Noah Wyle Talks What It’s Like to Reunite With 'ER' Co-star and Longtime Friend George Clooney

Published 01/17/2026, 11:31 AM EST

Some reunions feel easy, like no time has passed at all. Years may go by, careers may change, but certain friendships stay familiar in the best way. That is the feeling Noah Wyle describes when he talks about reconnecting with his old ER co-star and longtime friend, George Clooney. 

Their bond was built through long days on set, shared laughs, and moments that shaped both their lives. Now, looking back and meeting again, Wyle reflects on how special it is to see a friend who has grown with him through the years.

Noah Wyle on reunions with ER co-star and friend George Clooney

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Noah Wyle recently reunited with his longtime friend and former ER co-star George Clooney at the 2026 AARP Movies for Grownups Awards in Los Angeles, where the two actors presented each other with awards. Reflecting on their decades-long friendship, Wyle told PEOPLE that Clooney has been a touchstone figure in his life for years and is someone who pops up with great regularity at the right moments.

Wyle further noted that the pair often catch up without much planning, and their meetings end up exceeding expectations each time.

“It's one of those, ‘Are you in New York right now?’ kind of spur-of-the-moment, spontaneous evenings that you think are going to last a couple of hours and end up taking half the night,” he said.

Noah Wyle added that their friendship picks up seamlessly whenever they reunite.

“Those bonds that were forged during that show [ER] are so lovely and intimate that I feel like we do not have to be totally present in each other’s lives to be able to have a context for each other’s lives,” he told PEOPLE.

At the AARP event, Clooney won Best Actor for his role in Jay Kelly, while Wyle was honored for his performance in The Pitt, marking a special moment in both their careers. The Pitt, notably, is back with season 2.

“We’re Still Shooting…”- Noah Wyle Puts a Cherry on Top of 'The Pitt' Win at Golden Globes, With a Season 3 Update

The Pitt season 2 continues the story of Wyle’s character, Dr. Robby, and his team of doctors, and has premiered two episodes so far.

All about The Pitt season 2

The Pitt season 2 consists of 15 episodes and continues to follow its cast in the overcrowded emergency department of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital. The season premiered on January 8, 2026, with episode 2 released on January 15. New episodes stream weekly on Thursdays on HBO Max, with the finale set for April 16, 2026. Set over Fourth of July weekend, each episode covers one hour of a demanding hospital shift.

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As Wyle stays busy bringing Dr. Robby’s story to life on The Pitt, his friend is just as active, with George Clooney continuing to take on myriad creative projects and showing no signs of slowing down. Still, for Wyle, success has never replaced the value of shared history.

Reuniting with Clooney feels grounding, a reminder that some friendships grow stronger with time. No matter how far their paths travel, the connection they built years ago continues to feel easy, familiar, and quietly meaningful.

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What do you think of Noah Wyle and George Clooney’s friendship? Let us know in the comments.

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Seema Sinha

837 articles

Seema Sinha is a journalist at Netflix Junkie, covering the celebrity culture and global cinema beats. With three years of experience at major Hollywood media verticals, she filters real news from the gossip and buzz. Her core focus is on pop culture narratives surrounding musicians—primarily Taylor Swift—with her reporting striking a fine balance between human insight and editorial clarity.

Edited By: Hriddhi Maitra

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