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Cast - Previous - Peter Benton
Arrogant and ambitious, Peter Benton usually has the last word in most situations.
He's willing to take risks - even right from the start in the pilot episode - when the dynamic doctor decides to operate without supervision on a man bleeding to death.
When Dr Carter, a young third-year medical student, gets assigned to Benton, Peter makes it clear that their relationship will be far from fun. They clash on numerous occasions, as do Benton and Romano in later series.
Peter's mother dies in Series 1 and he turns to Jeanie Boulet, Physician Assistant, for support, and they have an affair. She's married, however, and he later learns that Jeanie has contracted HIV from her husband - Peter gets the all-clear, though.
In Series 3, Peter becomes involved with his ex, Carla Reese, and she falls pregnant. They have a son who is born deaf which has a devastating effect on Peter. Carla enters a new relationship and marries Roger McGrath - legal proceedings soon get underway when the McGraths want to move to Germany.
When Carla dies in a car crash, Peter goes back to court to get custody of Reese. He ends up getting some shocking news, however, when he finds out he’s not Reese's biological father.
A tumultuous relationship with Dr Elizabeth Corday follows. Just as well it doesn't last, as Benton is forced to move away from County in Series 8 to work better hours in order to spend more time with Reese.
He's awarded full custody and gets a new job at the same hospital as latest girlfriend, paediatrician Dr Cleo Finch.
