Playing Doctor

Noah Wyle
The boyish naivete that Wyle exudes on screen as medical student John Carter is completely erased as he stands off set confidently smoking a Marlboro. When it comes to the business of acting, Wyle, born one block from Hollywood Boulevard, is one serious entrepreneur: ''I got into college, but I deferred. It struck me as more difficult to break into acting at 22 than when you're young, so why not get my foot in the door?'' Beyond the cameras, Wyle, 23, is everybody's little brother and everybody's buddy.

ER PREPARATION: ''I talked to medical students and I also modeled the character a bit on my dad and my younger brother Aaron. When I get flustered, I'm doing my brother.''

HOW HE COMPARES WITH HIS CHARACTER: ''We're both perfectionists. When we make mistakes, we tend to get down on ourselves. Life is overwhelming to us at times. I think I handle pressure better.''

SUBSPECIALTIES: Beating Clooney and La Salle at pool, reading, watching the movie channels.

PREVIOUS TRAINING: ''Got my SAG card by saying, 'Hey, excuse me, what's going on down there?' in a TV miniseries.''

OTHER CREDITS: Crooked Hearts, A Few Good Men, Swing Kids.

WORST MEDICAL TRAUMA: ''I tried to give blood once and passed out. The last thing I remembered was the woman who put the needle in my arm looking me in the eye and saying, 'You're my first.' ''

HIS IDEA OF A GREAT TIME: ''Playing with my dog and cat, having lunch at the farmer's market, shooting pool, catching a movie, flying to New York to see my girlfriend.''

WHAT'S IN HIS TRAILER: Sylvester the cat slippers, photos of the cast and his girlfriend, Girl Scout cookies, videos, CDs (Brahms to Brubeck).

IN OTHERS' WORDS: ''Noah is the oldest youngest actor I've ever met. He's so unlike his nerdy character. Noah is so cool.'' — Eriq La Salle