When it comes to medical dramas, few shows balance heart, intensity, and relatability quite like The Good Doctor. Week after week, fans tune in to watch Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) navigate the complexities of hospital life with brilliance, empathy, and vulnerability. But while the series often tackles life-or-death situations with high stakes, it turns out that the cast behind the show has had some very un-dramatic brushes with real-life hospitals.
Recently, Freddie Highmore and several members of The Good Doctor cast opened up about their “dumbest ER visit stories”—moments that remind us that even the most poised and professional actors have embarrassing, all-too-human experiences. And honestly? Their stories prove that sometimes the smallest accidents make for the best laughs.
Freddie Highmore’s Surprisingly Relatable Accident
Freddie Highmore may play a genius surgeon on screen, but even he hasn’t been immune to clumsy mishaps. The actor confessed that his most ridiculous ER visit stemmed from what seemed like an ordinary kitchen moment.
“I was trying to open a can, and I didn’t realize how sharp the edge was,” Highmore shared with a laugh. “I ended up cutting myself badly enough that I thought, ‘Well, maybe Shaun Murphy would’ve stitched this up himself.’ But I had to go to the ER.”
It’s both ironic and comforting: the man who expertly performs surgeries on television needed real doctors for something as mundane as a kitchen slip-up. Fans joked that maybe he should have stayed in character and stitched himself up!
Antonia Thomas (Claire Browne) – A Dance Mishap
Antonia Thomas, who played the compassionate Dr. Claire Browne, recalled an accident that was more embarrassing than serious.
“I was at a friend’s wedding, dancing in heels, when I tried to spin and completely rolled my ankle,” she revealed. “At first, I thought I could just shake it off, but by the end of the night I couldn’t walk. I ended up in the ER in my gown and heels, which I think the doctors found hilarious.”
Her story shows that sometimes glamour and grace don’t mix—and that even a stylish entrance can end in a not-so-stylish hospital trip.
Christina Chang (Dr. Audrey Lim) – A Kitchen Fire Gone Wrong
Christina Chang, who plays Dr. Lim, had one of the most dramatic ER stories—but still insists it was “dumb.”
“I was cooking, and the oil caught fire,” Chang explained. “In the panic, I tried to move the pan instead of just covering it. Oil splashed, and I burned my arm. Luckily it wasn’t too bad, but I felt like such an idiot when I had to explain to the ER nurse that I basically ignored everything they tell you in fire-safety videos.”
For a surgeon character known for her precision, this real-life mishap was a reminder that panic often beats logic in the heat of the moment—literally.
Paige Spara (Lea Dilallo) – The Puppy Problem
Paige Spara, who plays Shaun’s wife Lea, admitted her ER trip was thanks to an overly energetic puppy.
“My dog was so excited to see me that he jumped up and knocked me into the corner of a table,” she said. “I ended up needing stitches on my forehead. I looked like I had just walked out of a fight scene.”
Her story got plenty of laughs from the cast, especially since she had to film with a bandaged forehead for a few days, leading to some creative camera angles.
Will Yun Lee (Dr. Alex Park) – The Snowboard Slip
Will Yun Lee, an action star both on and off-screen, had a story that blended thrill with embarrassment.
“I went snowboarding, and I thought I was nailing this jump. In reality, I face-planted so hard that I knocked myself out for a few seconds. Straight to the ER,” he admitted. “The doctors kept asking if I was a pro snowboarder, and I had to say, ‘No, just an idiot.’”
Why Fans Love These Stories
Hearing these ER tales makes the cast even more relatable. On-screen, they’re the calm, collected professionals saving lives. Off-screen, they’re just like the rest of us—tripping, cutting themselves, or making questionable choices that land them in the emergency room.
It’s also a reminder of how different the line between TV drama and real life can be. While The Good Doctor depicts emergencies that often test the limits of human survival, the cast’s real-world stories highlight the opposite: sometimes, the smallest mistakes create the biggest laughs.
A Glimpse of Humanity Behind the Roles
Part of The Good Doctor’s charm has always been its humanity. Shaun Murphy isn’t just a brilliant surgeon; he’s a person who struggles, learns, and grows. In many ways, hearing Freddie Highmore and his co-stars share their “dumb” ER stories mirrors that theme.
These actors may bring brilliance, skill, and emotional depth to their roles, but behind the camera, they’re everyday people with clumsy moments, silly accidents, and stories that could happen to anyone.
And maybe that’s why fans adore them even more—because beyond the perfect performances and the dramatic storylines, they remind us that being human means sometimes doing the dumbest things.
