The George Clooney ER reunion brought the beloved castmates George Clooney and Noah Wyle together after nearly three decades, as they exchanged honors at the 2026 Movies for Grownups Awards held at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, in Beverly Hills on January 10. Their long-awaited public reunion delighted fans and underscored their enduring friendship from their days on the hit medical drama.
Clooney and Wyle Celebrate with Honors at Beverly Wilshire
The reunion between George Clooney and Noah Wyle took place during a memorable evening dedicated to recognizing talent in entertainment for mature audiences. At the event hosted by AARP, Noah Wyle presented George Clooney with the Best Actor award for his role as Jay Kelly. In a touching moment later that night, Clooney returned the gesture by presenting the Best TV Actor award to Wyle for his performance in The Pitt.
Standing before their colleagues and industry peers, Clooney expressed his appreciation for Wyle with candid storytelling about their first days on the set of ER.
“I met Noah in 1993. He hadn’t worked a lot yet and we did this show called ER and it was this crazy hit,”
George said on stage, via THR.
“At one time we had 40 million people watching and I remember Noah going, ‘Is that good?’ I was like, ‘That’s good, that’ll never happen again.’ He was wise beyond his years from the very beginning, from the very start. He was the kindest person I ever met. We became very dear friends very quickly, and remained that way.”
– George Clooney, Actor
In his acceptance, Clooney emphasized the strength of their friendship over the years, saying:
“I’m very proud to call him a friend, I’m also proud to call him a colleague. When I grow up, I want to be Noah Wyle,”
he added. – George Clooney, Actor
Reflecting on Their Time with ER
On his turn at the podium, Noah Wyle took the opportunity to share his own recollections from their early days on the ER set. He looked back fondly at the camaraderie Clooney inspired among the cast and crew, highlighting the tone the actor set from the very start.
“I remember vividly, the first week of ER, he called the entire cast into his trailer and said ‘OK everybody, this is how it’s gonna be. We’re going to be nice to everyone. There’s not going to be any divisions between the cast and crew or foreground and background, we’re going to learn our lines, we’re going to be on time, and take the work seriously themselves,”
Noah recalled. – Noah Wyle, Actor
Wyle also pointed out the sense of unity and professionalism that Clooney helped establish, recounting how that spirit shaped his experience for years.
“After that, that was the way it worked, and the first 15 years of my career, that is how it worked. And I spent the next 15 years trying to find that feeling — that sense of family, that sense of commitment. It was only with The Pitt that I found it again.”
– Noah Wyle, Actor
Legacy of ER and Ongoing Recognition
Both stars were integral to ER’s original ensemble cast, with Clooney departing after the show’s fifth season and Wyle staying on through season eleven. The bond they built during the series has clearly endured, as shown by their warmth at this recent event. Their reunion not only captured the attention of long-time fans, but also celebrated what they still mean to the television industry years after leaving the landmark hospital drama.
Looking ahead, George Clooney and Noah Wyle are both contenders at the 2026 Golden Globes, scheduled for January 11. Their continued recognition by prestigious organizations like the Movies for Grownups Awards and the Golden Globes cements their places as significant figures in Hollywood’s ongoing narrative.
This ER reunion at the Beverly Wilshire highlights the lasting friendships and professional respect that can emerge from collaborative work in television. As the awards season progresses, audiences and peers alike remain eager to see how both actors continue to be honored for their respective roles and their contributions to entertainment history.
