‘Chicago Hope’ Cast: Where Are They Now?
Find out which celebs starred in Chicago Hope, then went on to star in NCIS
In the realm of medical dramas, few have left as lasting an impression as Chicago Hope. Created by David E. Kelley, known for his expertise in crafting compelling legal dramas like and The Practice, Chicago Hope earned critical acclaim for its ensemble cast, engaging storytelling and nuanced character development. The series offered viewers a riveting glimpse into the lives of doctors, patients and administrators at Chicago’s fictional teaching hospital.
Aired from 1994 to 2000, Chicago Hope was a staple of primetime television, captivating audiences with its blend of gripping medical cases, intricate character dynamics, and thought-provoking ethical dilemmas. Central to its success was an ensemble cast that brought depth and authenticity to their roles, creating characters that resonated with viewers long after the show’s conclusion.
MUST READ: Paging All Medical Drama Lovers: Catch Up With the ‘St. Elsewhere’ Cast 40+ Years Later
Chicago Hope followed the professional and personal lives of the staff at Chicago’s prestigious teaching hospital, focusing on the challenges they faced in the high-pressure environment of modern medicine. From groundbreaking surgeries to moral quandaries, the series delved into the complexities of healthcare while exploring themes of ambition, morality, and humanity.
Here, we take a look at the Chicago Hope cast and what they are doing now.
Mandy Patinkin as Dr. Jeffrey Geiger
Born November 30, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois, Mandy Patinkin played the role of Dr. Jeffrey Geiger, the brilliant yet emotionally complex head of cardiothoracic surgery. Prior to Chicago Hope, Patinkin was famous for his role in the movie The Princess Bride (1987). Fans often ask him to recite his famous line from the movie, “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
After Chicago Hope, Patinkin starred in the series Homeland as Saul Berenson and in The Good Fight as Hal Wackner. He also appeared in several movies including Before You Know it, Life Itself and the voice of Papa Smurf in the movie Smurfs: The Lost Village.
Most recently, in 2024, Patinkin played the role of Rufus in the TV series Death and Other Details.
Patinkin is married to actress Kathryn Grody and together they have two sons.
MUST READ: ‘Criminal Minds’ Cast Then and Now: Catch Up With The Agents of the B.A.U.
Héctor Elizondo as Dr. Phillip Watters
Born December 22, 1936, in New York City, Héctor Elizondo played the role of Dr. Phillip Watters, the pragmatic and compassionate chief of staff. Elizondo got his start in Broadway. From there he transitioned to the small screen, where he appeared in Kojak, All in the Family and The Rockford Files.
Elizondo was then in four films directed by Garry Marshall: Young Doctors in Love (1982); The Flamingo Kid (1984); Nothing in Common (1986) and Overboard (1987).
He also had a memorable role in the movie Pretty Woman (1990) after Al Pacino turned down the part. Next up, he was in Beverly Hills Cop III (1994).
After Chicago Hope, Elizondo appeared in the Princess Diaries franchise. He also had regular roles in several TV series including Last Man Standing, B Positive and Grey’s Anatomy.
Most recently, he was in the 2023 movie Mr. Monk’s Last Case.
Mark Harmon as Dr. Jack McNeil
Thomas Mark Harmon was born on September 2, 1951, in Burbank, California. He played Dr. Jack McNeil on Chicago Hope.
Prior to Chicago Hope, Harmon was a regular on the series Reasonable Doubts, Flamingo Road and on the medical drama St. Elsewhere.
After Chicago Hope ended, Harmon immediately got the starring role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the hit, two-decade-long show NCIS.
MUST READ: Mark Harmon Young: A Look Back at How the Handsome ‘NCIS’ Star Got His Start
Harmon has also appeared in several movies including Weather Girl, Freaky Friday and Chasing Liberty.
Harmon has been married to Pam Dawber (of Mork and Mindy fame) since 1987 and they have two children.
Christine Lahti as Dr. Kathryn Austin
Born April 4, 1950 in Birmingham, Michigan, Christine Lahti got her breakthrough role in And Justice for All (1979) with Al Pacino. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Swing Shift (1984) and won an Academy Award for Best Short Film for Lieberman in Love (1995) in which she starred and directed.
However, for most of her career, Lahti primarily focused on television. In addition to her starring role in Chicago Hope, she was also in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Most recently, she played Sheryl Luria in the series Evil (2019-2024).
MUST READ: ‘Law & Order’ Cast: 16 of Our Favorite Stars Then and Now
Jayne Brook as Dr. Diane Grad
Jayne Brook was born in Northbrook, Illinois; she played Dr. Diane Grad on Chicago Hope.
Before the series, Brook played Ann Hudson in the show WIOU. She was also a regular on the show Siren, playing the part of Officer Sarah Berkezchuk. Brook appeared in several movies as well, including Kindergarten Cop and Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead.
After Chicago Hope, Brook was in several other shows including Boston Legal, John Doe, Brother and Sisters and Grey’s Anatomy. She most recently appeared in Star Trek: Discovery.
Book has been married to John Terlesky since May 11, 1996. They have two children.
MUST READ: 10 Funny and Moving Behind-the-Scenes Secrets About the Original TV ‘Star Trek’
Rocky Carroll as Dr. Keith Wilkes
Before his role in Chicago Hope, Carroll was in the movie Born on the Fourth of July, Fathers and Sons and Prelude to a Kiss.
After Chicago Hope, Carroll starred in the TV series Welcome to New York, followed by The Agency. Carroll then starred alongside fellow Chicago Hope actor Marc Harmon on NCIS. Carroll played the role of Leon Vance, Harmon’s on-screen boss. Carroll also appeared in several movies including Yes Man, Prisoner and The It Crowd.
Adam Arkin as Dr. Aaron Shutt
Born on 19 August 1956 in New York City, Adam Arkin played the role of Dr. Aaron Shutt on Chicago Hope.
Prior to the Chicago Hope, Arkin appeared in several shows including Northern Exposure, Picket Fences and Knots Landing.
After Chicago Hope, he’s appeared in several TV series and movies including Sons of Anarchy (2008), A Serious Man (2009) and Get Shorty (2017). Most recently, he was in Law and Order (2019), Big Shot (2021) Rebel (2021) and Pig (2021).
Peter Berg as Dr. Billy Kronk
Born March 11, 1964 in New York City, Peter Berg is an actor, director, writer, and producer.
He started off in movies including the parts in Never on Tuesday (1988), A Midnight Clear (1992) and Fire in the Sky (1993). Then he got his big break on TV with the role of Dr. Billy Kronk in Chicago Hope, where he quickly became a fan favorite.
He continue in movies, though, with parts in Cop Land (1997) Collateral (2004) and Lions for Lambs (2007).
In addition to acting, Berg has directed several films including Very Bad Things (1998) and Hancock (2008). He also wrote and produced many projects including Friday Night Lights (2004) and The Losers (2010).
Most recently, he was the executive producer of the 2023 series Painkiller (starring Matthew Broderick) and the 2024 series God Save Texas.
Click through to learn more of our favorite 90s movies and TV shows!
