<P> His father , John ( Jack ) Truman Carter Jr . ( Michael Gross ) is caring but stiff , and very acquiescent with his wife until he gets tired of her being an `` emotional vampire '' and divorces her . He and Carter have an awkward relationship where they love each other but John does n't respect his father . Jack recognizes this and keeps some distance from him as a result of it . Carter 's mother , Eleanor ( Mary McDonnell ) , is emotionally distant and cold . Her personality was largely shaped because she blamed herself for Carter 's older brother , Robert 's death from leukemia . Carter eventually figures out that much of her sadness comes from this and they briefly become closer , but eventually Eleanor removes herself from any ties to her family after Jack divorces her , to the point where John has no idea how to reach her and she refuses to return a phone call he makes after Millicent Carter ( who hated her ) passes away . </P>
<P> His father , John ( Jack ) Truman Carter Jr . ( Michael Gross ) is caring but stiff , and very acquiescent with his wife until he gets tired of her being an `` emotional vampire '' and divorces her . He and Carter have an awkward relationship where they love each other but John does n't respect his father . Jack recognizes this and keeps some distance from him as a result of it . Carter 's mother , Eleanor ( Mary McDonnell ) , is emotionally distant and cold . Her personality was largely shaped because she blamed herself for Carter 's older brother , Robert 's death from leukemia . Carter eventually figures out that much of her sadness comes from this and they briefly become closer , but eventually Eleanor removes herself from any ties to her family after Jack divorces her , to the point where John has no idea how to reach her and she refuses to return a phone call he makes after Millicent Carter ( who hated her ) passes away . </P>
who played john carter 's mother on er
who played john carter 's mother on er
Mary McDonnell
Mary McDonnell