You’re Overdue for a Checkup With the House Cast Then and Now

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Everybody lies. But, for eight gripping seasons, there was a prescription for that.

For close to two decades now, viewers have been captivated and touched in a bittersweet way by the medical mystery drama House, featuring Hugh Laurie as the main character, a sarcastic, Vicodin-dependent diagnostician whose genius was second only to his cynical view of every patient who entered Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital.

Throughout the 2004-to-2012 run of the series on Fox, the members of Dr. Gregory House’s team would rotate—Omar Epps, Jennifer Morrison, and Jesse Spencer were the original members, followed by Olivia Wilde, Kal Penn, among others—but the approach remained consistent: Admit a patient with an unusual condition, and quickly determine the mystery ailment before the hour was up.

And was it ever lupus?

During the journey, House managed to irritate everyone in his vicinity, such as his intellectual partner akin to Sherlock, oncologist Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), and his seemingly exasperated superior but undeniably more than that, Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein).

Prior to the final episode in 2012, Laurie pondered over the factors that made House and its namesake series captivating.

The British actor, who was honored with two Golden Globes for his portrayal, explained to the Los Angeles Times that everyone came to understand that he was just as tough on himself as he was on them. “In our current society, people are often anxious about revealing their true selves,” he added, “but House saw through this and comprehended it.

Laurie ended up feeling about as weary as House looked, though.

In an interview with The Telegraph in 2012, he expressed that there aren’t many experiences in life as pleasurable that you’d want to engage in them for 16 hours a day, each day – even activities like sex and fine dining are included.

After dedicating myself to portraying the same character for eight consecutive years, I’ve come to realize that it’s not just about reenacting the role again and again; it’s about showing up at work repeatedly. Considering we’ve produced an impressive 170 episodes, equivalent to around 50-60 full-length films, a break becomes more than just a desire – it becomes a necessity.

If you’re beginning to experience a hint of feverish excitement recalling how fantastic “House” was, allow us to arrange an appointment for you to catch up with Laurie and the rest of the cast and see what they’ve been up to recently.

In the role of the witty yet tormented physician, Hugh Laurie steered eight captivating seasons of the renowned series, ultimately earning himself a pair of Golden Globe trophies along the way.

After the conclusion of my latest project, I’ve found myself in some captivating roles as a supporting actor. Most recently, you might have seen me on shows like Veep and The Night Manager, where I was fortunate enough to win my third Golden Globe for portraying Richard Onslow Roeper, a character famously known as “the worst man the world.” Additionally, I’ve had the privilege of directing an enthralling series adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic novel, Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? It’s been a delightful journey exploring these roles and stories.

Following her portrayal as Dr. Chi Park, Charlyne Yi went on to appear in numerous supporting roles in films such as “This Is 40”, “Second Act” and “Always Be My Maybe”. Additionally, she lends her voice to various characters within the animated series “Steven Universe”.

Despite the brief stint as Martha M. Masters during season seven, Amber Tamblyn has remained a notable figure. Her appearances stretched across 24 episodes in Two and a Half Men, and more recently, she’s been vocal about the #MeToo movement, using her platform to express critical views.

 

Odette Annable, who joined House’s Diagnostics Team late, left a strong impact during the series’ final season.

Following its conclusion, she acted in two short-lived series, namely “The Grinder” and “The Astronaut Wives Club,” prior to securing her current major role as Reign on “Supergirl.

We greatly enjoyed Peter Jacobson’s performance as Taub, a captivating character who balanced being a troubled addict with providing rational guidance to the other physicians.

I can’t get enough of Jacobson’s captivating performances! He’s truly a master of his craft, and it shows in the diverse roles he’s taken on, such as those on Ray Donovan, The Americans, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Colony. Simply mesmerizing!

Previously, we observed Dr. Robert Chase in the show when he took over House’s position as the Chief of Diagnostic Medicine.

Currently, Jesse Spencer stars in a series where he assumes command as Captain Matthew Casey on Chicago Fire.

Robert Sean Leonard portrayed Dr. James Wilson, who served as House’s sole genuine companion and the Watson to his Sherlock Holmes.

Following his memorable performance on the series, Leonard subsequently appeared as a recurring character in “Falling Skies” and the miniseries “The Hot Zone”. He also graced the stage for theater performances of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Camelot”, and numerous others.

Omar Epps didn’t just portray Dr. Eric Foreman wearing a lab coat; in fact, you might recall that he previously played Dr. Dennis Gant on the series “ER.

As a devoted admirer, I followed the footsteps of the NAACP Image Award-winning actor, Epps. Subsequently, I witnessed him take on significant roles in ‘Resurrection’, ‘Shooter’, and even secure a recurring role in NBC’s heartwarming series, ‘This Is Us’.

In the initial season of House, we met Jennifer Morrison portraying the character of Dr. Allison Cameron. Initially, she was the sole female member of the team.

Morrison subsequently took on another significant character when she got the part of Emma Swan in ABC’s fantasy show, “Once Upon a Time.” Additionally, she reunited with her fellow actor Epps off-screen (or possibly in the same storyline) when she was given a recurring role in the drama series, “This Is Us.

Although we were saddened to witness the death of Dr. Lawrence Kutner, portrayed by Kal Penn, on the show House, the actor had a valid reason, albeit not an official medical one, for deciding to leave.

Penn opted to become a part of Barack Obama’s administration, serving as an Associate Director within the White House Office of Public Engagement. This decision necessitated the series to eliminate his character.

Following his stint at the White House, Penn resumed his acting career with notable roles such as starring in the critically-adored yet brief-running series “Sunnyside.

On the show, Olivia Wilde skillfully portrayed Dr. Remy “Thirteen” Hadley, a bisexual M.D. whose intriguing plotline revolved around discovering that she carried the gene for Huntington’s disease.

Following her departure from the show, Wilde focused on furthering her film career, appearing in movies like “Cowboys and Aliens”. Since then, she has expanded her resume to include writing and directing, with her most recent projects being “Booksmart” and “Don’t Worry Darling”.

Following her portrayal of Dr. Lisa Cuddy, which garnered Lisa Edelstein several honors, such as a People’s Choice Award, she has since appeared in multiple shows on a recurring basis, including American Dad!, The Good Wife, Castle, The Kominsky Method, and 9-1-1: Lone Star.

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2025-07-05 15:17