5 Questions With: Anthony Edwards

Remember when Anthony Edwards said goodbye to 'ER'? Well, even though his character died at the end of Edwards' eight-year run, Dr. Mark Greene is back for one very special flashback episode (airing Thursday, Nov. 13, 10 PM ET on NBC).

Edwards -- who's known to movie fans for playing Goose in 'Top Gun' -- has been focusing on philanthropic projects and raising his kids since his career-changing role on 'ER.' But his latest endeavor, Shoe4Africa, is campaigning to build the largest children's hospital in Africa, essentially bringing a little bit of Mark Greene back into his life.

Edwards spoke to AOL TV about returning to County General, working for free -- well, sort of -- and why you definitely won't find him in 'Top Gun 2.'



1. What made you decide to come back for this final season?
For me, it was perfect timing -- I was about to launch a big fundraising campaign to build the largest children's hospital in Africa with the charity I work with, Shoe 4 Africa. So when ['ER' creator] John Wells asked me, I said I'm happy to, but don't pay me -- let's get Warner Brothers to donate to the hospital. So in lieu of payment they gave the hospital $125,000, which Steven Spielberg found out about and he matched, then John Wells kicked in $50,000. So for me it was really great because those are two things that are really dear to me: the experience that I had for eight years being on the show and then this whole new part of my life.

2. Was it strange coming back after so many years away from County General?
It was like going back to high school -- in the best way. It was like going back to your favorite class, having your favorite teacher and there was no test that day. After about a half an hour it felt like I'd never left. The same conversations were happening that were happening six years ago, the same dynamics between the crew members, the same jokes. And they had gone to great effort to have all the props, everything back to 2002. So I had a really great four days there. And I got to work with Angela Bassett -- how lucky was I?

3. You're obviously a very busy guy. Just wondering -- and be honest -- do you still watch 'ER'? Do you watch any TV at all?
I haven't watched it much. You know, that's not a tribute to the show as much as I just don't watch much series television. My wife, on the other hand, is a TV addict. She watches everything. [But] I like '30 Rock' and 'The Office.' I love 'The Office' -- I loved the original English version and I love this version, too. Those make me laugh.

4. Do you have a favorite episode from your eight-year run on 'ER'?
You know, I really [don't]. I mean there were ones that people really responded to, that they loved that were horribly hard to do, but you're proud of them, like in the first season when the mother died and the kid lived and the kind of big Greene tragedy there. It sounds silly, but I was kind of proud of our seasons -- that we would have 22 good episodes and it wasn't just one standout episode. There was a consistency to it.

5. What is the one role that people recognize you for the most? And are there any other roles you would consider reprising?
Well, in film it's all about 'Top Gun' and they love Goose. And for TV, it's Greene. It's the two Gs:. it's Greene and Goose. But no, I don't think so. [Laughs] Old Man River. I think they've retired those planes [laughs]. I like to move forward. I hate to look back.