"ER"'s Anthony Edwards takes the director's chair

Edwards finding new role on 'ER'

April 30, 1998
Web posted at: 5:10 p.m. EDT (1710 GMT)

From Correspondent Ron Tank

HOLLYWOOD (CNN) -- Anthony Edwards has spent plenty of time in front of the camera. One of the primary actors in the NBC drama "ER," Edwards has made a career of playing likeable characters on both the small and big screen. Now Edwards is taking on a new challenge, heading behind the camera to direct an episode of "ER."

He told CNN's Ron Tank he's not intimidated by this next career step.

Edwards

"Its easy, because I'm on this show," Edwards said. "I mean, I think it'd be tough coming into a brand new set and coming into someone else's one-hour drama. But since as an actor I've been around this so long in their world, this feels like our jungle gym, so I know all the rooms, I know all the characters."

Playing the character Dr. Mark Greene for the past four years has earned Edwards respect from his fellow actors.

"Tony has such a leadership quality on the show as it is," Maria Bello, who plays Dr. Anna Del Amico on the show, says. "We always seem to look to him anyway for guidance or advice if there's some sort of a problem. So I think as director, it's even more so."

Noah Wyle, Dr. John Carter on "ER", says directing is no easy task.

"You really have to be the puppetmaster," Wyle says. "All the marionette strings are really under your control, from the sound department, to the art department, to the casting, to directing the actors, directing the camera. Every facet of the production is now under your jurisdiction."

ANTHONY EDWARDS THROUGH THE YEARS

Edwards has a good deal of experience to draw from. He got his start on the big screen with a small part in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," that early 1980s teen flick about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.

Plenty of bigger roles in movies followed, including parts in "Revenge of the Nerds," and "Gotcha!" Then came "Top Gun," in which Edwards, playing opposite Tom Cruise, won hearts with the role of Goose, the outgoing lieutenant who meets a tragic end.

On TV, he enjoyed success on "Northern Exposure," playing the guy who lived in a bubble.

But his success on "ER" has been a career highlight -- so far, that is. His latest project may lead him to even greener fields as a highly-respected director.

Related stories:

• "ER" again most watched show of week
• Behind the gore of "ER"

Related sites:

• NBC's "ER" Web site

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