When it comes toThe Rookieactors, there are some surprising facts, including Eric Winter. One of the most surprising has to be his college plans, which could have made for an interesting long-term character onThe Good Doctor.
Winter was on the seven-season medical drama from ABC, but only for two episodes. Granted, if he had remained inThe Good Doctor, he wouldn’t have ended up becoming a series regular inThe Rookiecast, and the cop dramedy is the one that’s still going strong, gearing up forThe Rookieseason 8.
This doesn’t stop us from wondering what could have been had plans worked out differently on the two ABC shows. Winter could have used some personal knowledge to help flesh out hisGood Doctorcharacter, which is something nobody else on medical dramas can claim. Well,except for BokHee onGrey’s Anatomy.
The Rookie’s Eric Winter Was A Pre-Med Student Before Becoming An Actor
Eric Winter Didn’t Always Plan On Acting
When talking toThe Bare Magazine, Winter explained that he wanted to be a doctor when growing up, and he was even a pre-med student at college,graduating with a degree in psychology from UCLA. It adds a new layer to his character when you consider the doctors that he has played.
In fact, he explained that because of his previous dream,Winter connected a lot with his character in the movieThe Ugly Truth. His stint onThe Good Doctordidn’t come up in conversation, but it is one that those of us who have followed Winter’s career will remember well.
That’s a tough one but probably my character inThe Ugly Truth. I wanted to be a doctor when I was younger and was a pre-med student going down that path before I got into acting. My character was a doctor, and he was a nice guy.
It’s even worth noting that he played a doctor inThe Witches of East End, which also starred Jenna Dewan.Winter played doctors so much that he teases his family when they bring up his past dreams,saying that he is a doctor now (viaHello Magazine).
Eric Winter Could Have Starred On A Different ABC Series
Winter played Dr. Matt Coyle inThe Good Doctorfor just two episodes, and while we wanted to like him, it was clear that he wasn’t a character worth keeping around. Coyle would routinely make sexual advances towards his subordinates, and he turned his attention to Claire Browne.
Coyle’s role in the series was something to help further the storylines of other characters, including Claire and Jared Kalu. In the end, Coyle was transferred to a department where he wouldn’t have any interaction with staff or patients, showing the problems with getting evidence of sexual harassment in the workplace.
However, with a short stint onThe Good Doctor, it meant that Winter was available to play Tim Bradford inThe Rookie, and I wouldn’t have that any other way.
While his character wasn’t someone viewers could easily like, it would have been interesting to see how Winter would have continued in the role of a doctor. He already had the medical knowledge to help make his character more believable.
However, with a short stint onThe Good Doctor, it meant that Winter was available to play Tim Bradford inThe Rookie, and I wouldn’t have that any other way. He quickly proved that he can play both good and bad characters.
The Rookie
Cast
The Rookie follows John Nolan, a small-town man who embarks on a new career as an LAPD officer after a life-changing event. As the force’s oldest rookie, Nolan faces skepticism from superiors who view his pursuit as a midlife crisis.
The Good Doctor
The Good Doctor is a medical drama television series that tells the story of Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon who has autism, as he navigates his career and personal life at the fictional San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. Freddie Highmore plays the title role. The series premiered in 2017 on ABC.
