One Chicago Podcast: Steven Weber (Dr. Dean Archer, Chicago Med)

Original Air Date: October 30, 2025
Host: Brian Luce
Guest: Steven Weber (Dr. Dean Archer)

Episode Overview

This episode of the One Chicago Podcast offers a deep, lively, and emotional conversation between host Brian Luce and Steven Weber, the veteran actor behind Dr. Dean Archer on Chicago Med. The episode delves into Weber’s unique background, his development of the Archer character, and the personal connections that shape his portrayal. Listeners get behind-the-scenes stories and honest reflections on trauma, redemption, and evolving as an artist within the One Chicago universe.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Steven Weber’s Early Life and Artistic Roots

• Creative Upbringing
  • Weber shares that, though raised in a showbiz family, the environment was “more blue collar than bohemian.” His mother was a singer on famed talent shows; his father was a manager and agent for comedians and singers, but also a Korean War vet (04:01).

    “So she was a singer, and then my father was an agent and manager...But it wasn't necessarily what you would describe as a creative environment. It was a very blue collar environment.” — Steven Weber (04:01)

• Motivation for Acting
  • His desire to act was about self-expression and “wanting people to notice me and like me” (05:10).

2. Landing the Role of Dr. Dean Archer

• Unexpected Opportunity
  • Weber originally expected a short arc, not a regular role. The character of Dean Archer—a wounded former Navy surgeon with PTSD—was supposed to end sadly, but was kept on due to depth and appeal (05:33).

    “Halfway through, I think they decided that this character had more depth...so after that they decided not to end the character and they brought me back the next season.” — Steven Weber (06:16)

• Character’s Dark Early Days
  • The original Archer “bordered on sociopath” (07:17), with dark actions now conveniently forgotten in the show's canon.

3. Standout Scenes and Acting Styles

• Silent Performance with Oliver Platt
  • Brian and Steven reminisce about a moving, nearly wordless scene involving a young heart transplant patient, highlighting the power of “listening”—both in writing and acting (07:39, 08:43).

    “The best movie is a silent movie for an actor. And when you tell the whole story with your eyes with no words, the camera comes over and you see you two guys, you can actually see the chills.” — Brian Luce (09:03)

• Improvised Moments and Acting Choices
  • Weber describes an LSD scene where he improvised a memorable line:

    “Ah, that word came out like a ribbon. Since my character was tripping, I was using a couple of early experiences I actually had, and they allowed me to improvise this line.” — Steven Weber (13:02)

4. Character Evolution: Trauma, Redemption, and Roots

• Archer’s Background: Drawing from Personal Experience

  • Weber based Archer’s trauma and emotional difficulties on his own father, a Korean War veteran. He becomes visibly emotional recounting his father’s haunted postwar life and how that informed his acting:

    “He was an agent, but he always had this haunted look. His hand shook a little bit. He always was quick to anger...So I used a lot of him in the character of Archer.” — Steven Weber (19:34)

• Coaching Veterans and Working with New Directions for Veterans

  • Weber mentions his decade-long work with this organization, channeling his dad’s legacy and supporting others with similar wounds (21:30).

• Co-Parenting Storyline with Dr. Asher

  • This season, Archer’s journey as a new father (in his 60s) and co-parenting with Dr. Hannah Asher is a unique road, focused more on emotional connection than romance (22:46, 23:13).

    “This is not classic TV love. There's something else at play, and it's still developing.” — Steven Weber (23:38)

5. Writing, Collaboration, and Show Dynamics

• Working Under Showrunner Alan McDonald
  • Both Weber and Luce praise the grittier, more personal writing that allows deeper character exploration (09:32, 14:25).

    “Alan has given us...the luxury. He studied the show and saw the evolution of a lot of these characters. He writes to that.” — Steven Weber (15:01)

• Jumping Onto an Established Series (Season 6 Onwards)
  • Weber approached his late entry by focusing, observing, and “just hitting my mark” with humility, not seeking to steal limelight (13:27).
• Common Threads Across One Chicago Shows
  • Characters are heroic “because of their vulnerability,” not invincibility (10:39); actors bring texture from real-life experiences.

6. Memorable Anecdotes and Guest Stories

• Working with Dennis Farina

  • Weber shares a nervous but memorable on-set encounter with the legendary cop-turned-actor on Crime Story (16:54–18:51).

• The ‘Terrace’ as Emotional Refuge

  • Discussion of set locations (like the roof/terrace) as symbolic vulnerable spaces for first responders (26:42).

7. Difficulties and Joys of Medical Acting

• Challenging Scenes

  • “Intake” scenes, which require rattling off technical medical terms, are the hardest (31:09).

• Best Scenes

  • Emotional interactions and curmudgeonly repartee with Oliver Platt bring the most satisfaction (32:18); working with Emmy-winning Ipatha Murkerson is another highlight (33:25).

    “When the camera's on her right over my shoulder, looking down at her, and she's talking...let me tell you, when one tear dropped onto her collar in real time...this is kind of TV film history.” — Steven Weber (35:34)

• Physical Demands of Scenes

  • Carrying a fellow actor as “dead weight” for a rescue scene was much harder than it looked (34:27).

• Realism of On-Screen Surgery

  • Surgical scenes are often more physically intense than people expect; sometimes, there’s “real kind of visceral, violent whacking” (37:30).

8. Behind-the-Scenes Tidbits

• Jesse Schram (Dr. Asher)
  • In real life, Schram is playful and high-spirited—a contrast with her composed character, adding energy and fun to dark storylines (37:55).
• Sarah Ramos’s Lennox—Off-Set Cubs Fanatic
  • Ramos has embraced Chicago Cubs fandom to the point of being rowdy at games, surprising castmates with her enthusiasm (39:42).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 04:01 | Steven Weber | "It was a very blue collar environment...my father was very kind of linear...So it wasn't like the house was full of mirth and creativity and everybody was painting and we were bohemian."| | 05:33 | Steven Weber | "I got the call. I didn't even have to audition for it, which is good most of the time. Sometimes it's not."| | 07:17 | Steven Weber | "It wasn't even so much cranky. I mean, bordered on sociopath. He was doing a couple things we've sort of conveniently forgot about."| | 09:03 | Brian Luce | "The best movie is a silent movie for an actor. And when you tell the whole story with your eyes with no words, the camera comes over and you see you two guys, you can actually see the chills."| | 13:02 | Steven Weber | "That word came out like a ribbon. Since my character was tripping, I was using a couple of early experiences I actually had, and they allowed me to improvise this line..."| | 19:34 | Steven Weber | "He always had this haunted look. His hand shook a little bit. He always was quick to anger. He had some hopes and dreams that were thwarted by his own inability to express himself."| | 23:38 | Steven Weber | "This is not classic TV love. There's something else at play, and it's still developing."| | 35:34 | Steven Weber | "Let me tell you, when one tear dropped onto her collar in real time...this is kind of TV film history."| | 41:25 | Steven Weber | "I would definitely trade places with one of the background actors who have to lay in bed all day in a coma. Fantastic gig."| | 42:02 | Steven Weber | "I think it would be great if Jeff Bridges came on as the dude and I would have to take care of him. Big Lebonski."|

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Steven’s Creative Family & Early Influences — 04:01–05:28
• How Weber Got the Part & Early Days of Archer — 05:33–07:39
• Powerful, Silent Heart Transplant Scene — 07:39–09:21
• Writing & Character Depth Under Alan McDonald — 09:32–10:39
• Building Dr. Archer from His Father’s Experience — 19:01–22:46
• Dr. Archer & Dr. Asher’s Dynamic — 22:46–23:42
• Off-Set Anecdotes (Dennis Farina, Cubs, Fun Behind the Scenes) — 16:54–18:51; 39:23–39:56
• Acting Challenges: Medical Jargon & Emotional Scenes — 31:09–32:44
• Memorable On-Screen Moments (Saving Ms. Goodwin, Surgery Scenes) — 33:25–37:48
• Rapid Fire (Answers Stat) Segment — 40:01–42:30

Tone and Takeaways

The episode feels like both a master class in nuanced acting and an intimate therapy session—often warm, self-deprecating, and moving, but also candid about the hardships behind showbiz and the realism behind One Chicago’s compelling characters. Steven Weber’s honesty about his personal life, his gratitude for strong writing, and his admiration for costars is matched by an infectious behind-the-scenes joy. This is a can't-miss listen for fans of Chicago Med and those curious about the emotional life beneath the scrubs and scripts.

Quick-Reference Highlights

• Steven Weber channels his father’s trauma and resilience to inform Dr. Archer's PTSD narrative.
• The series’ strength: character-driven stories—their realness, vulnerabilities, and redemptive arcs.
• Memorable scenes include both silence and off-script improvisation.
• Behind the scenes, the cast is tightly knit, supportive, and full of humor—even as storylines grow darker.
• Weber treasures scenes with Oliver Platt and Ipatha Murkerson, and relishes the show’s evolution under Alan McDonald.

Final Words:
Steven Weber’s gratitude, wit, and depth shine throughout this interview—a blend of humor, hard-earned empathy, and a craftsman’s respect for every element that makes One Chicago tick.