NBC’s “Brilliant Minds” is continuing to grow its cast. The medical drama has added Mandy Patinkin in a recurring role, and Steve Howey and André De Shields as guest stars, showrunner Michael Grassi announced on Sunday at the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Pasadena.
Both Howey and Patinkin will star in two episodes.
Patinkin will play an esteemed family doctor who joins the staff of Bronx General Hospital and brings his own “unconventional methods to the workplace.” According to the press release, “his affinity for house calls and long-standing patient relationships wins the respect of our lead, Dr. Wolf, and fosters a mentor-like relationship between the two men.” According to Grassi, he “really shakes up our world.”
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Howey portrays a “rugged motorcycle mechanic” who comes to Dr. Wolf looking for help with a gunshot wound and is “forced to make a heartbreaking decision.” De Shields plays “an Alzheimer’s patient in an end-of-life care facility,” who Dr. Wolf helps to reconnect with his family.
The series, previously titled “Dr Wolf,” follows the work of Dr. Oliver Wolf, a larger-than-life neurologist. The lead character is inspired by Dr. Oliver Wolf Sacks, the British neurologist and naturalist; many of his studies were chronicled in his non-fiction books, “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat” and “An Anthropologist on Mars.” The best-known adaptation of Dr. Sacks’ novels was “Awakenings,” the Oscar-nominated film that starred Robin Williams as Dr. Malcolm Sayer.
“Brilliant Minds” also stars Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Teddy Sears and Donna Murphy.
Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Melissa Aouate, Henrik Bastin, Andy Serkis, Jonathan Cavendish and Will Tennant executive produce. Berlanti Productions, Fabel Entertainment, The Imaginarium, Grassi Productions and Tavala produce in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
“Brilliant Minds” premieres on Monday, Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
