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Oscar-Winner Reveals How He ‘Bombed’ Audition for ‘ER’

‘THIS GUY’S NUTS!’

The “White Lotus” actor recounted the audition that lost him a role in the hit 90s medical drama while promoting “The Bad Guys 2.”

Sam Rockwell attends the Newport Beach TV FEST Sunday Line-Up at Lido Theater on June 08, 2025 in Newport Beach, California.
Tiffany Rose/Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Newport Beach TV FEST

Oscar-winning actor Sam Rockwell has revealed how he bombed an audition for the hit TV show ER back in the 90s. Rockwell, who was promoting the new family comedy film The Bad Guys 2, was prompted alongside his cast mates Awkwafina, Anthony Ramos, and Marc Maron about an early career audition they “bombed.” Rockwell was the first to immediately answer with ER, before describing how he pulled up to the audition wearing a lab coat and equipped with an unsavory tool. “I came with a lab coat and a hypodermic thing but not the needle part, just the plastic part,” the actor said. Rockwell, who was auditioning for Noah Wyle’s role as Dr. John Carter, “thought [he] nailed it.” “And they were like, ‘This guy’s nuts!’ It’s almost like I brought a gun into the audition,” Rockwell said as his co-stars laughed. “Anyway I did not get the job,” he concluded. Despite the early setbacks, the actor would go on win and Oscar for his role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

@entertainmenttonight

Sam Rockwell pulled up to his 'ER' audition with a lab coat and hypodermic tool… and STILL didn’t get the role 😭🩺 #SamRockwell #Awkwafina #TheBadGuys #ER #noahwyle #ThePitt

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