Question:

Could you reflect just in a minute what was it about the show that has made it work so well over the years?

Anthony Edwards:  

You know, really it always comes down to the writing and the timing. And I think we knew it was special because there was such general excitement, both within the medical community working on the show and the filmmakers and the writers, too.

They were actually telling a new story but being very honest to it. And I think in a simple way, the fact is that it was a really good environment to tell stories from because anybody could come through the doors of an ER.

And I think they just capitalized on that and always went back to making it real. And by being really true to the reality of situations, I think the audience was drawn in even more.

Question:

About George Clooney not really wanting to come back to do the last season and what made it right for Edwards:

Anthony Edwards:

Well yeah, you know, the - I can understand people’s hesitancy of wanting - of coming back because, you know, when you’re a part of something you feel like you did so well.

You kind of also don’t want to screw it up, you know. I don’t - I think there’s a natural respect for this show that you want to, you know, you want to be respectful of.

And for me what really kicked in also is perfect timing and the fact that I was about to launch a big fundraising campaign to build the largest children’s hospital in Africa. And that’s with the charity I work with -- Shoe 4 Africa.

So when John Wells asked me, I said I’m happy too but, you know, don’t pay me. Let’s get Warner Brothers to donate to the hospital.

So in lieu of payment they gave me $125,000 - gave the hospital $125,000 which, you know, Steven Spielberg found out about and he matched. And John Wells kicked in $50,000.

So, you know, for me it was really great because, you know, they are two things that are really dear to me which is the experience that I had for eight years which certainly changed my life being on the show and then this whole new part of my life which has to do with running and it has to do with children’s health, and it has to do with Africa.

Question:

What was it like being on set even though a lot of faces have changed and putting on those scrubs once again?

Anthony Edwards:

It was really like going back to high school and in the best way. It was like going back to your favorite class, having your favorite teacher and there was no test that day.

It was actually, you know, what - everything that you liked about it. You know, none of us got any older and we all - you know, it was - you know, it really - it took about a half an hour.

And after about a half an hour it really felt like I’d never left. The same conversations were
happening that were happening six years ago, the same dynamics between the crew members the same, jokes.

The - you know, and they had gone to great effort to make it look like it did six - you know,
when I look at the show now I see how different the ER looks than when I was on it.

And they went to great effort to have all the props, everything back to 2002. So it was really - I had a really great four days there.

And then, you know, followed up with some time in Chicago which was great, too. So - and I got to work with Angela Bassett, so how lucky was I?

Jeremy Bonfiglio:  And just a quick follow-up to that, I mean as, you know, as an actor, you know, as you’ve walked away from the character several years ago, you know, what was it like to, you know, kind of revisit him?

Question:

Is it difficult when you have to come back to a character who you’ve put away for so long?

Anthony Edwards:

You know, it isn’t because obviously, you know, when you do a series and you do television like that for so many years, so much of the character is similar to yourself.

You know, writers pick up on things that you do that they add to the character. So, you know, I’m not as - I’ll never be as smart as Dr. Greene, but there’s a lot of familiarity in who he is.

So I mean I think that bottom line thing that I always cared the most about him was there, which is that he really loved being a doctor.

So that’s a - that’s not a hard thing to jump back into. And, you know, I’m also - television lives on. It’s like I’m reminded of it everyday.

You know, people are always I mean stopping me here or all around the world, you know, because I’m the doctor from (urgency). And so he kind of lives in other people, too.

Question:

Can you talk about why you think Greene touched so many people?

Anthony Edwards:

You know, I used to joke about it and I think part of it’s true though, is that, you know, people would watch Greene and think you know what, my life will never be that bad.

So I think that’s good, the things that went for him - you know, he always had problems, you
know, whether it was with dating or women, or relationship with his daughter, or work and
bosses.

And, you know, ultimately, you know, dying. I mean he really just had so many kinds of
struggles that I think people all related to in a way. So - and I think people liked him that way.

And I think it’s that thing of - I don’t know, when you get on an airplane you hope that the pilot really loves flying because (unintelligible). And I think that’s what Greene had.

I mean he’s - you do want to go to a hospital and have a good doctor who loves being a doctor there. And that’s what he had, I think.

Question:

How did being on ER affect your philanthropy?

Anthony Edwards:

Well, it gave me an opportunity in a big way. I mean for many years -- ten years actually -- I worked with, you know, autism research and raising money for autism awareness and research, and did a lot of lobbying for it and (watching).

And that was great because it was giving celebrities a great way to give a voice to the voiceless, and that’s where children come in. And children really don’t have people advocating for them because the parents of sick children or of children in need have to take care of them. So they don’t have the extra time.

So I found a good niche in that way, that it really - I was able to be helpful that way.

And it’s continued and now with the fact that I, you know, I love to run and Shoe 4 Africa which is basically an organization that we take used running shoes to Africa and we do running events with women and children.

And we empower them through the sport of running. And then along with it we do AIDS education and health education. So I think, you know, you’re given a great gift when you have success as an actor.

And the only way to pass it on is if it’s something that you genuinely care about, and then that’s what people pick up on. So I’ve been lucky that way.

Question:

Where do you think in TV history, do you think ER stands?

Anthony Edwards:

I think it’s one of those Gunsmokes of TV. It’s -you know, to have that kind of - I mean for the– and in its heyday I mean, the numbers and the world that it had.

I mean I just was in my attic the other day and had all these boxes that had been sent to LA, and it was full of all these like covers of - magazine covers and things, a ton.

And you forget like wow, there was a time when we were like on the cover of Newsweek. And so, you know, hopefully you’ll think of it as M.A.S.H. That would be the perfect thing.

Question:

You talked about the episodes dealing with kids were tough and since this episode really focuses around that, could you talk a little bit more about that?

Anthony Edwards:

You know, ultimately it’s just pretending so it really wasn’t too detrimental. It was just, though, the challenge of it.

I think every - like you said, you know, that, you know, blood was it for Sherry and, you know, there’s just something to me about the sound of a kid in pain that’s really hard to take. That’s really tough, yeah.

Question:

Would you ever go back to series television?

Anthony Edwards:

You know, not right away. I’m in really that hour, 22 episodes a year is a tremendous amount of work. And, you know, I have yet to meet a person who says they wish they spent less time with their kids when they were younger.

And, you know, I’m really lucky that I have that opportunity. So it’s going to be a few more years before my kids are really, really sick of me and want me gone.

So - and when I get the final you really have to go back to work then, you know, my mind will be a little more open to that.

Question:

What do you feel you learned as an actor during your time on ER?

Anthony Edwards:

It kind of reaffirmed everything that I’d been taught when I was studying acting and as a young actor which was that, you know, kind of the being prepared and knowing your words is - will ultimately always serve you.

That - because ER was such a challenge with the dialogue and people were like how do you remember that language, it forced you to have - you couldn’t kind of come to work half knowing your words.
                             
You know, you really had to be prepared. And it kind of reaffirmed that, that ultimately things work better when everybody is very prepared for their job. And that’s what I think we did well on that show, most of the time.

What would you perhaps say makes a career in this industry rewarding for you so far?

In August I was in Kenya and I was at this children’s - this hospital where we’re going to build this children’s hospital. And the fact that these directors of this hospital who have the only teaching hospital in Kenya, they’re - they have the possibility to build a hospital for - a 250 bed hospital.

And the way they’re excited, they’re saying oh my goodness, Dr. Greene is coming back to life to build them a hospital. That just, to me, summed it up.

Like oh, I can so put up with any silliness in relation to this business when one of the side effects is the fact that because of that we’re going to actually have - make a huge impact upon the health of Eastern Africa.

I mean it just really - it’s exciting to me. And not that I want to be Mother Theresa but, you
know, you - the - basically an actor’s life is that of a narcissist. I mean, you are completely
focused on yourself as an actor. And to have that balance, it just feels really good.

Question:

What’s your daily life like these days? What are you up to?

Anthony Edwards:

Well it’s actually pretty busy. I mean I do have the fortune to be able to walk my kids to school and then go for a run in Central Park which is just a great treat everyday. And then I do have a new deal with CBS, a first look development deal with them and I have a new partner. So I’m actually meeting a lot of writers and developing - we have a script with Jack Burditt who writes for 30 Rock. And so there’s the world of producing and developing, and directing that’s opening up that is always fun to do.

So I got that going on which hopefully there’ll be some directing stuff and maybe some acting from there.

And, you know, the day is really about - it’s - you know, the school year is here in New York
and then, you know, we try to travel in the summers.

I actually had the greatest opportunity a year and a half ago which was my family, we took the kids out of school and we traveled around the world for a year. So we’ve been making kind of great use of this time. We took the teachers and went around the world.

Question:

You had joked earlier - I think maybe last month that George Clooney would be a fool not to return. Did you hear from him after saying all of that?

Anthony Edwards:

So he is a fool. Is that what you’re saying? I guess he is. No, I mean I would never, you know, judge anybody else. All I can do is share that I had, you know, a good experience.

And I hope that whoever gets asked and has the opportunity does do it. It’s fun.

Question:

Are you in contact at all with any of your former co-stars?

Anthony Edwards:

Not too much. A little bit. You know, I had lunch with Noah when I was out there which was great. He was around and, you know, I see Julianna here in New York. And so, you know, I’m sure there’ll be lots of good surprises this season.

Question:

What’s the favorite TV show in your house?

Anthony Edwards:

Probably 30 Rock. I think 30 Rock might be it, and The Office. I love The Office. I loved the original English version and I love this version, too. So - those make me laugh.

Question:

Did you have a favorite episode from your eight year run on the show?

Anthony Edwards:

You know, I really didn’t. I mean there were ones that people really responded to, that they loved that were like - oh my god they were - it was horrible hard and - to do but you’re proud of them.

So there were things like that, like when the kid died in the first season and the - or the mother died and the kid lived and the kind of big Greene tragedy there.

But, you know, we did so much that it’s hard to think of favorite episodes. Yeah, it really is. I mean I - you know, it sounds silly but I was so kind of proud of our seasons, like that the - we would have 22 good episodes and it wasn’t just one standout episode.

But, you know, there was a consistency to it. That’s what I loved. So that made it fun.

Conference Interview Attended By: Peter Dimako, Editor in Chief.

Thursday, November 3rd, 2008.