10 unforgettable TV characters who were supposed to die earlier
Carol Hathaway — ‘ER’
Julianna Margulies was first hired as a guest star because Nurse Carol Hathaway was supposed to die of an overdose in ER’s pilot. After some test screenings, audiences really responded to her character and her chemistry with George Clooney’s Dr. Doug Ross.
Margulies was about to sign on for a sitcom when Clooney let her know there was a good chance the character would live beyond the pilot, and the rest is TV history. Doug and Carol had their ups and downs, but they remain one of the small screen’s most beloved couples. Margulies was a series regular for six seasons of ER and won an Emmy before walking away from a $27 million offer to stay on two more seasons.