Tony Gates

Tony Gates
John Stamos as Tony Gates
First appearance	November 10, 2005 (Season 12, "The Human Shield")
Last appearance	April 2, 2009 (Season 15, "And In the End...")
Portrayed by	John Stamos
Information
Gender	Male
Occupation	Physician, formerly Paramedic
Title	Intern (2006-2007) Resident (2007-2009)
Family	Mike Gates (father)
Spouse(s)	Neela Rasgotra (ex-girlfriend) Samantha Taggart (girlfriend)
Children	Sarah Riley

Dr. Anthony "Tony" Gates is a fictional character on the television series ER. He is portrayed by John Stamos. Stamos was originally going to be introduced on ER in Season 12 as Dr. Tom Beck, an unorthodox new ER Chief who would alternately clash with and impress the ER regulars. Because Stamos was not available for an extended stint on the show at that time, his character was retro-fitted as a paramedic who would be introduced in that field for a few Season 12 appearances before becoming a series regular for Season 13.

In Gates's first appearance in the series, his paramedic was fired at while trying to assist a young kidnapping victim. Gates transported the girl to County General following the arrest of her kidnapper. While assisting in the treatment of the girl, Gates met Dr. Neela Rasgotra. In the beginning, Neela seems irritated by Gates, but the two soon developed a friendship. Gates later revealed to Neela that he too is a medical student who is spending time with the paramedics until he graduates. In the episode, "Two Ships," when two airplanes collided and crashed in downtown Chicago, Gates and Neela again worked together, this time out in the field. Gates was badly injured when a burning building (which he had run into to save a woman) exploded. Neela was forced to perform risky liver surgery on him in the field. Gates eventually recovered.

Gates returned to the series as an intern at County at the start of season 13. His strong willed and often rebellious attitude led him to a few confrontations with attending Gregory Pratt who on many occasions called him a "cowboy"; this provided an ironic counterpoint to Pratt's earlier, similar difficulties with Luka Kovač and John Carter. Tony reunited with Neela and encountered feelings. The two bickered with one another but eventually had a fling. This began to upset Ray Barnett, who also had feelings for Neela but could never quite face up to them.

It was revealed that Tony had a girlfriend named Meg who was using her deceased husband's life insurance money to get him through medical school. She also had a daughter named Sarah who loved Tony more as a best friend than father figure. Tony and Meg's relationship was revealed at first being casual friends through Meg's husband, who was friends with Tony from their service in the first Gulf War. After the husband's death, Tony decided to live with Meg and her daughter to help them out. Tony would eventually become intimate with Meg. Meg clearly had big hopes for Tony to provide more for his family. Tony didn't mention his domestic status at the hospital, and it was unknown even to Neela.