Peter Benton

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ER character
Peter Benton
Played by	Eriq La Salle
Duration	1994- 2001
Date of Birth	unknown
Marital Status	dating
Occupation	Trauma Surgeon
Family	one child

Dr. Peter Benton was a fictional surgeon on the television series ER from season one through season eight. He was portrayed by Eriq La Salle. His character was often portrayed as arrogant, irritable, hostile, but also brilliant and passionate towards medicine.

Benton is first introduced in the pilot as a second year surgical resident. Unsupported by senior colleagues, he decides to open a man up to control a bleeding aneurysm. He ends up saving the man's life.

Also in the pilot, John Carter is introduced as a third-year medical student, on his ER rotation. He is assigned to Benton. Benton gives Carter a hard time. They never got along and their personalities clashed on many occasions. Benton is more ambitious whereas Carter is more compassionate. Eventually, the two form a close friendship, despite Carter switching to Emergency Medicine. Later on, Benton is instrumental in getting Carter into drug rehab.

In season one, Benton's mother falls down a flight of stairs, breaking her hip. She later has a stroke which Benton finds difficult to deal with, especially when she needs to move into a care home. Benton meets Jeanie Boulet, a married Physician Assistant, who is working with his mother. Benton's mother dies, devastating Benton, Jeanie comforts him and they end up having an affair.

In season two, things fall apart. After Jeanie's marriage ends it becomes clear she is HIV positive, though Peter is not.

In season three, Peter has a son with Carla Reese, who owns her own restaurant. They name him Reese Benton. He is premature and due to those complications it is eventually found out he is deaf. He gets involved in a custody battle.

Benton was fired from County General for arranging the surgery of a Medicare patient despite the objections of Doctor Romano. Romano then blacklisted Benton throughout the medical community, making it almost impossible Benton to find a job in Chicago. Benton was rehired after he begged Romano for a job.

Benton was involved in a custody battle when it turned out that he was not the biological father of his deaf son. In order to win the custody battle, he left County General for good. His last accomplishment as a surgeon at County General was when he near miraculously saved an adolescent victim of a shooting accident.

After leaving the series Benton was seen at the funeral of Mark Greene. He then appeared in a photo as part of a slideshow at Dr. Carter's farewell party, and was heard in a voice-over as Dr. Carter left the ER for the last time in the 11th season finale of the show.

ER
Official NBC Website | Quotes
Current Characters	Ray Barnett | Tony Gates | Abby Lockhart | Archie Morris | Luka Kovač Gregory Pratt | Neela Rasgotra | Samantha Taggart | Kerry Weaver
Former Characters	Peter Benton | Jeanie Boulet | John Carter | Deb Chen | Victor Clemente | Elizabeth Corday Anna Del Amico | Cleo Finch | Michael Gallant | Mark Greene | Carol Hathaway Lucy Knight | Susan Lewis | Dave Malucci | Robert Romano | Doug Ross
Episodes	List of ER Episodes | Pilot
Other reading	Broadcasters | Notable Guest Stars