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Anthony Charles Edwards (born July 19, 1962) is an American actor and director. He has two older sisters, Heidi and Ann-Marie, and two older brothers, Peter and Jeffrey. Edwards was encouraged by his parents to attend college before pursuing his interest in acting. He received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in England and studied theatre at University of Southern California but by age 19 was offered enough acting work that he left college.

Career

Edwards' early work includes a co-starring role in the TV series ''It Takes Two'' with Richard Crenna and Patty Duke Astin as his parents and Helen Hunt as his sister. His first starring role was in the 1984 comedy ''Revenge of the Nerds'' as Gilbert Lowell, though he had a tiny part in the 1982 film ''Fast Times at Ridgemont High'', credited as ''stoner Bud''. It was his role as LTJG Nick ''Goose'' Bradshaw alongside Tom Cruise in the 1986 film ''Top Gun'' that brought his first widespread public acknowledgement. His character, who died in an aviation accident, was among the most prominent and popular in the film. He also appeared as a terminally ill patient in ''Hawks'' (1988) alongside Timothy Dalton, another role which brought him worldwide fame. He also starred in the 1990 movie ''Downtown'' with Penelope Ann Miller and Forest Whitaker. In 1992 and 1993 he played Mike Monroe in ten episodes of Northern Exposure.

His best known role to date is as Dr. Mark Greene on the long-running TV series ''ER'', where he resided from its premiere in 1994 to the end of the 8th season in 2002. The series also afforded Edwards his first opportunity to direct. Edwards' desire to pursue directing led to his request to be written out of the series and in a touching and emotional storyline, his character died of brain cancer. He reportedly earned $35,000,000 for three seasons on ''ER''. His ''ER'' paycheck made him one of the highest paid television actors to date. Anthony Edwards and his former co-star George Clooney were the ones who suggested doing an episode of ''ER'' live. The fourth season premiere, ''Ambush'' was performed live twice with an East Coast and West Coast version.

Although he never won a Primetime Emmy Award, Edwards was nominated four times for an Emmy For Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

In 2007, Edwards appeared as SFPD inspector Bill Armstrong in David Fincher's ''Zodiac'', about the Zodiac Killer, the notorious serial killer who terrorized San Francisco in the 1960s and 1970s.

In 2008, Edwards returned to ER to reprise his role as Dr. Greene (in flashback scenes, where he treats the dying son of character Dr. Catherine Banfield) for one episode during its 15th and final season.

Personal life

Edwards has been married to Jeanine Lobell since 1994 and they have one son, Bailey, and three daughters, Esme, Wallis and Poppy. He left ''ER'' so he could spend more time with his family. He lives in New York City and is currently doing philanthropic work in Africa.

Honours and tributes

Filmography