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Back to Noah Wyle, with Noah Wyle & Shawn Hatosy.

Why Did Noah Wyle Skip College?

Noah Wyle skipped college because a summer theater program showed him the people he wanted to work with. Northwestern University sponsors the Cherub Program, an all-star session for theater kids from around the country. He went, found that group, and came home committed to acting. He wanted an apartment with his best friend and a way to hustle.

At 17 he bused tables for Dimitri Dimitrov. Dimitrov taught that serving is not the same as being subservient. If you want to act, treat the dining room as a show, play the part, and watch the details. One night Dimitrov worked the shift with a burst appendix, counted the money, tipped the staff, went to the emergency room, and was back the next night. Noah tells his own kids to take a service job. They will learn quickly how to handle different people, and they will learn they do not want to do it forever.

Transcript

Noah Wyle ·

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

More from this episode

  1. Why Does the Pitt Take Place in One Day?Shawn Hatosy says The Pitt takes a hospital show people already know and changes it by telling the story in one day.
  2. Where Were the Pitt and ER Filmed?Shawn Hatosy says The Pitt and ER were not shot in Pittsburgh or Chicago. Both were filmed on the lot in Los Angeles. Basketball was a big part of ER.
  3. Is Noah Wyle People's Sexiest Man Alive?Amy Poehler says Noah Wyle is People's Sexiest Man Alive.
  4. What Happened When an Emu Attacked Noah Wyle?Noah Wyle was trying to feed his emus after they had babies, and both birds came at him.
  5. How Old Was Noah Wyle When He Auditioned for ER?Noah Wyle was 21 when he auditioned for ER, and he turned 22 while they made the pilot. He had started out refusing commercials.
  6. How Did George Clooney Set the Tone on ER?Noah Wyle says George Clooney set the tone on ER.
  7. How Was Noah Wyle's First Day With Rob Reiner?Noah Wyle calls his first day with Rob Reiner an absolute dream.
  8. When Did Noah Wyle Learn His Mother Was a Nurse?Noah Wyle did not learn who his mother was professionally until he was 54.
  9. What Happened When Noah Wyle Tried to Befriend Shaun Cassidy?Noah Wyle tried to befriend Shaun Cassidy and never got a callback. A mutual friend brokered a night to hang out and play pool.
  10. How Does Noah Wyle Prepare for a Big Scene?Noah Wyle treats a scary role as a mirror instead of a reason to turn it down.
  11. Did George Clooney Play Basketball on the ER Set?Noah Wyle says George Clooney played basketball on the ER set all the time, and beat him in a lot of games.

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