Noah Wyle | |
|---|---|
 Wyle at theU.S. Capitol in 2025 | |
| Born | Noah Strausser Speer Wyle (1971-06-04)June 4, 1971 (age 54) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives |
|
Noah Strausser Speer Wyle (/ˈwaɪli/; born June 4, 1971) is an American actor. He rose to fame asDr. John Carter in theNBC medical dramaER (1994–2005), receiving five consecutiveEmmy Award nominations, three consecutiveGolden Globe Award nominations, and fourScreen Actors Guild Awards. He won twoEmmy Awards for his work on theHBO Max medical dramaThe Pitt (since 2025), earning recognition both for his lead performance as Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch and as an executive producer.
Wyle is also known for his work onTNT, portrayingSteve Jobs in the television filmPirates of Silicon Valley (1999),Flynn Carsen inThe Librarian franchise (2004, 2006, 2008, 2014–2018), andTom Mason in the sci-fi seriesFalling Skies (2011–2015). He was nominated for aCritics' Choice Award for his performance in theCBS miniseriesThe Red Line (2019). He is part of the ensemble cast of thePrime Video crimedramedyLeverage: Redemption (since 2021). In addition to his television career, Wyle had supporting roles in films such asA Few Good Men (1992),Donnie Darko (2001), andEnough (2002). He served as artistic producer of theBlank Theatre Company in Los Angeles for over 20 years.
Wyle was born at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital inHollywood, Los Angeles on June 4, 1971.[1] His mother, Marjorie "Marty" Speer, worked as anurse at East Hollywood'sKaiser Hospital.[2] His father, Stephen Wyle, was anelectrical engineer and entrepreneur.[3][4] Wyle's paternal grandparents were prominent figures in Los Angeles; his grandfather, Frank Wyle, was a mechanical engineer who founded the aerospace companyWyle Laboratories[5] and his grandmother,Edith R. Wyle, was a painter who established the Los AngelesCraft and Folk Art Museum.[6] Wyle spent a lot of time as a child at his grandparents' 4,000-acre cattle ranch inNorth Fork, California[7][8][9] and described his family as "half-city, half-country mice".[10] Wyle's mother isEpiscopalian and was raised inKentucky.[11] His father is Jewish; the Wyle surname was originally Weil[5] and his ancestors wereUkrainian andRussian Jews.[12][13] Wyle grew up feeling "culturally" Jewish but did not practice any religion.[11]
Wyle's parents divorced in 1977, when he was six years old, and both remarried.[3] Wyle was "greatly influenced" by his stepparents;[14] his stepmother, Deborah, was a teacher[14][15] while his stepfather,James C. Katz, was a filmpreservationist and producer.[16][17] In the 1980s, Katz worked as a senior executive atUniversal Studios[18][19] and a young Wyle worked in craft services on movie sets and appeared as an uncredited extra inPaul Bartel'sLust in the Dust (1985).[14][20] From his parents' marriage, Wyle has an older sister, Alexandra, and a younger brother, Aaron.[15] He has a younger half-sister, Jessica, from his father's second marriage[21] and three step-siblings from Katz's first marriage;[22] Tabitha, Natasha and Matthew Frost were raised between theFrench Riviera and Los Angeles.[23][24]
Wyle was educated at Gardner Street Elementary School in Hollywood[25] andOakwood School in North Hollywood.[26] He then spent four years atThe Thacher School, apreparatory boarding school inOjai, California known for its compulsory horseback riding program.[10] He struggled academically, particularly in math and science, and was placed onprobation in his freshman year.[10][27] He ultimately graduated with a "decent"GPA[10] and later wondered whether undiagnosed mildADHD had contributed to his difficulties.[27] Wyle had always been "enamored" with show business growing up in Hollywood[14][28] and he first acted on stage in his sophomore year at Thacher. Encouraged by the audience response, he went on to act in, write and direct school plays.[10] He attended theCherubs Theatre Arts program atNorthwestern University in the summer of his junior year and returned to high school "really focused" on becoming a professional actor.[10] He was the first person in his family "in generations" to not attend college.[1]
After graduating high school in 1989, Wyle moved into an apartment onHollywood Boulevard, signed with an agent and began taking acting classes.[29] His parents were only willing to financially support a college education[30] and he worked as a busboy and then waiter at the Bel Age Hotel's Diaghilev restaurant.[31][32] He appeared in Los Angeles stage productions[33] and made a one-line appearance in the NBC miniseriesBlind Faith (1990).[34] His first credited movie role was in the family dramaCrooked Hearts (1991), with Peter Rainer of theLos Angeles Times remarking upon his "appealingly awe-struck innocence".[35] He appeared as aHitler Youth leader in the historical dramaSwing Kids (1993),[36] as a high school student in the coming-of-age ensembleThere Goes My Baby (1994)[37] and asLancelot in theLifetime movieGuinevere (1994).[38] His most notable casting in this period was in the courtroom dramaA Few Good Men (1992), directed byRob Reiner and written byAaron Sorkin. Wyle had what Sorkin described as "a small, featured role as an endearingly dimwitted Marine corporal."[39] The film was a box office success and was nominated for Best Picture at the1993 Academy Awards.[40]
At the age of 22, Wyle was focused on appearing in "movies and plays"[41] but was persuaded by his agent to audition for the television pilot of an NBC medical drama calledER,[41] created byMichael Crichton and executive-produced bySteven Spielberg.[42] The character of medical studentJohn Carter was initially conceived of as comic relief and the casting director was impressed by Wyle's facility for "physical comedy" during the audition process.[43] Wyle himself felt a personal connection: "I identified with him being born with asilver spoon in his mouth and it never quite fitting."[41] After filming theER pilot, Wyle auditioned for the part ofRoss Geller in another NBC pilot,Friends; producers wanted him to film a screen test for the network but had to first wait to see whetherER would get picked up for a full season.[44]ER tested highly with audiences, was ordered for a full season and began airing on September 19, 1994. In an early review, Tom Shales of theWashington Post described Carter as the "point of entry" character and praised Wyle's "achingly ingenuous performance as the young doctor-to-be."[45] Within weeks,ER became the second most-watched show on television afterSeinfeld.[46][47] The main cast - Wyle,Anthony Edwards,George Clooney,Eriq La Salle,Sherry Stringfield andJulianna Margulies - rose to fame[48] and Wyle, the youngest ensemble member, later credited the others as "role models ... I feel very fortunate to have started exactly when I did in the company of those actors. They taught me an incredible amount."[2]
ER was a cultural phenomenon[49] and is now considered one of the all-time greatest television shows.[50][51] It was the most-watched show in television for three years - in its second, third and fifth seasons - and average viewing figures often exceeded 30 million.[52][53][54] At its peak, the show attracted 47.8 million viewers.[47] Wyle and Clooney guest-starred as doctors inan episode ofFriends (1995)[55] and Wyle played an exaggerated version of himself in the sitcomThe Larry Sanders Show (1995), sharing scenes withMandy Patinkin, a family friend.[56][57] He appeared as a doctor inSesame Street (1996)[58] and as a veterinarian in aMargulies-hosted episode ofSaturday Night Live (2000).[59] For his performance inER, Wyle was nominated for five consecutiveEmmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and three consecutiveGolden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actor.[60][61] As part of the ensemble cast, he won fourScreen Actors Guild Awards, with a further three nominations. By 2001, Wyle had become one of the highest-paid actors in history for a television drama,[62] earning an estimated $9 million per season.[63]
In between seasons ofER, Wyle continued to do film work.[64] He was offered parts in Spielberg'sSaving Private Ryan (1998) and Clooney'sGood Night, and Good Luck (2005) but was unable to accept either due toER's nine-month filming schedule.[65] He starred in the independent family dramaThe Myth of Fingerprints (1997)[66] and made a cameo in the comedyCan't Stop Dancing (1999).[67] He portrayedSteve Jobs inTNT'sPirates of Silicon Valley (1999), which was filmed concurrently withER.[68] Wyle was apprehensive about the role until he watched the documentaryTriumph of the Nerds and then "knew I'd kick myself for the rest of my life if I didn't play this part."[69][70] Caryn James ofThe New York Times said the role was "savvily" played[71] while Steve Silberman ofWired found the resemblance "uncanny" and noted that the actor "nails Steve Jobs' body language."[72] Jobs himself considered the television movie "brutal" and "mean-spirited": "But as an actor, Noah Wyle definitely had done his homework on me in terms of my mannerisms and my quirks. So I called him the next day, just to tell him I thought he did a nice job."[73] At Jobs' invitation, Wyle addressed the 1999 NYMacworld Expo audience in character.[74] He then had a series of supporting roles; playing the President's interpreter in the televised broadcast playFail Safe (2000),[75] a science teacher in the thrillerDonnie Darko (2001),[76] a mob enforcer inScenes of the Crime (2001),[77] an unsupportive husband inWhite Oleander (2002)[78] and a corrupt police officer inEnough (2002).[79] Wyle had starring roles in the TNT adventure movieThe Librarian: Quest for the Spear (2004)[80] and the independent dramaThe Californians (2005).[81]
During his time onER, Wyle remained involved with the Los Angeles-basedBlank Theatre Company, where he had first worked as a teenage actor.[82] He starred in the 1995 production ofThe 24th Day at theCoronet Theatre.[83] In 1997, he became the company's artistic producer.[33][84][85] His leadership role involved "constant fundraising" and "grant writing";[86] he personally donated the money for the acquisition of the 2nd Stage Theatre premises.[87] Over the years, he acted in many entries for the annual Young Playwrights Festival,[88][89][90] describing the experience as one of the "most gratifying" of his career.[91] For his work as a producer ofThe Wild Party in 2005, he won anNAACP Theatre Award.[92]
In 2005, inER's eleventh season, Wyle became the final cast member from the original ensemble to leave. Following the birth of his first child in late 2002, he had taken extended paternity leave. However, he ultimately found the gruelling work schedule incompatible with "the kind of parent I want to be": "I’ve always said about our show that there’s really no point in leaving unless you’re ready to change your life. You can’t find better material or work with nicer people or a better crew."[2] In reviewing his final episode,Matt Zoller Seitz of theStar-Ledger described Wyle as the "heart and soul ofER" and praised a performance "without a false note": "Even when the show's plot contrivances were laughable, you took John Carter seriously, because Wyle's performance demanded it ... Together with the show's writing staff, chiefly executive producerJohn Wells, who wrote some of Carter's best scenes, Wyle gave the character an emotional, intellectual and philosophical consistency, and a depth that let us deduce what he was thinking and feeling even when he wasn't speaking."[93]
Wyle returned in 2006 to guest star in four episodes of the twelfth season and again in 2009 for five episodes of the show's fifteenth and final season, including theseries finale.[94] By the end of the show's run, he had appeared in 254 episodes, more than any other major cast member.[95] Wyle later said he never felt "pigeonholed" by Carter: "If I'd stayed being the comic relief character who was always screwing up, that may have been frustrating but he kept growing as I kept growing."[96] Wyle regularly citedAlan Alda - who portrayed a doctor for eleven seasons onM*A*S*H and later guest-starred onER - as a source of inspiration.[97][98][99][100] He described Alda as "a hero to me as a kid, and he still is ... He is the model I have in my head of an actor who's had a really beautiful career but for the most part is identified with one role. That doesn't scare me when I think about it in those terms."[101]
Wyle returned to the stage in 2006, playingSalvador Dalí in a well-reviewed production ofLobster Alice at his Blank Theatre Company's 2nd Stage Theatre.[102][103] (Wyle would remain in his role as artistic producer of the Blank Theatre Company for over twenty years before stepping down.)[104][14] He reprised the role of unlikely action hero Flynn Carsen in two TNT television film sequels,The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines (2006) andThe Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008),[105] and has said the character "encapsulates all the reasons I wanted to be an actor."[106] He had supporting roles in three 2008 movies; he played a lawyer in the political thrillerNothing but the Truth,[107] a journalist in the coming-of-age dramaAn American Affair[108] andDonald Evans inOliver Stone'sW. (2008).[109] Also in 2008, Wyle andAlan Alda starred in an Alda-directed production ofL'Histoire du soldat at New York's92nd Street Y,[110] having previously worked together onER and in the filmNothing But the Truth. Wyle later described the experience as "one of the highlights of my life and career."[111] His lead performance in the satirical comedyQueen of the Lot (2010) was well-reviewed.[112][113][114]
Six years after leavingER, Wyle felt “an itch” to return to regular television work and began starring in TNT's sci-fi seriesFalling Skies (2011–2015).[115][116] He hoped that its much shorter seasons would allow for a better work-life balance than his time onER.[117] He portrayedTom Mason, a former history professor who became the second-in-command of an army regiment fighting aliens in post-apocalyptic Boston.[118] He was producer Steven Spielberg's "first choice" for the role: "I tried to get him forPrivate Ryan, but his schedule didn't permit that. I've been determined to work with Noah."[119] Wyle was a producer in later seasons and directed an episode of the show's fifth and final season.[120][116] He later said that, while "grateful" for the introduction to filmmaking, it had been "hard" to work away from family in Canada on a show that "in five seasons had six show runners."[121][116] He guest-starred in episodes ofLab Rats (2013) andDrunk History (2015).[122][123] He appeared as a business executive in the sports filmSnake & Mongoose (2013)[124] and as a pot dealer in the Appalachian thrillerThe World Made Straight (2015).[125][126][127] In 2015, Wyle andGraham Yost, an executive producer onFalling Skies, wrote a limited series set during World War II.[128] Although the project did not move beyond development atFX,[129] Wyle later said working with Yost gave him the confidence to further pursue writing.[130]
Wyle likened the TNT seriesThe Librarians (2014–2018) to his "film school"; he produced the show and was part of the writer's room,[131] writing two episodes and directing five.[132][133] Hesitant to take on a leading role so soon afterFalling Skies, Wyle opted for a recurring role as Flynn Carsen, with the series introducing three new librarians as central characters.[134] He appeared more regularly in later seasons.[131] He appeared in an episode of the sitcomAngie Tribeca (2016)[135] and made a cameo appearance asJohn Stanley Pottinger in the political thrillerMark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House (2017).[136] His lead performance as a gunshot victim in the independent dramaShot (2017) was praised.[137]Rex Reed ofObserver described him as an "always excellent and under-valued actor"[138] while Gary Goldstein of theLos Angeles Times wrote of a "strong and empathetic turn".[139] In 2018, Wyle starred in an episode ofMatthew Weiner's anthology drama seriesThe Romanoffs.[140]
Wyle's performance as a grieving husband in the eight-part limited CBS seriesThe Red Line (2019) was critically acclaimed.Matt Zoller Seitz ofNew York Magazine praised "a career-capping performance": "It’s easy to take his brand of unfussy, direct acting for granted, but he’s so moving here [that] it’s impossible not to appreciate all the excellent work he’s done over the decades, and continues to do."[141] Amy Amatangelo ofPaste Magazine found the show "clunky" but said it served as a reminder of "how great an actor Wyle is": "He brings depth and nuance to a man who is in deep, deep grief."[142] Hank Stuever of theWashington Post described it as a "knockout performance": "[He] fearlessly weeps, rages and broods from scene to scene, lending particular depth to playing a gay widower doing his best to raise a child and recover. He embraces the role with an energy and sense of dignity that might surprise more than a few viewers."[143] Wyle was nominated for aCritics' Choice Award.[144]
By 2020, Wyle had worked largely in genre television for fifteen years and felt “kind of at peace" with no longer appearing in shows that were part of "the zeitgeist".[145]Dean Devlin, show runner ofThe Librarians, invited Wyle to join the ensemble cast of thePrime Video crimedramedyLeverage: Redemption (since 2021).[146] He plays Harry Wilson, a New Orleans corporate lawyer who seeks redemption after a career spent representing morally questionable clients.[147] In the show's first two seasons, Wyle directed five episodes. He joined the writer's room in season two, writing one episode.[148][133] Due to other work commitments, his character did not appear in some episodes of the third season and he was instead credited as a special guest star.[149][150] In 2022, he starred in the independent thrillerAt The Gates.[151]
Wyle experienced a career resurgence when he began starring as Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch in theHBO Max medical dramaThe Pitt (since 2025).[145] The show became a breakout hit,[152][153] with an average of 18 million viewers per episode.[154] Wyle is also an executive producer of the show and part of the writing staff. He wrote two episodes in the first season and will write two episodes of the second season, directing one.[155] The idea originated when Wyle suggested toER showrunnerJohn Wells and executive producerR. Scott Gemmill that they develop a television show about Dr. Carter's experiences as a frontline worker during the pandemic.[145][156] When negotiations with the estate ofER creator Michael Crichton broke down in early 2023, the creative team conceived of a new show, with Wyle using his great-grandmother's maiden name to portray a Jewish character for the first time in his career.[12][157]
Wyle's performance was widely acclaimed. He won theTelevision Critics Association Award forIndividual Achievement in Drama and theEmmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series; it was the sixth Emmy nomination of his career, his first nomination in the lead actor category, and his first win overall.[158] David Sims ofThe Atlantic described him as "one of TV’s most underrated actors."[159] Richard Lawson ofVanity Fair praised a "commanding performance": "Wyle is an endlessly compelling lead ... His bedside tone, personable and clinically distant at once, is a precise depiction of the guarded compassion of a real doctor. Wyle deftly manages the shifts in emotional temperature as each hour unfolds, selling us on the relentless roller coaster of it all."[160] Laura Bogart ofThe A.V. Club described it as "a lead performance that feels truly lived-in": "Wyle is remarkable at giving empathy a dramatic alacrity, making the act of listening rich with purpose and potential."[161] Kristen Baldwin ofEntertainment Weekly described him as "a master at compassionate calm"[162] and said the emotional unravelling of his character was "executed with breathtaking skill."[163]
Wyle lives betweenLos Feliz, Los Angeles[14] and theSanta Ynez Valley, California, where he purchased a ranch in 1999.[164][165]
Wyle was married to make-up artist Tracy Warbin from 2000 to 2010. They met on the set ofThe Myth of Fingerprints in early 1996,[166] became engaged in 1999[167] and married in 2000.[15] They have a son, Owen Strausser Wyle (born November 9, 2002),[168] and a daughter, Auden Wyle (born October 15, 2005).[169] Wyle and Warbin separated in late 2009 and later divorced.[170][171]
Wyle is married to actress Sara Wells. They met in late 2010[172] and were married in June 2014 at their home in the Santa Ynez Valley, California.[173] The ceremony was officiated by Jan Dance, the wife ofDavid Crosby, with whom Wyle had formed a close friendship in the late 1990s.[174][175] Their daughter, Frances Harper Wyle, was born on June 22, 2015.[176]
From 2002 to 2005, Wyle served as a director on the Hollywood executive board of theScreen Actors Guild.[177][178] In 2023, he was a frequent picketer during both theWriters Guild of America strike[179][180][181] and theSAG-AFTRA strike.[182][183][184] In 2025, he supported the Stay in LA awareness campaign to keep Hollywood production in Los Angeles[185][186] and spoke in support of Los Angeles-based crew members at a press conference organized by California GovernorGavin Newsom to mark the passing of a bill to expand the state’s film tax credit program.[187]
During and after his time onER, Wyle advocated for healthcare reform and other health-related causes. In 1998, he and PresidentJimmy Carter filmed a public service announcement on the set ofER to raise awareness about eradicatingguinea worm disease.[188][189] During theKosovo War in 1999, Wyle was invited byDoctors of the World to spend three weeks observing work in aMacedonian refugee camp. Upon his return to the United States, Wyle joined the executive committee ofHuman Rights Watch[190][191][192] and became the spokesperson for MPT (Moving Past Trauma).[193] He encouragedER's writing staff to include a storyline on international triage medicine, which led to episodes in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo andDarfur.[194][195] In 2004, Wyle was the spokesperson for the Cover the Uninsured campaign and advocated for universal coverage; he filmed PSAs, visited Washington and New York, and wrote an op-ed for theLos Angeles Times.[196][197][198] In 2012, Wyle supported the disability rights groupADAPT[199] and was arrested during a protest on Capitol Hill to fight againstMedicaid cuts for the elderly and people with disabilities.[200] In 2019, Wyle joined the board ofKultureCity, a non-profit organisation that advocates forsensory-inclusive public spaces.[201][202][203] In 2025, Wyle wrote an op-ed forUSA Today[204] and spoke alongside healthcare professionals at a panel on Capitol Hill, advocating for three bills to support frontline workers in the areas of mental health resources, pay disparity and administrative burdens.[205]
Additionally, Wyle has worked with animal rights charities including theWorld Wildlife Fund[206][207] and the Return to Freedom wild horse sanctuary.[9] He narrated a documentary for People Helping People, a local charity which supports low-income families in theSanta Ynez Valley.[208]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Crooked Hearts | Ask | |
| 1992 | A Few Good Men | Cpl. Jeffrey Barnes | |
| 1993 | Swing Kids | Emil Lutz | |
| 1994 | There Goes My Baby | Michael Finnegan | |
| 1997 | The Myth of Fingerprints | Warren | Also associate producer |
| 1999 | Can't Stop Dancing | Poe | |
| 2001 | Donnie Darko | Prof. Kenneth Monnitoff | |
| Scenes of the Crime | Seth | ||
| 2002 | Enough | Robbie | |
| White Oleander | Mark Richards | ||
| 2005 | The Californians | Gavin Ransom | |
| 2008 | Nothing But the Truth | Avril Aaronson | |
| An American Affair | Mike Stafford | ||
| W. | Donald Evans | ||
| 2010 | Below the Beltway | Hunter Patrick | |
| Queen of the Lot | Aaron Lambert | ||
| 2013 | Snake & Mongoose | Arthur Spear | |
| 2015 | The World Made Straight | Leonard Shuler | |
| 2017 | Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House | Stan Pottinger | |
| Shot | Mark Newman | Also executive producer |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Blind Faith | Eric | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 1994 | Guinevere | Lancelot | Television film |
| 1994–2009 | ER | Dr. John Carter | Main role (seasons 1–11 and 15), guest star (season 12) |
| 1995 | Friends | Dr. Jeffrey Rosen | Episode: "The One with Two Parts: Part 2" |
| The Larry Sanders Show | Himself | Episode: "Eight" | |
| 1996 | Sesame Street | Dr. Colburn | 2 episodes: "Maria Goes To The Hospital" |
| 1999 | Pirates of Silicon Valley | Steve Jobs | Television film |
| Save Our History: America's Most Endangered 1999 | Himself | Host | |
| 2000 | Fail Safe | Buck | Television film |
| Beggars and Choosers | Davis G. Green | Episode: "The Naked Truth" | |
| 2004 | The Librarian: Quest for the Spear | Flynn Carsen | Television film |
| 2006 | The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines | Flynn Carsen | Television film; also producer |
| 2008 | The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice | Flynn Carsen | Television film; also producer |
| 2011–2015 | Falling Skies | Tom Mason | Main role; also director and producer |
| 2013 | Lab Rats | Dr. Evans | Episode: "Twas the Mission Before Christmas" |
| 2014 | Phineas and Ferb | Martin the news vendor (voice) | Episode: "Night of the Living Pharmacists" |
| 2014–2018 | The Librarians | Flynn Carsen | Recurring role; also writer, director, and executive producer |
| 2015 | Drunk History | Thomas Nast | Episode: "Journalism" |
| 2016 | Angie Tribeca | Lewis Alcindor | Episode: "Organ Trail" |
| 2018 | The Romanoffs | Ivan | Episode: "The Royal We" |
| 2019 | The Red Line | Daniel Calder | Main role |
| 2021–present | Leverage: Redemption | Harry Wilson | Main role (seasons 1–2), recurring role (season 3); also writer and director |
| 2025–present | The Pitt | Dr. Michael Robinavitch | Main role; also writer and executive producer |
| 2025 | The Librarians: The Next Chapter | — | Executive producer[209] |
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