed by actor Anthony Edwards. He first appears in the series' pilot episode, and subsequently appeared as one of the principal characters until ...
(
Anthony Edwards).
Carter had a dedicated and compassionate approach with his patients. Initially interested in surgery, he switched to emergency medicine, much to his mentor
Dr. Peter Benton's (
Eriq La Salle
Erik Ki La Salle (born July 23, 1962), professionally known as Eriq La Salle, is an American actor, director, writer and producer. La Salle is best known for his performance in the film ''Coming to America'' (1988) and especially as Dr. Pete ...
) initial dismay and disappointment. During his surgical residency, Carter laments on the lack of patient connection, specifically the lack of thorough follow-up and care.
In order for Carter to change from his surgical residency to an emergency medicine residency, he agreed to work without pay. He was part of an influential and wealthy family and did not need a salary, enabling County General to take him on despite the lack of funding for an additional position. As a
resident
Resident may refer to:
People and functions
* Resident minister, a representative of a government in a foreign country
* Resident (medicine), a stage of postgraduate medical training
* Resident (pharmacy), a stage of postgraduate pharmaceuti ...
, his confidence grew, and he often went out of his way to help patients.
Season 6–7
During season 6, Carter and medical student
Lucy Knight
Lucy Knight is a fictional character In the NBC television series '' ER'', portrayed by actress Kellie Martin. The character was part of the show for the fifth and sixth seasons. When she was first introduced on '' ER'', Dr. Doug Ross called her a ...
(
Kellie Martin
Kellie Martin (born October 16, 1975) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Rebecca "Becca" Thatcher in '' Life Goes On'' (1989–1993), Lucy Knight on '' ER'' (1998–2000), Samantha Kinsey in the '' Mystery Woman'' TV film seri ...
) are stabbed by patient Paul Sobricki (
David Krumholtz
David Krumholtz (born May 15, 1978) is an American actor and comedian. He played Mr. Universe in '' Serenity'', Charlie Eppes in the CBS drama series ''Numb3rs'', and starred in the '' Harold & Kumar'' and ''The Santa Clause'' film franchises.
...
), a law student suffering from
schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations (typically hearing voices), delusions, and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social wit ...
. Knight dies from her injuries while Carter's injuries leave him with lifelong kidney problems. As a result of Carter's chronic battle with pain,
survivor guilt
Survivor guilt (or survivor's guilt; also called survivor syndrome or survivor's syndrome and survivor disorder or survivor's disorder) is a mental condition that occurs when a person believes they have done something wrong by surviving a traumati ...
, and resistance to getting help, he eventually develops an
addiction
Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, one of which is the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use o ...
to narcotics. He begins making mistakes at work. After
Abby Lockhart
Abigail Marjorie Lockhart, M.D. (née Wyczenski) is a fictional character from the NBC medical drama series '' ER,'' portrayed by Maura Tierney. Usually referred to as simply Abby, she first appears as a guest star in the first half of the si ...
(
Maura Tierney
Maura Therese Tierney (born February 3, 1965) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She is best known for her roles as Lisa Miller on the sitcom '' NewsRadio'' (1995–1999), Abby Lockhart on the medical drama '' ER'' (1999–2009 ...
) catches him injecting left-over
fentanyl
Fentanyl, also spelled fentanil, is a very potent synthetic opioid used as a pain medication. Together with other drugs, fentanyl is used for anesthesia. It is also used illicitly as a recreational drug, sometimes mixed with heroin, cocain ...
from a trauma into his wrist, Carter's colleagues hold an
intervention and Dr. Greene demands that he go to an inpatient rehab center for medical doctors in
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
or be fired. Although Carter is initially opposed to going, Dr. Benton convinces him and boards the plane with him.
Upon returning from rehab in season 7, Carter makes peace with Chase, and apologizes for his long absence, saying, "I didn't want to admit to the fact that I was just like you." At the end of the season,
Kerry Weaver
Kerry Weaver is a fictional character from the NBC television series '' ER''. The role was portrayed by Laura Innes who debuted as a recurring character in the second season episode "Welcome Back, Carter!", which aired on September 21, 1995. ...
(
Laura Innes
Laura Elizabeth Innes (born August 16, 1957) is an American actress and television director. She starred as Dr. Kerry Weaver in the NBC medical drama '' ER'' from 1995 to 2007 and reprised her role from 2008 to 2009 in the final season. She also ...
) rejects Carter's application for Chief Resident because of his history of addiction.
Season 9–10
During season 9, Carter and Abby begin sleeping together after they are quarantined in the ER for two weeks during an outbreak of
monkeypox
Monkeypox (also called mpox by the WHO) is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and some other animals. Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over. The time from exposure t ...
. Meanwhile, the health of Carter's grandmother, Millicent (Gamma), continued to decline, and his mother, Eleanor, had difficulty accepting her divorce from Carter's father, Jack. Worse, Abby and Carter continued to disagree over whether or not Abby, a recovering alcoholic, should be drinking at all, even moderately. These personal issues come to a head when Abby's
bipolar brother Eric (
Tom Everett Scott
Thomas Everett Scott (born September 7, 1970) is an American actor. His film work includes a starring role as drummer Guy Patterson in the film ''That Thing You Do!'', the protagonist in ''An American Werewolf in Paris'', and notable roles in ...
) reappears the day Gamma dies. Abby giving precedence to her duty as a sister marks the beginning of the end of Carter and Abby's relationship.
Unable to shake his grief, Carter decides to join
Dr. Luka Kovač (
Goran Visnjic
Goran may refer to:
Ethnic groups
*Gorane, or Goran, an ethnic group of northern Africa
*Goran (Kurdish tribe), an ethnic group of the Middle East
*Gorani (ethnic group), an ethnic group of the southeastern Europe
Other uses
*Göran, a Swedis ...
) in
Congo without Abby's support. While there, he mended his previous rift with Kovač (due to their feelings for Abby) and they began to understand one another better. When the clinic is overrun by militia, Luka is threatened by
guerrilla soldiers. However, a young soldier recognized Carter as the doctor that tried desperately to save his brother though he ultimately failed. Out of respect for Carter’s actions, the guerrillas spare everyone at the clinic aside from an Army soldier they had been treating.
He returned two weeks later in season 10. When Kovač is reported killed in
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
, Carter goes back to retrieve his body, but finds that Kovač is alive but ill with
malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...
. He arranges for Kovač to be sent home, and sends a letter to Abby ending their relationship. Carter remains in Africa for several months and works in Makemba "Kem" Likasu's (
Thandiwe Newton
Melanie Thandiwe Newton ( ; born 6 November 1972), formerly credited as Thandie Newton, is a British actress. Newton has received various awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a British Academy Film Award, in addition to nominations for ...
)
AIDS clinic. Carter and Kem develop a relationship, and when she gets pregnant with his child he asks her to accompany him to Chicago, where he introduces her to his colleagues.
Kem's pregnancy ends tragically at eight months when she gives birth to a
stillborn
Stillbirth is typically defined as fetal death at or after 20 or 28 weeks of pregnancy, depending on the source. It results in a baby born without signs of life. A stillbirth can result in the feeling of guilt or grief in the mother. The ter ...
son in the episode "Midnight". While they are both devastated, Kem and Carter's relationship manages to survive.
Season 11–12
During season 11, Carter started building an
HIV
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...
/
AIDS clinic adjacent to County General, with funding from his family's charity foundation. It is named after his stillborn son - "The Joshua Makalo Carter Center." Afterward, he went to
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
, where Kem is visiting her mother. They reconnect and he offered to go to Africa with her so they can start afresh. She hesitated but later accepted the offer. Dr. Carter returned to Chicago and bids adieu to his friends and colleagues. In a fitting ending to his career at County, Carter's last patient is a young girl who he had delivered 11 years before when he had just been first starting out.
In season 12, Carter appeared in a four episode arc, working with a fellow doctor in
Darfur,
Sudan, where he is joined by
Dr. Greg Pratt (
Mekhi Phifer
Mekhi Phifer (; born December 29, 1974) is an American actor. He portrayed Dr. Greg Pratt on NBC's long-running medical drama '' ER'' until 2008 and had a co-starring role opposite actor/rapper Eminem in the 2002 feature film '' 8 Mile''. He was ...
) and Debbie (
Mary McCormack
Mary Catherine McCormack (born February 8, 1969) is an American actress. She has had leading roles as Justine Appleton in the series '' Murder One'' (1995–97), as Deputy National Security Adviser Kate Harper in ''The West Wing'' (2004–06), a ...
). Pratt informed him that Luka and Abby have reunited and are expecting a baby.
Season 15
In the season 15 episode, "The Book of Abby", long-serving nurse Haleh Adams shows the departing
Abby Lockhart
Abigail Marjorie Lockhart, M.D. (née Wyczenski) is a fictional character from the NBC medical drama series '' ER,'' portrayed by Maura Tierney. Usually referred to as simply Abby, she first appears as a guest star in the first half of the si ...
a closet wall where all the past doctors and employees have put their locker name tags. However, Carter's is missing; according to Haleh, he did not want to do it because it was "defacing government property."
Carter later returned in the season 15 episode, "The Beginning of the End”, in which he rejoined the ER at County General. He explains to Cate Banfield that he is relocating to Chicago, and is looking to pick up some shifts. She agreed, after finding out that one of his teachers at the hospital was
Mark Greene
Mark Greene, Doctor of Medicine, M.D. is a fictional character from the American medical drama series ''ER (TV series), ER,'' portrayed by actor Anthony Edwards (actor), Anthony Edwards. He first appears in the series' 24 Hours (ER), pilot epi ...
. He visited the Joshua Makalo Carter Center. At the end of the episode, it is shown that Carter is on
dialysis[The Beginning of the End](_blank)
NBC episode summary because of
amyloidosis developing from
schistosomiasis which irreparably damages Carter's remaining kidney. He was back in Chicago to be placed on the US transplant list. Working in the ER once again, he is shown to still be a good doctor with good judgment, but is still catching up with the latest medicines and techniques being used in the US. Eventually, his condition worsens, causing him to collapse while attending to a patient. While being treated by Dr. Gates and
Dr. Archie Morris (
Scott Grimes), he goes into
V-tach, but is brought back thanks to Morris' quick thinking. He is then transferred to Northwestern Medical Center.
In the episode "Old Times", while a patient at Northwestern, he is visited by Benton, to whom he reveals that his marriage with Kem is going through a rough patch. In the same episode, Benton acts as a
back-seat driver and supervises the operation to make sure Carter is well taken care of. Thanks to Benton's thoroughness which initially annoys the surgeon performing the operation, a complication is resolved and the operation is a success. Unbeknownst to Carter, the kidney is arranged for him thanks to the efforts of his old friends
Carol Hathaway
Carol Hathaway is a fictional character from the NBC medical drama series '' ER,'' portrayed by actress Julianna Margulies. She is the nurse manager in the ER. She regularly appeared throughout the series from the pilot episode to her penultim ...
(
Julianne Margulies) and
Doug Ross
Douglas Ross, M.D. is a fictional character from the NBC medical drama series '' ER,'' portrayed by American actor George Clooney. He is a pediatric fellow, employed by the pediatric service, but works in the ER. He is later promoted to a ped ...
(
George Clooney), who are also unaware that they are helping Carter and only find out that "some doctor" got the kidney.
In "And In The End", the series finale, Carter uses his family fortune to finally open the Joshua Carter Center, a medical clinic for the underprivileged that fits into the plans he announces when his grandmother's will is read. Kem surprises Carter by attending the opening ceremony, but she is seemingly uncomfortable around him. In a later conversation she tells him that she felt sad in Chicago because it reminded her of their son's death. As she leaves the clinic's opening, she tells Carter to call her to set up breakfast before she flies back to Paris. Carter indicates he might come back to County for good; however, this is potentially contradicted by his earlier idea that he would leave Chicago if it would save his marriage.
In the final scene, victims of an explosion come to County and while tending to a patient he invites Rachel Greene (
Hallee Hirsh
Hallee Leah Hirsh (born 1987/1988) is an American actress perhaps best known for her roles as Mattie Grace Johnson on '' JAG'', Daley in the children's series '' Flight 29 Down'', and as the adolescent and young adult Rachel Greene on '' ER''.
...
), Dr. Mark Greene's daughter who is considering going to medical school, to come help him, even calling her "Dr. Greene".
Related characters
Early in the series, Carter's plots typically stayed in the realm of the ER. In a symbolic gesture of this transference, he was told by Mark Greene "you set the tone" on Dr. Greene's last day in the ER. Dr. Greene had been told the same thing, by Dr. Morgenstern, in the pilot episode in season 1 of the show. Dr. Carter, in turn, said the same thing to
Dr. Archie Morris as Carter left the ER, although Morris did not understand the significance.
Family
Throughout the course of the series (particularly at the beginning of season 8) we meet various members of Carter's wealthy family and see that he is very uncomfortable with coming from money, to the point where he goes out of his way to not talk about his background.
His father, John (Jack) Truman Carter Jr. (
Michael Gross) is caring but reserved, and very acquiescent with his wife until he gets tired of her being an "emotional vampire" and divorces her. He and Carter have an awkward relationship; they love each other, but John does not respect his father. Jack recognizes this and keeps some distance from his son as a result. Carter's mother, Eleanor (
Mary McDonnell
Mary Eileen McDonnell (born April 28, 1952) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She received Academy Award nominations for her roles as Stands With A Fist in '' Dances with Wolves'' and May-Alice Culhane in ''Passion Fish''. Mc ...
), is emotionally distant and cold. Her personality was largely shaped because she blamed herself for the death of Carter's older brother, Bobby, from
leukemia
Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ...
. Carter eventually figures out that much of her sadness comes from this and they briefly become closer, but eventually Eleanor cut ties with her family after Jack divorces her, to the point where John has no idea how to reach her and she refuses to return a phone call he makes after her mother passes away. It is noteworthy that neither of Carter's parents are present when he dedicates the Joshua Carter Public Health building in the series finale.
Carter's grandfather, John Truman Carter Sr. (
George Plimpton
George Ames Plimpton (March 18, 1927 – September 25, 2003) was an American writer. He is widely known for his sports writing and for helping to found ''The Paris Review'', as well as his patrician demeanor and accent. He was also known for " ...
), is disappointed by Carter's career choice, and though Carter respects him, he also resents him. Carter's grandmother, Millicent Carter (
Frances Sternhagen
Frances Hussey Sternhagen (born January 13, 1930) is an American actress; she has appeared on- and off-Broadway, in movies, and on TV since the 1950s.Joy, Car"Frances Sternhagen in Talks to Join Company of Broadway Magnolias" Broadway.com, Nov ...
), is a benefactor of the hospital, even funding
Carol Hathaway
Carol Hathaway is a fictional character from the NBC medical drama series '' ER,'' portrayed by actress Julianna Margulies. She is the nurse manager in the ER. She regularly appeared throughout the series from the pilot episode to her penultim ...
's clinic. Carter is very close to his grandmother, whom he calls "Gamma", and intermittently lives at her home. They do occasionally argue, however, usually in regard to Carter's reluctance to participate in matters related to the family foundation; Gamma modifies her will to remove Jack as the head of the foundation and puts John in charge of it, leading to him changing its mission from supporting Chicago arts programs to supporting public health initiatives.
Chase Carter (
Jonathan Scarfe
Jonathan Scarfe (born December 16, 1975) is a Canadian film and television actor.
Early life
He was born in Toronto, Ontario, to actors Alan Scarfe and Sara Botsford. He dropped out of high school at age 15, and at the age of 16 he spent a yea ...
) is John's first cousin and a "functioning"
heroin addict. Carter, with the assistance of his colleague Anna, attempts to detox and rehabilitate him, but fails. Chase eventually
overdose
A drug overdose (overdose or OD) is the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities much greater than are recommended. s, resulting in severe
brain damage. Carter pleads for the family to keep Chase in
physical therapy, and Chase improves significantly. Elaine Nichols Carter (
Rebecca De Mornay), the ex-wife of another of Carter's cousins, comes to the hospital for treatment for
breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a r ...
and she and Carter have an affair.
Romantic Relationships
Carter had a number of unsuccessful relationships. Significant girlfriends are listed below:
*Liz (
Liz Vassey
Elizabeth Leigh Vassey (born August 9, 1972) is an American actress. Her most notable roles include Emily Ann Sago on ''All My Children'', Captain Liberty on ''The Tick'', Wendy Simms on ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', Lou on '' Brotherly L ...
), a patient who Carter dates during season 1. They have several sexual rendezvous until Carter realizes she has given him an
STD. This ends their relationship.
*Harper Tracey (
Christine Elise), a fellow med student, dates Carter during season 2. She cheats on Carter very early in the relationship with Dr.
Doug Ross
Douglas Ross, M.D. is a fictional character from the NBC medical drama series '' ER,'' portrayed by American actor George Clooney. He is a pediatric fellow, employed by the pediatric service, but works in the ER. He is later promoted to a ped ...
. Carter forgives her, only for her to dump him a few months later because Carter tricks another med student in order to get a procedure.
*
Abby Keaton (
Glenne Headly
Glenne Aimee Headly (March 13, 1955 – June 8, 2017) was an American actress. She was widely known for her roles in '' Dirty Rotten Scoundrels'', ''Dick Tracy'', and '' Mr. Holland's Opus''. Headly received a Theatre World Award and four Joseph ...
), a pediatric surgeon from Southside Hospital reassigned to County when Southside closes. Carter and Keaton begin working together eventually embarking on a clandestine relationship that ends when Keaton leaves for a volunteer mission to teach Pakistani surgeons.
* Carter develops a close friendship with
Anna Del Amico (
Maria Bello
Maria Elena Bello (born April 18, 1967) is an American actress and writer. Her film roles include '' Permanent Midnight'' (1998), '' Payback'' (1999), '' Coyote Ugly'' (2000), ''The Cooler'' (2003), '' A History of Violence'' (2005), '' The Mumm ...
) during season 4, but his crush on her is never reciprocated. They kiss only once, when she bails Carter out of jail. She eventually returns to
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
and makes up with her ex-boyfriend.
*Roxanne Please (
Julie Bowen
Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer (born March 3, 1970) is an American actress. She is best known for starring as Claire Dunphy in the ABC sitcom ''Modern Family'' (2009–2020), for which she received critical acclaim and six nominations for the Prime ...
), an insurance saleswoman and patient of Carter's, the two begin dating in season 5. The relationship falls apart for many reasons, including their busy work schedules, and because Carter falls for med student
Lucy Knight
Lucy Knight is a fictional character In the NBC television series '' ER'', portrayed by actress Kellie Martin. The character was part of the show for the fifth and sixth seasons. When she was first introduced on '' ER'', Dr. Doug Ross called her a ...
. At one point Roxanne confronts Lucy about it, telling her that she thinks Carter's feeling for her is ruining their relationship.
*
Lucy Knight
Lucy Knight is a fictional character In the NBC television series '' ER'', portrayed by actress Kellie Martin. The character was part of the show for the fifth and sixth seasons. When she was first introduced on '' ER'', Dr. Doug Ross called her a ...
(
Kellie Martin
Kellie Martin (born October 16, 1975) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Rebecca "Becca" Thatcher in '' Life Goes On'' (1989–1993), Lucy Knight on '' ER'' (1998–2000), Samantha Kinsey in the '' Mystery Woman'' TV film seri ...
) and Carter develop a liking for each other. Carter was jealous when Lucy started going out with Dr. Dale Edson (
Matthew Glave
Matthew Glave (born August 19, 1963) is an American actor best known for his roles in ''The Wedding Singer'', '' Picket Fences'', '' Baby's Day Out'', '' ER'', '' Stargate SG-1'', ''Army Wives'', '' Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce'', and '' Angie ...
). Carter and Lucy kiss only once as he decides to break things off owing to her being a medical student. They continued to be friends, until her death in Season 6.
*Elaine Nichols (
Rebecca De Mornay) first appears when she comes to the ER from a fender bender. Elaine is Carter's cousin Douglas' ex-wife. Their relationship to Elaine is just sex, though Carter wants more. She stops seeing Carter, when she finds out he knows that she has breast cancer. Carter tries to console her but she simply asks to be left alone. Later she moves to Europe for a few months and bluntly tells Carter to not call her when she returns.
*Rena Trujillo (
Lourdes Benedicto
Lourdes Benedicto (born November 12, 1974) is an American actress of Filipino and Dominican descent. She is known for her roles on the television series '' 24'' as Carrie Turner, as Eva Rios on '' The Nine'', and for her role as Alicia Lawson ...
) and Carter date off and on during season 7 until he finds out that she is still a student and is only 19. He tries to rekindle the romance but she dumps him because she knows he still has feelings for
Abby Lockhart
Abigail Marjorie Lockhart, M.D. (née Wyczenski) is a fictional character from the NBC medical drama series '' ER,'' portrayed by Maura Tierney. Usually referred to as simply Abby, she first appears as a guest star in the first half of the si ...
.
*
Susan Lewis
Fictional character Susan Lewis, M.D. is a character from the medical drama series ''ER'', portrayed by American actress Sherry Stringfield.
Having appeared as a primary character since the pilot episode, Stringfield left the show part way thr ...
(
Sherry Stringfield
Sherry Lea Stringfield (born June 24, 1967) is an American actress. She is best known for playing the role of Dr. Susan Lewis on the NBC medical drama '' ER'', a role for which she received three Emmy Award nominations. Stringfield was a member ...
) and Carter first met in 1994 when Susan was a second year resident. Carter had immediately developed a crush on her. After her breakup with another doctor, he had tried to console her with a kiss but she had stopped him. She had then moved to
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1,608,139 residents as of 2020. It is the fifth-most populous city in the United States, and the on ...
, returning in 2001. Once back at County the two rekindle their friendship and admit their feelings. They start dating but realize that the earlier spark is now gone, largely due to Carter's feelings for Abby. They split amicably after Susan tells him to "tell Abby."
*
Abby Lockhart
Abigail Marjorie Lockhart, M.D. (née Wyczenski) is a fictional character from the NBC medical drama series '' ER,'' portrayed by Maura Tierney. Usually referred to as simply Abby, she first appears as a guest star in the first half of the si ...
(
Maura Tierney
Maura Therese Tierney (born February 3, 1965) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She is best known for her roles as Lisa Miller on the sitcom '' NewsRadio'' (1995–1999), Abby Lockhart on the medical drama '' ER'' (1999–2009 ...
), a nurse in the ER, and Carter become involved during season 9 after Carter inserts himself into her relationship with Luka Kovac, leading to their break-up. After a series of personal crises, their relationship finally dissolves when Carter goes to the Congo for several months. He breaks up with Abby by letter. Carter cannot cope with Abby's unwillingness to make changes he wants, and does not propose, dooming their relationship. They remain good friends until the end of season 11 when Carter leaves County; by the time he returns in season 15, Abby has started her own family with Luka and they have relocated to
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
.
*Makemba "Kem" Likasu (
Thandiwe Newton
Melanie Thandiwe Newton ( ; born 6 November 1972), formerly credited as Thandie Newton, is a British actress. Newton has received various awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a British Academy Film Award, in addition to nominations for ...
) begins dating Carter in season 10. A French/Congolese AIDS worker in the Congo, Carter meets Kem while working for
Doctors Without Borders
Doctor or The Doctor may refer to:
Personal titles
* Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree
* A medical practitioner, including:
** Physician
** Surgeon
** Dentist
** Veterinary physician
** Optometrist
*Other roles
** ...
. They have a passionate, fast-paced romance culminating in Kem's pregnancy. At eight months, she loses the baby and begins to shut down emotionally. Carter proposes, but she does not answer and moves back to Africa. During their separation, they date others, but when Carter visits her while she is in France, they reconcile, and give their relationship another chance. During season 11, we learn Kem and Carter have married but in season 12 Carter is by himself as he returns to Africa to provide medical aid in
Darfur and makes ominous non-specific references to how things with Kem aren't good. In the series finale, Kem returns to Chicago to visit the Joshua Carter Center, posthumously named after their son; she and Carter interact awkwardly, and it is implied that they might meet before she flies back to Paris the next day.
*Wendall Meade (
Mädchen Amick
Mädchen Elaina Amick ( ; born December 12, 1970) is an American actress and television director. She is known for her starring role as Shelly Johnson on the television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991), its prequel film '' Twin Peaks: Fire ...
), a social worker in the ER, with whom Carter has an affair while separated from Kem during season 11. She ends the relationship with him after he admits that he does not love her.
Notes
External links
Official NBC Character Bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carter, John
ER (TV series) characters
Fictional physicians
Television characters introduced in 1994
Fictional drug addicts
Fictional victims of child sexual abuse