Coronavirus: Patrick Dempsey, Zach Braff and Jennifer Garner return to doctor roles to thank healthcare workers

Patrick Dempsey, Zach Braff and Jennifer Garner returned to their roles as on-screen doctors to thank US healthcare workers for their dedication during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a video curated by actress Olivia Wilde, who appeared on House, MD, a cast of famous faces who made their names playing TV doctors virtually came together to pay tribute to real-life medics.

Doogie Howser’s Neil Patrick Harris was among those to make an appearance, while Dempsey, Sandra Oh and Kate Walsh represented the Grey’s Anatomy cast, with Oh giving a special shout out to her ER doctor brother-in-law.

Zach Braff and Donald Faison from Scrubs recorded messages of thanks from their own homes, with co-star Sarah Chalke joking: “I know that they’re recruiting retired doctors and nurses and if you want to recruit the fake doctors we are ready.”

Also featured were Nurse Jackie’s Edie Falco, ER’s Maura Tierney and even Jennifer Garner, who played a doctor on the big screen in Dallas Buyers Club.

“Thank you, healthcare heroes,” Wilde captioned the video.

“On behalf of fake doctors everywhere, we want to thank the actual healthcare superheroes on the front lines of this crisis. On this #worldhealthday please consider donating to buy essential resources for these first responders who are risking their lives for us.”