Catch up with your favorite stars from Eastman Medical.

Paging Dr. Doogie! See Neil Patrick Harris and the *Doogie Howser, M.D. *cast, then and now

Catch up with your favorite stars from Eastman Medical.

By Kelly Martinez

March 11, 2026 5:00 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

The cast of 'Doogie Howser.' See if you can guess which one of them is a teenage doctor. Credit:

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

In 1989, Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley introduced a new kind of doctor to audiences: a teenager.

Starring Neil Patrick Harris as the title character, *Doogie Howser, M.D. *follows a prodigious 16-year-old physician who juggles his medical practice with your everyday teenage angst. Fortunately for Doogie, his best friend and neighbor Vinnie (Max Casella) is always around to make sure he experiences the typical high school hijinks.

*Doogie Howser, M.D. *ran for four seasons and was a major stepping stone in Harris’ career. Despite its absurd sitcom premise, the series is fondly remembered for shining a light on social issues like AIDS, racism, and gang violence to the best of its ’90s abilities. It later inspired a gender-flipped reboot on Disney+, *Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.*, starring Peyton Elizabeth Lee.

Read on to see what Harris, Casella, and the rest of the *Doogie Howser* cast has been up to since the show’s final episode aired in 1993.

Neil Patrick Harris (Douglas “Doogie” Howser)

Neil Patrick Harris as Doogie Howser; Harris at the opening night of 'Art' in 2025.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Hatnim Lee/Getty

On the heels of his Golden Globe-nominated performance in *Clara's Heart* (1988), then-16-year-old Neil Patrick Harris scored big with the role of the genius teenage doc, Doogie Howser.

After finishing his shift at Eastman Medical, the actor had a period of reinvention. He went to war in Paul Verhoeven’s *Starship Troopers *(1997), then took a sledgehammer to his persona in *Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle *(2004) — all while proving his acting chops on the Broadway stage.

It wasn’t long before he found a second career-defining role: womanizer Barney Stinson on the hit sitcom *How I Met Your Mother* (2005–2014). Four Emmy nominations later, he stepped into Jim Carrey’s old shoes to play the role of dreadful Count Olaf on Netflix’s series adaptation of *A Series of Unfortunate Events* (2017–2019).

In addition to starring (human) roles in family fare like *The Smurfs* (2011) and its sequel, the New Mexico native went very dark for David Fincher’s *Gone Girl* (2014) and very meta for *The Matrix Resurrections *(2021), as Neo’s therapist.

Over the years, the longtime TV vet has won a grand total of five Emmys, one for his guest spot on *Glee *and four for hosting the Tony Awards. He also hosted the Oscars in 2015.

When asked for his thoughts on the female-led reboot of *Doogie Howser*, Harris was enthusiastic about the idea.

“I’m so happy,” he told *Variety *in 2021. “The creator of it was a big producer on *How I Met Your Mother* [Kourtney Kang]. I think setting it with a female protagonist is a great call… I think it’s in really good hands. I feel like it’s a passion project for many and I can't wait to watch it.”

Harris married his husband, David Burtka, in 2014. The couple are parents to twins.

Max Casella (Vincent “Vinnie” Salvatore Delpino)

Max Casella in 'Doogie Howser'; Casella at the 'Lake George' premiere in 2024.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Every doctor needs an assistant. Enter Max Casella as Doogie’s loyal best friend and neighbor, Vinnie.

“I don’t think it could work without someone like Vinnie, because you need Vinnie to bring Doogie down to Earth, make him look at least a little like a kid sometimes,” the actor told *The Washington Post *in 1990. “If he’s just a 16-year-old mutant-brain kid with no problems who never makes mistakes, people are going to go, ‘Who wants to watch this after a long day’s work?’”

The show was Casella’s first major gig, but he went on to scoop up a number of film roles during the ’90s. He was one of the newsboys in the cult-fave musical *Newsies *(1992) and played B-movie actor Paul Marco in Tim Burton’s *Ed Wood *(1994). He also starred as Timon in the original, Tony-winning Broadway production of *The Lion King*.

He eventually graduated into a string of tough-guy roles, scoring a recurring part for years on *The Sopranos* (2001–2007) before appearing on *Boardwalk Empire *(2010), *Vinyl *(2016), and, most recently, *Tulsa King *(2022–2024). Over the years, the D.C. native has also booked supporting parts in *Inside Llewyn Davis *(2013), *Blue Jasmine *(2013), and *Jackie *(2016).

Casella married Leona Robbins in 2002, and they have two daughters together. The couple separated in 2018.

Where is the 'Two and a Half Men' cast now? See Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer over 20 years later

Jesse Tyler Ferguson felt 'incredible' pressure to represent LGBTQ+ community on 'Modern Family'

Belinda Montgomery (Katherine Howser)

Belinda Montgomery in 'Doogie Howser'; Montgomery in L.A. in 2018.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Albert L. Ortega/Getty

Belinda Montgomery played Doogie’s doting mother, Katherine.

Prior to joining *Doogie Howser, M.D.*, Montgomery was already a familiar face on the small screen. She had regular guest work dating back to the ’60s, not to mention being a regular on *Man from Atlantis* (1977–1978).

On film, the Canadian actress had a run of thrillers earlier in her career, namely *The Todd Killings* (1971), *Breaking Point *(1976), *Stone Cold Dead* (1979), and *Silent Madness* (1984). In recent years she appeared in *Tron: Legacy *(2010), and Lifetime’s *Snowed-Inn Christmas *(2017).

Lawrence Pressman (Dr. Benjamin Canfield)

Lawrence Pressman in 'Doogie Howser'; Pressman at the Ahmanson Theater in L.A. in 2024.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Michael Tullberg/Getty

Lawrence Pressman had some big scrubs to fill as Dr. Canfield, the head of Eastman Medical.

Before his *Doogie* days, he had short-lived stints as the title character on *Mulligan’s Stew *(1977) and the lead of sitcom *Ladies’ Man* (1980–1981).

Though he's most accomplished on the stage — with such productions as *The Man in the Glass Booth*, *Play it Again, Sam*, and *Never Live Over a Pretzel Factory *under his belt — he’s maintained a presence on television for decades. That includes guest spots on everything from *M*A*S*H *(1979) to *St. Elsewhere *(1988) to *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine *(1994–1997).

Most recently, the Kentucky native popped up on *High Potential *(2025) and *Grey’s Anatomy *(2025). On the film side, the actor’s credits include *Shaft *(1971), *9 to 5 *(1980), and *American Pie *(1999).

Pressman and actress Lanna Saunders were married from 1973 until her death in 2007. They have one son.

Mitchell Anderson (Dr. Jack McGuire)

Mitchell Anderson in 'Doogie Howser'; Anderson in L.A. in 2018.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Robin L Marshall/Getty

Mitchell Anderson kept things interesting around Eastman Medical with his performance as Dr. McGuire, Doogie’s rival.

Before *Doogie Howser, M.D.*, Anderson flexed his chops with early roles in *SpaceCamp *(1986) and *Jaws: The Revenge *(1987), as well as a brief stint on *Days of Our Lives*. Post-*Doogie*, he spent time as a recurring character on *Party of Five *(1994–2000).

“When I was younger, everyone assumed I’d grow up to become a doctor,” the actor told *The Chicago Sun-Times *in 1989. “I was even pre-med in college. So when I decided to become an actor, a lot of people were surprised. They’d joke around and say, ‘You spent all that money studying to become a doctor. Can’t you at least get a role playing one on TV?’”

Anderson ended up following a different path altogether, leaving Hollywood behind to pursue a culinary career. He currently owns the restaurant MetroFresh in Atlanta, where he lives with his partner, Richie Arpino.

Kathryn Layng (Mary Margaret “Curly” Spaulding)

Kathryn Layng in 'Doogie Howser'; Layng at the Tony Awards in 2019.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty;  Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Kathryn Layng played Curly, a nurse at Eastman Medical.

*Doogie *was the Illinois native’s first and only major screen role. Elsewhere, she appeared in the infamous rom-com flop *The Marrying Man *(1991) alongside then-married couple Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger, and had guest spots on *Joe's Life *and *Diagnosis: Murder.*

Layng has spent much more time on stage. Her husband, David Henry Hwang, is a Pulitzer-nominated playwright. They met when she starred in the production of his 1988 play *M. Butterfly*, which landed him a Tony.

The two have been married since 1993 and have two children.

James B. Sikking (Dr. David Howser)

James Sikking in 'Doogie Howser'; Sikking at the 'Sister Act' L.A. theatrical premiere in 2013.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Mark Sullivan/Getty

A knack for medicine must run in the family. The late James B. Sikking portrayed Doogie’s father, Dr. David Howser.

With a Hollywood career that spanned six decades, Sikking is best remembered as part of the main ensemble on the classic procedural *Hill Street Blues* (1981–1987). The performance earned him an Emmy nomination.

The longtime character actor was never lacking for work on television, with well over 100 shows to his name. He reunited with Bochco for the cop drama *Brooklyn South *(1997–1998), and made appearances on *Curb Your Enthusiasm *(2004).

His film credits include Robert Redford’s *Ordinary People *(1980), *Star Trek III: The Search for Spock* (1984), the Sean Connery-led outer-space actioner *Outland *(1981), and *The Pelican Brief *(1993).

The actor married Florine Caplan in 1962, and they had three children together. He died of complications from dementia in 2024 at 90 years old.

“Jim Sikking played my dad in *Doogie Howser, M.D.* and was one of the kindest, wisest, funniest, and most generous people I’ve ever known,” Harris wrote in an Instagram tribute following Siiking’s death. “He treated everyone with respect, taught me countless lessons, yet always had a spark of mischief in his eyes. It was an absolute honor to be his son.”

Lisa Dean Ryan (Wanda Plenn)

Lisa Dean Ryan in 'Doogie Howser'; Ryan at the premiere of 'The Thicket' in 2024.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Chad Salvador/Variety via Getty

Ahh, young love! Lisa Dean Ryan played Wanda, Doogie’s girlfriend.

She spent two seasons as a regular, then made a handful of appearances in season 3 before departing. After leaving *Doogie *behind, the actress starred on *Class of ‘96 *(1993) and MTV’s *Dead at 21 *(1994). Both shows were cancelled after one season.

The Phoenix native later racked up a string of guest spots on popular series, namely *Boy Meets World* (1997), *NYPD Blue* (2002), and *Cold Case *(2004).

Ryan’s last screen credit is the Hallmark film *Mystery Woman: Vision of a Murder* (2005).

Lucy Boryer (Janine Stewart)

Lucy Boryer in 'Doogie Howser'; Boryer via Instagram in 2019.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Lucy Boryer/Instagram

Lucy Boryer played Janine, Vinnie’s girlfriend and Wanda’s best friend.

Elsewhere, the actress guest starred on *Star Trek: The Next Generation *(1992) and *Major Dad *(1992), in addition to a supporting role in the Stephen King-penned *Sleepwalkers *(1992).

She’s kept a lower profile in subsequent years, though she recently appeared in the films *Hard Luck Love Song *(2020) and *Murder and Cocktails *(2024).

Markus Redmond (Raymond Alexander)

Markus Redmond in 'Doogie Howser'; Redmond via Instagram in 2025.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Markus Redmond/Instagram

Markus Redmond rounded out the cast as** **orderly turned EMT Raymond.

Redmond was just getting his feet wet at the time, but went on to appear in a handful of episodes of *NYPD Blue* (1993–1994) before scoring an even bigger role on the acclaimed legal drama *Murder One* (1995–1997). His other TV credits include *Mad About You *(1996-1997) and *Angel *(1999–2000).

On film, you may recognize him as one of the cops interrogating Edward Norton in *Fight Club *(1999). He also wrote and starred in the Sundance film *If I Had Known I Was a Genius* (2007), alongside Whoopi Goldberg.

Redmond married his wife Isis Heuser in 2008.

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Comedy”