Editing Sherry Stringfield (section)

=== ''ER'' ===
Stringfield became one of the original cast members of [[NBC]]'s medical drama, ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]''. Her personal success mirrored the show's success — she was nominated for an [[Emmy Award]] for lead actress during each of her first three seasons of the show. Stringfield was contractually tied to appear in five seasons of ''ER''; however, a desire for a "normal life" and to escape ''ER'''s grueling filming schedule prompted her to leave the drama early in its third season.<ref name="why"/> 
In order to be released from her contract, Stringfield was forced to sign a no-work agreement, which blocked her from working on television for the remainder of her original contract. Stringfield's decision to quit reportedly angered the show's executive producer, [[John Wells (TV producer)|John Wells]], because she left just as Dr. Lewis got embroiled in a budding romance with [[Anthony Edwards (actor)|Anthony Edwards]]' [[Dr. Mark Greene]].<ref name="why"/> Stringfield has commented: "I wouldn't describe the situation as pleasant. The producers were in shock. They tried to talk me out of it. It took a long time to get out of my contract."<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://ew.com/article/1997/10/17/sherry-stringfield-goodbye-girl/ | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | first=Dana | last=Kennedy | title=Sherry Stringfield, the Goodbye Girl | date=1997-10-17 | access-date=2011-03-26 | archive-date=2012-07-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730181735/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,289870,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

Stringfield's much publicized departure reportedly "sent a small shock wave through Hollywood"<ref>{{cite news | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1683&dat=19961122&id=g3AaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ai4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5690,2599466 | title= STRINGFIELD YEARNS FOR 'NORMAL LIFE'| publisher = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | date = 1996-11-22 | access-date=2012-03-28}}</ref> and her exit episode in November 1996 attracted 37 million viewers, the biggest night of the season for the NBC network.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_19961126/ai_n10291235 | title= ER' grabs healthy dose of ratings| publisher = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | date = 1996-11-26 | access-date=2007-04-12 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> Stringfield quit just as television executive Dick Robertson was closing a deal that guaranteed the ''ER'' cast millions in future earnings from sales to cable and [[Broadcast syndication|syndication]], meaning she effectively "walked away from a fortune."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shoothemoon.com/Athousandsmiles/Articles/syndication.html |title=Syndication means $$$$ for ER cast |publisher=The Virginian Pilot |date=1990-12-09 |access-date=2007-04-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20041227051605/http://www.shoothemoon.com/Athousandsmiles/Articles/syndication.html |archive-date=December 27, 2004 }}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=May 2025}}

Stringfield claims she was asked to reprise the role of Susan Lewis in ''ER'' several times, but turned each offer down.<ref name="back">{{cite news|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20011017/ai_n10732143 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121643/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20011017/ai_n10732143 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-09-24 |title=Actress' love of stories leads her back to ER |publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |author=Wenitraub, Joanne |date=2001-10-17 |access-date=2007-02-24 }}</ref> However, following the birth of her daughter, she approached the producers of ''ER'' and then rejoined the cast in 2001, the show's eighth season.<ref name="back"/> "I changed my mind," Stringfield commented, "I really want to work now. It just made sense for me to go back to ''ER''."<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20011017/ai_n13930444 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071124012227/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20011017/ai_n13930444 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2007-11-24 | title= Dr. Lewis' return 'just made sense' | publisher = Chicago Sun-Times | date = 2001-10-17 | access-date=2007-04-12 }}</ref> 26.7 million people watched Stringfield's return, placing the show at first place in the ratings. During her second stint in ''ER'', Stringfield's character was featured in a special '[[Fictional crossover|crossover]]' with NBC's [[New York City]] based police drama, ''[[Third Watch]]'', which aired in 2002. She remained in the role for four additional seasons; however in August 2005, Stringfield announced that she would be leaving the show again as the 12th season came underway. "I am extremely grateful for the time I spent on ''ER''," Stringfield explained. "It is a wonderful show, and there are so many people I will miss. But I'm ready for new roles and new challenges."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a23225/sherry-stringfield-quits-er.html | title = Sherry Stringfield quits 'ER' Again | publisher = Digital Spy | date = 2005-08-06 | access-date = 2007-04-12 | archive-date = 2007-09-29 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929134130/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a23225/sherry-stringfield-quits-er.html | url-status = live }}</ref> In 2009, Stringfield returned to ''ER'' for the [[series finale]] "[[And in the End...]]".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/NewsFeed.aspx#Story105 | title = Sherry Stringfield is Back! | publisher = TV Guide | date = 2009-02-12 | access-date = 2009-02-12 | archive-date = 2009-02-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090218191038/http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/NewsFeed.aspx#Story105 | url-status = live }}</ref>