Jerry Markovic

Infobox character
name = Jerry Markovic


caption =
first = September 19, 1994 (Pilot: 24 Hours)
last = September 26, 2006 (Bloodline)
cause = Left after surviving surgery following a shootout.
nickname = Jer
alias =
species =
gender = Male
age = Unknown (presumed late 30's-early 40's)
born =
death =
occupation = Desk Clerk Emergency Department
title = Supervising Emergency Services Co-ordinator
family = Mrs. Markovic (Mother)
spouse =
children =
relatives =
episode =
portrayer = Abraham Benrubi
creator =

Jerry Markovic was a fictional character on the drama television series "ER". Jerry was Desk Clerk of the emergency room and later promoted to Supervising Emergency Services Coordinator (a position that carries no additional responsibilities and/or benefits, but requires him to wear a tie.) The character was portrayed by Abraham Benrubi.

Jerry was comic relief on the series. The character was mostly seen playing jokes on other staff members, organizing parties and celebrations, trying to make money on the side via various get-rich-quick schemes and making humorous remarks. During the fourth season, Jerry accidentally blew up an ambulance with a grenade launcher; this led to a suspension from day turns by Kerry Weaver, thus Jerry was forced to attend at nights, but he would get his job back on days later that season. Jerry was last seen at the end of season 5. To date, there has been no official explanation for the character's absence from anyone, not even Abraham himself. Presumedly the actor wanted to try other roles

It wasn't until season 8 that Jerry was called back to work as Desk Clerk as lots of members of the staff were sick. When asked about where he's been for the past three years, he replied that he had been in "retirement." During that time, he developed some rivalry with fellow Desk Clerk Frank Martin, to the point that they were involved in a fight in which they crashed on Dr. Chen. Jerry and Frank received a warning from Dr. Weaver, and since then Jerry and Frank seemed to be getting along better, and later became friends, as shown when Frank suffered a heart attack, a fact that really concerned Jerry. Equally, Frank was deeply affected when Jerry was shot in the 12th season finale.

Jerry's mother is introduced in the first episode of season 13 when his son was treated by some members of the staff after he was shot by Samantha Taggart's ex-boyfriend Steve Curtis went on a rampage in the emergency room in season 12's finale. During the assault, Jerry was shot while protecting a boy. Jerry's mother reveals to Archie Morris that she applied to Harvard four times for him, but he was never able to make it into college, and complains about Jerry's paycheck. Jerry ultimately survives the surgery, but was never seen again in the ER. In an upcoming episode during the 14th season, Frank remarks that Jerry officially quit and is now "slinging beers in Alaska," a reference to Benrubi's character Ben Tomasson in the ABC television series " Men in Trees."

The character of Jerry's mother was played by Seinfeld's Estelle Harris in "Bloodline," but she also appeared in a long shot in "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," berating him for using her trashcans to trap a kangaroo on the loose. The episode was also one of the last episodes to show Jerry smoking a cigar.

Benrubi is scheduled to make at least one return appearance on ER for the show's final season.

Jerry is also a Universal Life Church Minister, and officiated Neela and Michael Gallant's wedding in the episode "I Do." His politics seemed to progressive, often clashing with Frank's law and order conservativism. Jerry is single and their was no mention of him being married or having a girl or boyfriend, although at the beginning of "The Gallant Hero and the Tragic Victor," he turns down Dr. Clemente's (John Leguizamo) offer of a beer because he's meeting a "lady friend."

In the episode, "Blame It on the Rain," it is revealed that Jerry is deathly afraid of thunderstorms--mainly because he has been hit by lighting on several previous occasions, a fact that everyone in the ER knows but Kerry Weaver, who sent him out in a storm to get a gift for her son Henry's birthday. He returns several hours later, dazed and holding a scorched paper bag. Frank asks him, "You got hit by lightning again, didn't you?" to which he only nods. At first Kerry doesn't believe him, but Jerry finally manages to get out the words, "Here's your change," then hands her a bunch of coins that have been fused together. Needless to say, she's thoroughly convinced.

Up until the third season, Jerry was a cigar smoker (as was Benrubi himself, although it is not known if he still smokes), but after the episode "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the character was not seen smoking again.

Jerry's age has never been given on the show, although it is presumed that he is the same age as Benrubi himself (in his late 30's), although when he returned after three seasons, Jerry's hair and goatee are gray, so it is possible he could be older.