The Role of the Guest Star

With the repeat of the season 9 opener of Law and Order: SVU, complete with Cynthia Nixon in her post-Sex and The City career, I am reminded of how much weight guest stars bring to a show. With a recognizable name and a number of fans following, a visitor can spark a show and liven the storyline.

But oftentimes, the highlighted guest star brings with them a unique story related to a health or social issue that is simultaneously highlighted in the show. Bringing on famous guest stars along with an important issue drives home the importance of the issue at hand along with a memorable face. It’s an important and successful method used by all networks…and one that should be continued.

As for Ms. Nixon and her presentation of multiple personality disorder (kind of…the character turned out to be faking but was able to persuade a psychiatrist that she had the disorder) once again alerted the public to the very real cases of borderline personality disorder.

And SVU is not the latest to have a guest star with personality issues. Grey’s Anatomy’s recurring character Ava / Rebecca / Girl from the Ferry/ Jane Doe / Enter name here is the latest character to suffer from a personality disorder. Being as Elizabeth Reaser is a recurring actress and not a one-episode guest star, the audience had multiple opportunities to view both the presentation of the illness and how it affected those around her, especially Dr. Alex Kurev (for more “Shades of Grey” see the Finale Review below!).

The bottom line of guest stars comes down to support – Bringing on supporting actors with health and social issues simultaneously shares and supports the cause.

So how long has this trend occurred? Let’s take a look back to more examples:

--Sally Fields (right) as Abby Lockheart's mother on ER – recurring character- (In fact, EIC uses this characters as an example of bipolar disorder in the media and how an actor can prepare for such a role.)

--Kathleen Wilhoite as Chloe Lewis, Dr. Lewis' sister, on ER

--David Duchovney on Sex and The City, as Carrie's high school boyfriend who checks himself into a mental facility for treatment.

--Michael J. Fox as a doctor with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder on "Scrubs"

I know there are plenty more-but these are just a few to get us started! - so fill us in with your faves! Do you know more? Feel free to add your own!

--Michelle mdelateur@eiconline.org