Anthony Edwards Returns to TV [VIDEO]: Over A Decade After Leaving "E.R.," The Star Finally Returns to Television in "Zero Hour"
Anthony Edwards starred as Dr. Mark Greene on NBC's hit drama "E.R." from 1994 to 2002 and is finally returning to television in his new show "Zero Hour". In this action thriller, Edwards plays Hank Gallison, a magazine publisher who becomes entangled in an historical mystery after the abduction of his wife. The plot to "Zero Hour" is very layered and warrants concentration from viewers.
The character Dr. Mark Greene was the center of one of the biggest television dramas of all time. "E.R." fans watched the show's stars such as George Clooney and Julianna Margulies leave to pursue other work while Edwards committed to a four-year contract. Though it seemed like a big commitment at the time, Edwards established his career and made a fortune. The departure of Edwards after 8 years was a huge milestone for the show and television in general. In regards to his departure, Edwards says:
"I didn't really have a plan other than I knew I wasn't going to jump into a series again and I knew that I was really tired and burnt out."
He moved his wife, Jeanine, and their four kids to New York in order for Jeanine to work on her career as a make up artist. Soon after the move, the Edwards family took off on somewhat of an adventure. Edwards purchased a plane and departed on a 310-day trip around the world with his family and two teachers. The crew traveled through Africa, Southeast Asia, India and numerous other exotic destinations. Edwards viewed this trip as time spent extremely well with his family, and also stated:
"I've always been able to pay for what I needed and always done what I've wanted. It got crazy when it was, yeah, we can buy a plane and go around the world, but that wasn't the goal. That was no more excessive than when I was 20 and I could buy a $150 pair of boots because I wanted them. It feels extravagant in the same way."
Despite going on an adventure, Anthony Edwards remained active in the film and television industry. Always a fan of what went on behind the scenes, he started his own production company, Grand Central Entertainment, and executive produced HBO's "Temple Grandin." He even acted in the 2007 David Fincher directed film Zodiac opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr.
When a show developed by Grand Central Entertainment with Edwards attached to star was passed up by Showtime, the actor found himself with time to explore other options. "Zero Hour" caught Edwards' attention and the rest is history starting Thursday February 14th at 8PM (EST). One of the show's executive producers, Zack Estrin, expressed his excitement over Edwards' involvement with "Zero Hour," stating:
"It's an honor when somebody who could have his choice of shows chooses yours. It's like, the prom queen chooses you to have a dance."