ER star Sharif Atkins, who started playing Dr. Michael Gallant during the show’s 8th season, is opening up about acting on the NBC medical drama.
While speaking to TV Insider for a June 13 interview, Atkins shared that his co-star, Maura Tierney, helped him when he had some difficulty making acting choices while filming an ER episode.
“Maura Tierney [Dr. Abby Lockhart] said, ‘Sharif, just make a choice. Make a choice,'” said Atkins, who left the series after its 15th season, during the interview. “And it’s interesting because one of the things that I keep with me, and anytime anyone, if I’m talking to an acting class or what have you, sometimes I just say, ‘You know what? Sometimes you just have to simply make a choice. You got to make a choice and go with your gut.’ Those are some good memories. Good memories.”
In addition, Atkins shared why he believed ER, which ended in 2009, still has a dedicated fanbase. He stated he believes the show has incredible acting, set design, and writing.
“It was one of those shows that for the longest of times was the show to watch, the show to try to be on, you know what I mean? And for me personally, for that to be my proverbial coming out party here in Hollywood and just with my career, I couldn’t have dreamt up a better start,” said the 50-year-old actor.
Atkins celebrated his 25th anniversary of being a working actor in Hollywood in 2024. In a 2019 interview with SkyTown Entertainment, Atkins discussed his long-lasting career.
“Literally 20 years ago, I drove across country in a black Kia Sephia. It barely made it through the mountains,” said Atkins, who was previously living in Chicago, with a laugh. “This was before they were kind of the LeBron James Kia Sephia. But I can’t believe it’s been 20 years. 20 years.”