Where is the "Northern Exposure" cast now? See the small town stars over 30 years after the series ended Staff Author, Kelly MartinezThu, March 19, 2026 at 10:00 PM UTC 0 The cast of 'Northern Exposure' escapes the bitter Alaska cold for an Olan Mills portrait studioCredit: CBS via Getty Before Virgin River, there was another popular "fish out of water" series featuring smalltown drama and medicine. Premiering on CBS in 1990, Northern Exposure centers on Dr. Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow), a young Jewish physician from New York City who's required to practice medicine in rural Cicely, Ala.
Where is the "Northern Exposure" cast now? See the small town stars over 30 years after the series ended
Staff Author, Kelly MartinezThu, March 19, 2026 at 10:00 PM UTC
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The cast of 'Northern Exposure' escapes the bitter Alaska cold for an Olan Mills portrait studioCredit: CBS via Getty
Before Virgin River, there was another popular "fish out of water" series featuring small-town drama and medicine.
Premiering on CBS in 1990, Northern Exposure centers on Dr. Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow), a young Jewish physician from New York City who's required to practice medicine in rural Cicely, Ala., for four years as a condition of his student loans. As Joel adjusts to small-town life, he develops close relationships with the eccentric local residents and reluctantly grows to appreciate Cicely's quirks.
Over its six-season run, Northern Exposure took home seven Emmys, two Golden Globes, and two Peabody Awards. The show continues to maintain a passionate fanbase today, beloved for its unique storytelling style, Indigenous casting, and LGBTQ representation.
Read on to see what Morrow, Barry Corbin, Janine Turner, and the rest of the Northern Exposure cast has been up to since the series ended in 1995.
01 of 09
Rob Morrow (Joel Fleischman)
Rob Morrow, smoldering; Rob Morrow, smiling! The man contains multitudesCredit: CBS via Getty; Matei Horvath/Getty
After starring alongside Johnny Depp in the film Private Resort (1985), Rob Morrow got his big break when he landed the lead role of the neurotic doc on Northern Exposure.
After departing midway through the show's final season to focus more on films, he landed the co-lead role in Robert Redford's Oscar-nominated true-scandal hit, Quiz Show (1994), as well as a supporting gig in Albert Brooks' Mother (1996).
Over the past couple of decades, Morrow has scooped up a string of small-screen roles. He headlined the heady crime procedural Numb3rs (2005–2010), alongside David Krumholtz, and played famed attorney Barry Scheck on The People vs. O.J. Simpson (2016). He was also a recurring figure on Billions (2016–2023).
In 2018, it was reported that a Northern Exposure reboot was in the works, with Morrow in talks to reprise his role. However, there's been little development since.
"We used to talk about Northern Exposure taking place in a benevolent universe, where all walks of life could coexist," the actor reflected on his rewatch podcast, Northern Disclosure, in 2025. "On Northern Disclosure, we aim to capture some of the same fun, decency, wit, and intelligence that made the show so beloved — then and now."
Morrow married actress Debbon Ayer in 1998. The couple has one daughter.
02 of 09
Barry Corbin (Maurice Minnifield)
Barry Corbin in 'Northern Exposure' in 1990; Corbin with amazing drip in 2014Credit: CBS via Getty; Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Barry Corbin played the pompous Maurice, a multi-millionaire businessman, Korean War fighter pilot, and ex-astronaut. Talk about a stacked résumé!
The Texas native has a reputation for playing cowboys, sheriffs, and authority figures. Prior to Northern Exposure, he racked up supporting roles in WarGames (1983), Urban Cowboy (1980), Stir Crazy (1980), and Any Which Way You Can (1980).
Many fans will also recognize him for his standout scene in the Coen brothers' modern classic, No Country for Old Men (2007). He also recently popped up in a small role in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
The longtime TV veteran, whose career has taken him everywhere from M*A*S*H (1981) to Dallas (1979–1984), has been a regular on a handful of shows lately. The list includes One Tree Hill (2003–2009), The Ranch (2016–2020), and Anger Management (2012–2014), alongside Charlie Sheen. He also booked recurring roles on Better Call Saul (2020) and Tulsa King (2022-present).
03 of 09
Janine Turner (Maggie O'Connell)
Janine Turner in 'Northern Exposure'; Turner at the 2025 Ellis Island Medals of Honor ceremonyCredit: CBS via Getty; Chance Yeh/Getty
Janine Turner spiced things up in Cicely as the spunky Maggie, a former bush pilot and Joel's landlord (and eventual love interest).
"She's a landlord. She's got courage. She has no pretenses," she told EW in 1991. "She is who she is and she's not afraid. Sounds like a man's role, doesn't it?"
A veteran of General Hospital and a decade's worth of guest spots at the time, Turner moved into a higher echelon with Northern Exposure, which she landed just after her small role in Steel Magnolias (1989).
She went on to play Sylvester Stallone's love interest in Cliffhanger (1993) and June Cleaver herself in the Leave it to Beaver (1997) film adaptation. Contemporary audiences may know her from her recurring arc on Friday Night Lights (2008–2009).
The Emmy-nominated actress has largely pivoted to writing and political commentary in recent decades.
Turner has one daughter with Jerry Jones Jr., son of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
04 of 09
John Cullum (Holling Vincoeur)
John Cullum in 'Northern Exposure'; Cullum at the 'American Son' opening in 2018Credit: CBS via Getty; Roy Rochlin/Getty
John Cullum portrayed Holling, the owner of Cicely's popular bar and restaurant, The Brick.
Arguably the most accomplished member of the cast, Cullum is a highly regarded stage actor in addition to his lengthy television and movie career. He won the Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical not once, but twice, for Broadway productions Shenandoah and On the Twentieth Century. In 2007, he was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame.
The Knoxville, Tenn., native was a standout as Edward Rutledge in the film adaptation of 1776 (1972), having already played the role on Broadway. He went on to star in the legendary TV movie The Day After (1983) and the Ryan Gosling/Kirsten Dunst drama All Good Things (2010), a fictionalized version of the true-crime tale later told on The Jinx (2015).
Over the years, Cullum has also appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2003–2011), Mad Men (2007), 30 Rock (2012), and The Middle (2009–2018), among many others.
The actor was married to Emily Frankel from 1959 until her death in 2024. They had one son.
05 of 09
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Cynthia Geary (Shelly Tambo)
Cynthia Geary in 'Northern Exposure'; Geary at Vulture Festival in 2020Credit: CBS via Getty; Getty
Cynthia Geary earned a pair of Emmy nominations as beauty pageant winner Shelly, the former Miss Northwest Passage.
After getting her career off the ground as Shelly, the Mississippi native was the romantic lead opposite Luke Perry in the rodeo drama 8 Seconds (1994) and also appeared in several independent films, including Smoke Signals (1998).
More recently, she had a recurring role on Netflix's coming-of-age series Penelope (2024) as the title character's mother.
Like several of her castmates, Geary has expressed support for the idea of a Northern Exposure revival, sharing at a cast reunion in 2017, "We all want it to happen. Darren [Burrows]'s trying, Rob's trying."
The actress has two daughters with her ex-husband, Robert Coron.
06 of 09
John Corbett (Chris Stevens)
John Corbertt in 'Northern Exposure'; Corbett at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in 2026Credit: CBS via Getty; Phillip Faraone/Getty
Before he was competing for Carrie Bradshaw's affections, John Corbett planted roots in Cicely as an ex-convict and disc jockey.
Beyond Northern Exposure and Sex and the City, Corbett is widely known for My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) and its two sequels. Contemporary audiences may also recognize him from his fatherly role in Netflix's To All the Boys trilogy.
Elsewhere, he was the "other guy" in the Kate Beckinsale/John Cusack rom-com Serendipity (2001) and Kate Hudson's love interest in Raising Helen (2004) before securing a regular gig on Showtime's United States of Tara (2009–2011).
After a recurring stint on Parenthood (2011–2015), he reprised Aidan Shaw for the SATC sequel series And Just Like That… (2023–2025).
Corbett married his longtime girlfriend, Bo Derek, in 2020.
07 of 09
Darren E. Burrows (Ed Chigliak)
Darren E. Burrows in 'Northern Exposure'; Burrows at the 'Love Is Strange' premiere in 2014Credit: CBS via Getty; George Pimentel/Getty
Darren E. Burrows played aloof yet kinda-genius Ed, a half-Native Alaskan orphan raised by the Tlingit tribe.
Prior to landing that signature role, the Kansan scored small roles in Brian De Palma's Casualties of War (1989) and John Waters' teen musical Cry-Baby (1990).
Following his time in small-town Alaska, Burrows appeared in the TV movie The Siege at Ruby Ridge (1996), alongside Randy Quaid, Laura Dern, and Kirsten Dunst, as well as Steven Spielberg's Amistad (1997). He later guest-starred on NYPD Blue (1998), The X-Files (1999), and CSI (2009).
In more recent years, the actor landed a role in the ensemble of acclaimed drama Love Is Strange (2014), alongside John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, and Marisa Tomei, and recently headlined the indie Magpie Funeral (2023).
Burrows married professional chef Melinda Delgado in 1993. The couple shares four children together.
08 of 09
Peg Phillips (Ruth-Anne Miller)
Peg Phillips in 'Northern Exposure' in 1990; Phillips in '7th Heaven' in 1999Credit: CBS via Getty; Paramount+
The late Peg Phillips brought some sense to Cicely as the level-headed general store owner, and proud film buff, Ruth-Anne. She was initially conceived as a peripheral recurring role, but was upped to series regular status after proving wildly popular with viewers.
Though she had a lifelong ambition for acting, she was a late bloomer in show business, entering the industry in her 60s. There were small parts for a few years, including in the acclaimed River Phoenix indie Dogfight (1991) and the Olsen twins' How the West Was Fun (1994). Then Northern Exposure not only made her a fan favorite, but an Emmy nominee.
"I almost didn't audition for the series because ... I don't go out on little cookie jar grandmother things," she said in a 1992 interview. "I don't have gray hair, I'm skinny and move too fast. I guess casting directors would see me more as a bag lady."
The Washington native later went on to guest star on Suddenly Susan (1996), 7th Heaven (1996–1999), and ER (2000).
Phillips, who was married twice, had four children and eight grandchildren. She died of pulmonary disease in 2002 at 84 years old.
09 of 09
Elaine Miles (Marilyn Whirlwind)
Elaine Miles in 'Northern Exposure'; Miles in 'Fishing Naked' in 2015Credit: CBS via Getty; 42 Productions
Elaine Miles brought the no-nonsense receptionist Marilyn to life.
"It's crazy because when I first auditioned… I had no clue what it was," she said in a 2020 interview. "I never in my whole life thought I would become an actress. But with Northern Exposure, that first season, I was in awe the whole time."
Marilyn remains her signature role, but Miles has a few more calling cards as well. She appeared in the Native American indie classic Smoke Signals (1998) as well as The Business of Fancydancing (2002) and the HBO film Scattering Dad (1998).
The Northwest native scored a supporting role as a sheriff in the Alfre Woodard-led drama Juanita (2019), then found a huge new audience with a guest appearance on The Last of Us in the critically acclaimed episode "Kin."
Miles is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. She has one son.
on Entertainment Weekly
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Published: March 20, 2026 at 07:45AM on Source: PRIME TIME
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Where is the "Northern Exposure" cast now? See the small town stars over 30 years after the series ended S...
