Noah Wyle is stepping off the hospital set and into the political spotlight. The former “ER” star, who famously played Dr. John Carter for more than a decade, appeared on Capitol Hill this week to advocate for the real-life doctors and nurses he says deserve far more support. During a powerful speech at a Washington, D.C. rally, Noah Wyle passionately called on Congress to take action, arguing that healthcare professionals should not have to “beg for basic support” from a system they help hold together.

Noah Wyle Speaks Out At ‘Healthcare Is Human’ Rally

Wyle was one of several speakers at Figs’ “Healthcare Is Human” rally in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, where he addressed a crowd gathered in support of healthcare reform. Wearing a “Healthcare Is Human” shirt under a blazer, the actor received loud applause as he took the stage to advocate for stronger protections and support for medical workers.

The cause is one that hits especially close to home for Wyle, whose mother, Marty Wyle, worked as a nurse for 50 years and introduced him before his speech. “I want to be super clear about who is talking to you right now: I am not a doctor. I am not a nurse. I am not a member in any way of the healthcare workforce that I love so dearly,” Wyle told the crowd.

He continued, “I am an actor. I’m the son of a nurse who spent 50 years caring for other people, and I’ve spent decades trying to do justice to what she and the rest of you actually do. That is the only credential I am claiming today.”

Wyle Says ‘ER’ And ‘The Pitt’ Helped Him Understand Healthcare Workers

During the speech, Wyle reflected on his long connection to medical dramas, including “ER” and his latest project, “The Pitt.” “Most of you know that I have been part of two shows about emergency medicine. ‘ER’ when I was younger and a lot less wise and now ‘The Pitt,'” he said.

According to Wyle, the HBO series was created with one key question in mind. “’The Pitt’ is what happened when a group of us got obsessed with one question: ‘What does the job actually look like right now?’ And to answer that question honestly, we listened.”

“We listened to emergency physicians, we listened to charge nurses, we listened to residents being asked to function on three hours sleep after working 18-hour shifts and then being asked to head right back in,” Wyle said hearing directly from frontline workers opened his eyes to the realities of modern healthcare.

Noah Wyle Calls On Congress To Take Action

The actor used his platform to urge lawmakers to support multiple healthcare-focused initiatives, including the Healthcare Human Act, full funding for the Dr. Lauren Breen Act programs, and the Healthcare Professionals Speak Free Act.

“Let me say plainly what we’re asking Congress to do. One, pass the Healthcare Human Act, a federal tax credit of up to $6,000 a year for health care professionals serving the communities that need them the most,” he said.

Wyle also delivered an emotional message while discussing Dr. Lauren Breen, an emergency physician who died by suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Dr. Lauren Breen was an emergency physician. She spent her life taking care of people on some of the worst days of their lives,” he said. “And during the early days of COVID, she did what health care professionals do. She went toward the crisis.”

“And then she needed support in a system that still makes too many people afraid of what asking for help could cost them,” he continued. “We are grateful that Congress has signed this important bill into law. However, without funding it, it’s a promise without action. Congress needs to finish the job.”

Wyle Says Healthcare Workers Need ‘Backup’

Wyle made it clear that, in his eyes, appreciation alone is not enough. “To every health care professional here and every health care professional watching, I know you do not need another speech about how important you are,” he said. “You need backup.”

The actor also stressed that healthcare should not be treated as a political issue. “This isn’t about politics,” he said. “Cancer is not partisan, a stroke is not partisan, a kid with a fever in the middle of night is not partisan. The healthcare professional who shows up for that patient should not have to beg for basic support from a system that they hold together.”

The comments sparked enthusiastic applause from attendees.

Noah Wyle’s Family Supported Him At The Emotional Event

When he wasn’t speaking on stage, Wyle was spotted spending time with his wife of 12 years, Sara, and their 10-year-old daughter, Frances. The actor, who also shares two older children from a previous marriage, has remained closely tied to the medical world through television.

Wyle famously starred as Dr. John Carter on NBC’s “ER.” Today, he continues exploring emergency medicine storytelling as a writer, director, and producer on HBO’s “The Pitt.”