Greg Pratt

Infobox character
name = Greg Pratt


caption =
first = "Orion in the Sky"
last = "Life After Death"
cause = Died from Injuries Sustained in an Ambulance Explosion
nickname = G
alias =
species =
gender = Male
age =
born = 1974 or 1975
death =
occupation =ER Intern, 2002-2003
ER Resident, 2003-2006
ER Attending, 2006-2008
title =
family = Charles "Charlie" Pratt Sr. (father)
Charles "Chaz" Pratt Jr. (paternal half-brother)
spouse =
children =
relatives =
episode =
portrayer = Mekhi Phifer
creator =

Dr. Gregory "Greg" Pratt was a fictional medical doctor on the US television show ER, portrayed by Mekhi Phifer from April 4th, 2002 to September 25th, 2008.

Pratt first appeared late in Season 8 in the episode "Orion in the Sky" (2002), as a smart but cocky and overconfident intern from VA hospital. He meets Mark Greene who becomes his unofficial mentor on Greene's last day at County. In the beginning of his residency, Pratt continued to show leadership and quick precision. But his limited experience often led Pratt to collide with his chief resident John Carter and other attendings over many occasions, including a procedure he was unqualified to do (though the patient survived) and resuscitating an already deceased patient. He initially clashed with med student Michael Gallant but they later became close friends. During the critical smallpox outbreak and evacuation gone awry, Pratt proved his skills and courage as a swift emergency physician as the entire hospital is thrown into chaos and he was forced into quarantine.

In Season 9, Pratt begins an on/off relationship with fellow physician, Dr. Jing-Mei "Deb" Chen. During the series, it was revealed that Pratt had a mentally handicapped stepbrother named Leon living with him, a man who kept Pratt safe and focused on school during his childhood but was left with the IQ of a small child after surviving a gunshot to the head. Due to his handicap, Leon often got into trouble and would disrupt Pratt's professional and personal life, especially when he became involved with a group of thugs who stabbed him in the hindquarters over a confiscated gun, got him thrown in jail overnight, and then made him join them on a robbery that ended with one of the thugs dead and a cop badly injured (though he recovered thanks to good surgical work by Dr. Elizabeth Corday). To help give Pratt a break, Carter suggested his brother move away for a while, leading Pratt to send his stepbrother away to stay with other family members in Baltimore.

Pratt and Chen's continuing relationship began to break down when Pratt's casual flirting with new medical student Neela Rasgotra led to Pratt telling Chen he did not see them having a serious future together. Their relationship ended early in Season 10 and Chen was often curt and dismissive towards Pratt for a long while, but they eventuallly became friends again.

In Season 10's season finale "Drive", Pratt is involved in a road rage shooting while driving recent patient, Elgin Gibbs, home en route to dinner with Dr. Chen. As Pratt tried to drive away from the shooter, his car was forced off a bridge and into the Chicago river, leading to Elgin being killed. Pratt himself sustained serious head injuries, and Chen a broken leg. Their interactions became infrequent due to Chen's family problems, but Pratt went over to her house during Season 11's Christmas Eve episode when he learned she quit, and covered for her after she euthanized her crippled and bedridden father.

For the Chief Resident post that came up in season 11, Pratt was backed at first by Luka Kovac and later by Doctor Susan Lewis, who had often been critical of his job performance in the past. However, he decided against applying for the position due to the extra workload, which was subsequently awarded to his rival Archie Morris.

Dr. Pratt came to terms with his clouded past at the end of Season 11, making contact with his estranged father, Charlie Pratt (portrayed by Danny Glover). But, following on in Season 12, Pratt was unable to make amends with his father. Later, after much counsel, Pratt restored ties with his half-brother Chaz.

In the episode, "Strange Bed Fellows," Luka Kovac instructs Pratt to go to Darfur, Africa to join John Carter in a Doctors Without Borders program after Pratt helped a friend avoid a DUI by sending a vial of his own blood for the blood alcohol test, rather than his friend's. To avoid legal repercussions and also to force him to think about his actions Kovac sends him away. When Pratt challenges Kovac and says he won't go, Kovac says he has no choice but to go. Pratt eventually decides to go, leading him the opportunity to move up to the position of attending physician, which Dr. Victor Clemente could not fulfill. Soon after returning from Africa, Pratt's friend and colleague Michael Gallant dies while serving in Iraq.

At the start of season 13, Pratt achieved his new title as attending, while Chaz moves in with him. However, later on, Pratt discovers his brother in a compromising position with another man. After much denial and a talk with Kerry Weaver Pratt begins to understand and accept his brother's homosexuality. He also supports his brother's new job as an Emergency Medical Technician but clashes with Chaz's co-workers after they encourage him to drink near-fatal amounts of alcohol.

Later in the season, Pratt discovered a church holding an illegal prescription drugs exchange program between church members. Pratt tried to reason with the pastor to seek better alternatives. With no compromise being met, he decided to take part in the program to make it safer by donating some narcotics from the ER. However, when a member of the church died from the result of the drug exchange, an investigation was conducted by police and social workers. Pratt soon admitted to his chief Kovac that he was solely involved in the scheme, preventing any repercussions on the department. Pratt was arrested by the police and was put before the review board at the hospital for an explanation of his actions. Surprisingly, Pastor Watkins of First Mission Baptist and his congregation showed up on Pratt's behalf and explained the entire story of his contribution. The board subsequently dismissed Pratt from any suspension, allowing him to retain his medical license and job.

After being overlooked for the position of Chief of the ER in favour of new attending Skye Wexler, Pratt submitted his resignation citing that the administration of County General did not respect him; however, he soon changed his mind after meeting former physician's assistant Jeanie Boulet. After this, Pratt pursued the ER Chief position and finally was able to have a serious adult relationship with the radiologist Dr. Bettina DeJesus.

At the end of the Season 14 finale, "The Chicago Way," Pratt entered a booby-trapped ambulance. The subsequent explosion resulted in a season-ending cliffhanger. He died tragically in the Season 15 premiere, "Life After Death", from injuries sustained in that explosion. It was further revealed in the episode that Pratt was going to receive an offer to become the new Chief of the ER. At the end Morris hands Bettina the engagement ring which Pratt had intended to give to her.

References