Clooney, Margulies return to 'ER'

LOS ANGELES, March 13 (UPI) -- Former "ER" staff George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, Noah Wyle and Eriq La Salle returned for one of the U.S. hospital drama's final episodes Thursday night.

Clooney's Dr. Doug Ross, who was written off the show in 1999 so Clooney could make movies, was seen talking to a woman, played by Susan Sarandon, at a Seattle hospital about allowing her dying grandson's organs to be donated. The late teen's kidney then went to Wyle's ailing Dr. John Carter character in Chicago during Thursday night's episode, which was titled "Old Times." As he was waiting to hear if he would be getting the kidney, Carter was visited by his former mentor, La Salle's Dr. Peter Benton.

Fans who have been wondering how Ross and his on-screen love interest, nurse Carol Hathaway, are doing years after Hathaway's portrayer Margulies left the show in 2000, found out the couple are married and the parents of twin girls.

Because of Clooney, Sarandon and Ernest Borgnine, who had a cameo, the episode boasted appearances by three Oscar winners.

"ER" is slated to end its 15-season run on NBC April 2.