Stars Who Guested On ‘Doogie Howser, M.D.’

By Brent Furdyk. 19 Sep 2019 10:30 AM

“Doogie Howser, M.D.” first hit the air on Sept. 19, 1989, launching the career of young actor Neil Patrick Harris in the role of a teenage prodigy who becomes a doctor at age 14. In honour of the show’s 30th anniversary, here’s a look at some of the now-famous actors who appeared on the show as guest stars during its four-season run.

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Jada Pinkett Smith
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The future "Gotham" villain and "Red Table Talk" host was only 19 when she guest starred on the second season of "Doogie Howser, M.D." as a young patient that Doogie's pal Raymond (Markus Redmond) tries to impress, despite her utter disinterest in him.
Vince Vaughn
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Years before he broke through with the 1996 indie "Swingers", Vince Vaughn played one of Doogie's patients, who becomes paralyzed. While he eventually has a few lines, most of Vaughn’s work in the episode consists of lying paralyzed and unconscious on a gurney.
Shiri Appleby
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The "UnREAL" actress guest starred as a young hospital patient who develops a crush on Doogie while he treats her. "It was a really big job for me," she recalled in an interview with Elle magazine. "I remember auditioning on the 20th Century Fox lot. I knew it was a big deal because I had auditioned for it two or three times before that. I was about 11-years-old and, to me, it was like starring in 'Gone With The Wind'. It was a really fantastic work experience. There were a lot of scenes for me to play and I had to do a lot of emotions. I remember feeling really sad when the job was over because I felt like I really grew a lot. I know I was 11-years-old, but I really felt that."
Jeffrey Tambor
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Just before landing his breakout role as Hank "Hey Now!" Kingsley on HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show", Jeffery Tambor guest starred on "Doogie Howser, M.D." as as a member of the hospital board who disapproves when Doogie arranges to perform surgery on a young patient's beloved dog.
Denise Richards
Charles Sykes/Bravo
The future Beverly Hills Housewife appeared in a 1991 episode as a young woman named Alissa, who goes out on a date with Doogie after his car breaks down in the desert.
Neil Flynn
Chris Haston/NBC
Best known for his roles on sitcoms such as "Scrubs", "The Middle" and "Abby's", a moustached Neil Flynn guest starred as a dubious cop who doesn't believe Doogie is a doctor when he jumps in to treat someone in the middle of a street.
Richard Schiff
ABC/Stuart Pettican
Before going on to win an Emmy for his role in "The West Wing", Richard Schiff guest starred in an episode in which Doogie had an identity crisis and decided to take acting lessons. Schiff can currently be seen in the medical drama "The Good Doctor".
James Pickens Jr.
ABC/Adam Taylor
Best known for his role as Dr. Richard Webber on "Grey's Anatomy", James Pickens Jr. guest starred on "Doogie Howser, M.D." as a kidney-transplant patient.
David James Elliott
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Before going on to fame in "JAG" (a role he's reviving for the 2019-20 season of "NCIS: Los Angeles"), Canada's own David James Elliott guest starred as a Hollywood actor who shadows Doogie to learn the ins and outs of being a doctor for his role in TV medical drama "LA Med".
James Morrison
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Known for his roles in such series as "24" and "NCIS", one of James Morrison's early onscreen roles was in "Doogie Howser, M.D.", playing the father of a young patient.
Josie Bissett
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Before landing her breakout role on "Melrose Place", Josie Bissett guested on "Doogie Howser, M.D." as one of Doogie's former patients, whom he bumps into at the movies while out with Wanda — who becomes jealous when she shamelessly flirts with her one-time doc.
Carla Gugino
HBO
Before finding fame as an adult, Carla Gugino was a hard-working child actress who made her debut in the film "Troop Beverly Hills" and appeared in guest spots in such series as "The Wonder Years", "Falcon Crest", "ALF", "Saved By the Bell" and "Who's the Boss?" She appeared in an episode of "Doogie Howser, M.D." in which Doogie scrambles to find a date for the Eastman dance.

Stars Who Guested On ‘Doogie Howser, M.D.’

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