ER: Greene's very last patient. "Never let your work become your life, live a little"

ER: Mark Greene's very last patient, Orion in the Sky, Season 8, Episode 18.
This episode features Dr.Greene's last day working at the ER and finally coming to terms with the fact he is going to die and he wants to die the way he lived his life. Fans of the show will notice many heartbreaking moments in this episode. Like when he tells the patient that he too knows what it is like to be dying. The 2 most painful moments are when he is leaving for the last time. When he is walking toward the door he makes eye contact for the last time with his longtime crush, Dr.Lewis, and as he walks to the door he responds to Abby's goodnight with a crushing "goodbye". The final scene between Greene and Carter passes the torch from one to the other, but in doing so leaves a huge void the show has never filled. Dr. Greene set the tone.

[@davidhill1958]

ER was the show that motivated me to go to medical school. I then became an ER physician.

[@caroldente9635]

that is amazing!

[@browneyedgirl4285]

That's awesome!!!! Congratulations

[@summerchase6005]

Awesome 🥰 I loved the show also,but became a teacher 😏

[@davidstevenson6990]

Me too...

[@67tr876]

Good for you !!! That is awesome

[@Lubbylove89]

Heart and soul of the ER. Some people think it was Carter but it was always Greene for me.

[@k.a.w.7073]

Lubbylove89 Carter's arrogance and flirtation with Abby killed Lucy. He never set the tone.

[@bobnagel6449]

Lubbylove89 The show was never the same after Greene was killed off, it started becoming like a daytime drama.

[@WilliamSpitzer]

It was Dr Greene

[@jimmykray9583]

Carter was a brilliant character until he got involved with Abby she was the WORST character of all time

[@BarstoolBlues33]

I never liked Carter after he got stabbed. He was just obnoxious and emo.

[@cliffordterrell5524]

Mark Greene and the entire cast was like family this was one of greatest shows ever made. Thanks for the memories

[@davetheauthor9885]

For some reason I always found this scene to be sadder than when he actually died in Hawaii. Just something about him looking around at the people and the place, knowing that it's the very last time he'll ever see them.

[@eric777100763]

David Pierdomenico Well when saved by Jesus it isnt the last time.

[@Scottishfilmfanatic]

eric777100763 a fictional character

[@alessandroventuri3666]

David Pierdomenico yes........You R right!!

[@anishgb]

Yeah it rings with melancholy ,when he realizes he has to leave the hospital , his co-workers, doctors he trained ,there is a definite finality in these scenes, especially when he asks Carter to 'Set the tone" here onwards

[@kathyloveless6525]

It definitely hit a nerve with me too. Brings tears to my eyes. Grey Anatomy doesn't have nothing on this Show. So powerful. Thank You Sir. Micheal Crithon

[@howlbeast]

the look he shares with Susan is heartbreaking

[@bobydroby]

Never let your work become your life, live a little

[@MrAdamloring1985]

And so we said a slow goodbye to one of the great characters, of one of the best shows ever on television. I still think Anthony Edwards is by far too underrated an actor.

[@jeffking5505]

Adam Loring I couldn't agree more

[@kevand3320]

“Goodnight Dr. Greene” “Goodbye” 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@beazywhite7891]

Right in the feels...

[@warriorcatsfan6906]

I cried when Mark Died he was one of my favorite Doctors in the series

[@sd-py1xb]

"Never let your work become your life" best advice ever!!!!!!!

[@piusx8317]

s Drew Weirdly I'm the opposite lol. I love my job and live to work😂

[@LadyRoseWarrior]

He was the soul of ER and his spirit lived on.

[@1968royboy]

That little girl did such a beautiful thing for Mark, and she didn't even know it. it reminds me of what my English teacher said to me once, " No matter who are you or what you do, never underestimate the power of you actions"

[@quastrend]

Roy Williams

[@dooovde]

your*

[@philiplongee1149]

Anthony Edwards may have been the backseat to Tom Cruise in Top Gun but on ER he 'Set the Tone' for 8 years!

[@gamblerpete]

Top Gun sucks anyway

[@JJA1987]

gamblerpete Top Gun's a classic but Greene is by far Anthony's best role he's played

[@Scottishfilmfanatic]

gamblerpete you suck

[@sammiller422]

er was his first major role he he played the best acting in this

[@kathyloveless6525]

Oh you damned straight

[@willcorker763]

when the dad thinks Mark is talking about his shift being over but we know the truth. still hurts but is sweet in a way. still my favorite show ever

[@80MWH]

"Work on your jump shot." And with those last words, Doctor Mark Greene, walked past the ambulance, out to the sidewalk, and disappeared into the crowd of people that were out walking that chilly Chicago night.

[@F5_cena]

Wasn't his last words of the show lol

[@Daringamiga]

The music ,The actors , The story line .Im such a sucker for this series...

[@bobnagel6449]

Greene reminds me of a man I used to work with who died from a brain tumor. He kept telling us he'd be back because he was brave but I think he knew he was dying all along. When we were told he'd passed away it was like a punch in the stomach.

[@thomaspage2773]

He made ER , what it was. The heart and soul off , the show. His departure in it , left such a huge gap that no one . Could ever replace .

[@cubdukat]

It was great that Kerry actually took his advice.

[@WilliamSpitzer]

This scene reminds me that we never know what battles others are fighting, we never stop learning and just how one person can impact our lives. Thank you Katie!

[@6ixConfessions]

"You set the tone, Cater." Love this scene even after all these years.

[@Eclecticajewels]

My face is soaked in a blubbery mess. This show is STILL one of my favorites after all these years....

[@fabioalves2142]

How can I stop crying after that scene?!?

[@1968royboy]

You can't, don't even try x

[@alan727]

I don't know why, but this scene with the music always gets me emotional! And I never get tearful at a tv show.

[@diegomontenegro3501]

Mark Greene the heart and soul....god I miss this show

[@ColumbiaQT2001]

Diego Montenegro Everything else is making a comeback. I think Netflix should bring this back.

[@frankdeal1742]

The show is aired on POP.

[@frankieablona6240]

I miss ER. Bring back my childhood.

[@leftredditcollaboration2769]

I know it’s been a long ass time since you posted this comment, but just in case you don’t know, ER in its entirety is on Hulu. I know that most people have Netflix, but not as many have Hulu. Anyway, just in case you want to watch it, it’s out there.

[@warhorus2909]

Dr. Greene was one of my favorite characters...

[@dylanminihan2203]

Paxton Stoker er is back on tv

[@warhorus2909]

Dylan Minihan reruns?

[@dylanminihan2203]

Still tho it’s on tv ha

[@jessicawebber7668]

War Horus same here

[@maribethshuman6334]

It's been almost 28 years since I saw this show, and these last few scenes still make me cry. The saddest is when Abby says "Goodnight" and Greene says "Goodbye".

[@ManMonkey600]

I loved the way they did this. Honestly they didn't even need to bring a full closure with showing him dying. But I guess since Elizabeth was still going to be on the show they had to address it. But this was just so sweet, sad, and poetic all at the same time. It really makes you think about your own life. I love when he tells Kerry don't let your work become your life. A friend of mine just said that to me a couple of weeks ago when we were hanging out. I told him I wanted to love my job and didn't right now. He said work is work. Once you walk back on your time you need to go enjoy your life. Dr. Greene was an awesome character and Anthony Edwards did an amazing job portraying him over the years.

[@JourneyJetTravel]

I always admired Dr Greene’s character in ER and how he went about things in his day to day life. As strange as this sounds, his character has taught me to be the best person I could possibly be, to do things better the next day and to be more compassionate towards others, esp. with my work colleagues. Although his life was his job, I’ve tried to take a step back from my job and not let it dictate my life too much. I really miss ER, especially not seeing Dr Greene’s character.

[@adangracia3763]

Thank you, Dr. Greene. Forever may your beautiful soul rest peacefully.

[@MsElladog]

I think that one of the saddest things is that Doug and Carol weren’t able to make it to his funeral.

[@F5_cena]

Clooney said because he didn't want his presence to ruin the moment

[@J13HB]

the instrumental is so beautiful, so fitting

[@rickb.284]

I just got it..the look from Greene to Dr. Lewis says it all...they were the love of each others lives, and they let it go....one of the true cruelties of life...it didn't have to happen that way, but it did...Being scared of love is nothing to fear, but for some reason, Lewis just couldn't handle the ramifications of being truly happy because she was truly in love with a man, that made her happy. Why be scared? follow your heart....your emotions will lead the way, and fear will dissipate...Sorry to see it happen that way, but it did..

[@dylanminihan2203]

I always loved dr greene

[@daniellesmith4689]

I aspire to care for my patients how Dr. Greene did. A fictional character but I fell in love with medicine because of ER and the character of Greene. Makes me so sad. 😭

[@Peter-or8oc]

You can always tell brilliant tv when after all these years and we are in 2023 I still feel the sadness of Dr Greene's leaving scene brings a lump to my throat even now

[@gregory3155]

i'm not crying, you're crying

[@abbaszaidi8371]

G Simpson damn those onion ninjas

[@paulworth1975]

To this day, it still breaks my heart

[@ventilator98]

"Is Anybody sick?" "JUST THE DR." This was truly sad. And then as he said "Goodbye," as his last moments in the ER, as his last moments in the hospital passed, you could sense the soul of ER, leaving. Mark set the tone.

[@XravensunsetX]

just watched this episode last night..... so many feels!

[@OpenMawProductions]

Speaking as a writer I think this really was the best moment for the show to end. The episodes that followed were sentimental and sweet and sad for the character of Dr. Green, but this really does feel like a *series* finale to me. A lot of the same patients from the first episode of the show, all the characters have a moment to bow out as Dr. Green leaves for the last time. It just seems like the show was at it's height and ending at that point would have been the best.

[@mariahmueller4356]

OpenMawProductions I agree!

[@penske_material]

I agree also. We knew he'd die, we didn't need to see it. This IS the real last episode of the show.

[@jimpanza1]

I totally agree. I am in my 30's and my mom is a former nurse so she and I use to watch ER every Thursday night before I went to bed. I do remember this scene and I feel that this would be a perfect series finale. I mean I know there are going to be people that are going to say you can not leave the series in a Cliffhanger we want to know what happened to all the other characters and the hospital in general. But if you think about it. Making this the series final leaves the network and writers up to make a sequel years later. This is one of many scenes that form this entire series that made me cry and I am a man and never cry to anything.

[@patriciaarganaraz4258]

I'm crying like a baby and I always will while watching this

[@exoticmale33]

still gives me goose bumps..amazing series and cast

[@kristel6647]

It must be utterly heartbreaking to have to leave a vocation such as a doctor, the epitome of making a difference to others ❤️ All the work, the dreams of that career, even at retirement it must be like losing a huge part of yourself.

[@rexregum6693]

This scene always tears me up no matter how many times I watch it.

[@johnsonslawnserviceministr4038]

Thank you for loading this don’t know why this still chokes me up watching this I know it’s a TV show and I know it’s old as all get out but it’s still like I first watched it and I’m connected to all the people again It doesn’t make any sense their characters their actors portrayed in the role it doesn’t make any sense their characters their actors portrayed in the role but I still get choked up

[@soleilsoleil716]

Damnit. People really gotta stop cutting onions in this house.

[@adriannahutton4663]

I NEED the music played in this scene. It's beautiful.

[@carrietremble]

They played it again in two more scenes, in season 15. They played it when Abby was leaving the hospital for good, and they played it when Neela and Ray reunited. Those were 2 other very poignant moments for the series.

[@gomamon15]

Did you ever find it? I am looking for it now...

[@spunkyspano]

Why do I still get so emotional watching this? 😔

[@luigemario241]

you set the tone, Cater

[@alilindsay4304]

Ugh! Still makes me cry xx

[@xxace_tntxx4289]

These words will forever inspire me. ;( Rest In Peace Dr. Greene.

[@SimplicityBeatz]

Damn when he says goodbye to Abby it always make me sad.

[@planesteve]

Very emotional to watch and what followed miss Dr. Green miss ER, "You set the tone Carter"

[@howlbeast]

great acting by Anthony Greene

[@Darienlover999]

Always.

[@daviddavidson8050]

Ode to a remarkable television show. Good night sweet prince.

[@opsatr]

Ok. Wanted to see a clip of Dr. Greene. Deliberately avoided those about his death because I didn't want to cry. But halfway through this, that's exactly what I find myself doing -- crying. Oh well. Loved Dr. Greene.

[@king_valenz2335]

This episode still hits me to this day

[@VanesaLaura30]

And I'm still crying

[@tonystephenson4842]

I remember this..How he said your ball now,how he set the tone now..Carter didn't understand at 1st.

[@sharonmchugh7957]

Tony Stephenson and that's what Carter says to Morris when he leaves. When he comes back and sees how well Morris is doing he says "I see you took my advice, you really do set the tone"

[@kdelka81]

Sharon McHugh Dr. Morgenstern said it to Dr. Greene in the pilot. I never realized it until starting to rewatch the series.

[@jimpanza1]

Personally I feel this would been the spot to end the series. I am in my 30's and my mom is a former nurse so she and I use to watch ER every Thursday night before I went to bed. I mean I know there are going to be people that are going to say you can not leave the series in a Cliffhanger we want to know what happened to all the other characters and the hospital in general. But if you think about it. Making this the series final leaves the network and writers up to make a sequel years later. This is one of many scenes that form this entire series that made me cry and I am a man and never cry to anything.

[@OpenMawProductions]

This is where the show should have ended. Dr. Greene was the strand that began the show's decline. It lost it's inner core and identity and became absurd. This episode was the perfect ending for the series. Everyone got one last wink at the camera before Dr. Green left, and it came completely full circle with the very first episode of the series.

[@toughtaurus7270]

I disagree that it became absurd directly after Anthony Edwards left. He was always one of my favorites, but the show did last 7 seasons longer, still received Award nominations, and still brought in some great ratings, although not as high as when it was at it's peak. The ER itself was the biggest star of this series, not any one individual actor.

[@Nivory]

this definitely is the height of the series, but i think it is still good up until 11-12, last few seasons do get a bit dumb, but the end of the final season is great

[@JJA1987]

Agreed Greene was the face of the show up until Anthony Edwards decided to leave the show at the end of season 8 & the show wasn't the same after that

[@OpenMawProductions]

There's a big reason for that, too. The events from the first eight or so seasons are based on the real experiences of Michael Chricton. When they ran out of that core, and lost too many of the key characters, the show just didn't have the traction to continue.

[@mariahmueller4356]

I was thinking the same thing. This should have been the season finale. Dr Green was the heart and soul of ER. When he died it never was the same. They dragged the show on for way too long!

[@jessica3017]

Bawled my eyes out on this episode. Love love love Greene!❤️

[@291RaeRae]

Dr Greene was my favorite doctor. I don’t why but I liked him. I cried so much when he died.😭

[@KennnnnnyTucky]

Outstanding all around.

[@the_filmster1983]

Damn I miss this show 😭😭😭

[@ianmccarthy1323]

Thanks for this.

[@ursuchariot]

the most heartbreaking part is always when he goes through the board, for me. he was so, so good at his job.

[@DoctorJRx]

Best Doctor ever !!

[@lfc_annie6256]

Just watched this, personally I think they dragged it on in Hawaii but it was still sad none the less... One of the saddest scenes in the show

[@Darienlover999]

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to watch this without sobbing.

[@howlbeast]

i miss the show

[@howlbeast]

the way mark looked at the blonde doctor.. got me

[@howlbeast]

3:05

[@adventureswithkat3884]

I just cried.

[@robertfishman3742]

A beautifully touching scene

[@haywoodjablome6645]

Thursday Nights were the best night of the week in the mid-Nineties. ER was the best show on TV.

[@dianekay7285]

Every time I watch this, I get a lump in my throat.

[@alixinthemiddle]

gosh, how long ago did this episode air, and it still makes me sob.

[@andreamarquez1768]

His last glance with Susuan 😢💔

[@debbierenninger6917]

Loved this show.

[@jessicawebber7668]

Debbie Renninger me2

[@kolos2006]

To me,that was it.The end of the show.

[@Mawamo2227]

but still one of very few TV shows that never went downhill after the death of a leading character...

[@howlbeast]

i agree

[@penske_material]

Arwa Babai not for a few seasons. I watched till the end, but the last season I really enjoy is 11. The rest are watchable, but the budget cut really affected the show, it didn't even look busy anymore, and the stories didn't focus on actual medicine anymore.

[@antonythurman2669]

the music always got me right to the end live a little

[@dharkbizkit]

i didnt care about any of the deaths in greys anatomy, neighter the patients nor the doctors.. but greenes last day at work, this whole episode, brought me to tears

[@matthewgreenwood4286]

Amazing show

[@kmartradiostoresandtours1282]

You set the tone

[@r.d.493]

I thought of this scene when I waited on my final customer after 10.5 years as a coffee shop barista. I told her, “You are my very last customer.”

[@marco-pd7rs]

Nunca dejes que tu trabajo se convierta en tu vida vive un poco gran enseñanza

[@Ambiorix975]

Si

[@spyralspyder]

My eyes are leaking.

[@paulworth1975]

Still bawl my eyes out ..

[@dbrjaxfl]

Masterful

[@SalvationDiscipleshipAreNotThe]

Mark Greene's death was so sad. He wasn't the best father or husband in the world, but he was undoubtedly the BEST doctor at County General. The show was never completely the same without him.

[@josmacch]

This was supposed to be his last episode with the letter announcing his death. I think the producers wanted a more direct chronicle of his death for a proper farewell which is why the Hawaii episode came about.

[@haj1126]

That's the reason to make an epi that made me cry like a little boy.

[@yhideit4427]

Edwards was the real Captain of the ER ship....awesome. !

[@juliemalterre4412]

Dr greene was really different from the mains characters we know see on medical series. He didn't need to be handsome, all the charism bright inside and outside him

[@kimmilliner7300]

Orion’s sky is it over...

[@anitashav1954]

After all these years

[@abbaszaidi8371]

To all us doctors, nurses, clinicians who put a solid shift in today wherever you are in the world. Don’t let the bastards get you down. Here’s to us 🍺

[@franksabados657]

Dr Greene the best Doctor on ER Anthony Edwards the best

[@ffdgsg2187]

She is cute , and mark greene he is good dr i will him as my own Dr

[@imatekjam2005]

The day ER flatlined........

[@JoefromNJ1]

i stopped watching after season 8 when mark died. glad i did.

[@sizzlinmind4265]

JoefromNJ1 Me too. Isn't that weird you were just on. I had no plans to watch this again and then I thought of how upsetting this part was and that I cried. This great TV show really got really annoying after this season.

[@jsins8880]

JoefromNJ1 ER doesn't exist without this character.....he brought breathe and a pulse to the show

[@JJA1987]

JoefromNJ1 Their was a huge void on The Show when Anthony's Character Greene was killed off. Was never the same

[@mariahmueller4356]

J Sins Yeah Dr green was the heart and soul of ER.

[@ColumbiaQT2001]

JoefromNJ1 Nope. Show continued for another 7 great seasons after that... this show is better than Grey’s.