Edwards heads back to "ER" in guest spot

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Anthony Edwards, one of the original stars of the NBC hospital drama "ER," will return to the landmark TV show in November in flashback scenes playing his now-deceased character of Dr. Mark Greene. He will share scenes with actress Angela Bassett, previously announced as a new addition to the "ER" cast for the show's upcoming 15th and final season, the General Electric Co.-owned network said on Thursday.

Edwards, 46, first appeared in the 1994 "ER" pilot episode and stayed with the show until his long-suffering character, the chief attending physician, finally succumbed to brain cancer at the end of the eighth season in May 2002.

The actor has appeared in more than 20 movies, most recently playing a detective in the serial killer drama "Zodiac."

NBC revealed little of his planned "ER" return except to say it would be occur an episode titled "Heal Thyself," slated to air on November 13, and would involve a series of scenes with Bassett "that will feature other characters from the show's past."

The groundbreaking series, set in the emergency room of the fictional Chicago-based County General Hospital, was the top-rated drama on U.S. television for several years during the height of its run.

But the show, which won the Emmy as best drama series in 1996, has slumped in the ratings in recent years.

An NBC spokesman said the episode with Edwards would begin shooting next week, but declined to say who else might be returning to the show in that installment.

The network and producers already have announced that one of Edwards' original "ER" co-stars, Noah Wyle, will reprise his role as Dr. John Carter in four episodes this coming season.

There was still no word on whether the biggest star to emerge from the original cast, George Clooney, might return for a last "ER" hurrah. He left the regular cast in 1999 to pursue his movie career full time. But he returned for a surprise cameo in May 2000 marking the departure of actress Julianna Margulies from the show after six seasons.

Bassett, 49, Oscar nominated for her portrayal of singer Tina Turner in the 1993 film "What's Love Got to Do With It," will join the show this season as a tough attending physician.