Peter Facinelli Reflects on Contrasting Doctor Roles in 'Twilight' and 'Nurse Jackie'

The actor discusses the differences between playing the compassionate Dr. Carlisle Cullen and the socially awkward Dr. Fitch Cooper, and his openness to revisiting the 'Nurse Jackie' role.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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In a Q&A session at Big Lick Comic-Con, actor Peter Facinelli discussed his experience playing two very different doctor characters simultaneously - the benevolent Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the 'Twilight' franchise and the socially awkward Dr. Fitch Cooper in the Showtime series 'Nurse Jackie'. Facinelli emphasized that despite the contrasting nature of the roles, he was able to keep the characters distinct without any confusion. He also expressed openness to potentially reprising the 'Nurse Jackie' role if a reboot of the series materializes.

Why it matters

Facinelli's ability to convincingly portray such vastly different doctor characters showcases his versatility as an actor and challenges the notion that on-screen medical professionals must fit a certain stereotype. His comments highlight the importance of focusing on the person, not just the profession, when crafting memorable characters.

The details

While filming the 'Twilight' saga from 2008 to 2012, Facinelli was also starring as the competitive and socially awkward Dr. Fitch Cooper on the Showtime series 'Nurse Jackie'. Despite the demanding schedule of juggling the two roles, Facinelli was able to keep the characters distinct, as Carlisle was a compassionate, morally upright vampire doctor, while Fitch was a flawed but likable emergency room physician. Facinelli enjoyed the opportunity to showcase his range and demonstrate that doctors on screen can embody a wide variety of personalities.

  • Facinelli played Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the 'Twilight' franchise from 2008 to 2012.
  • Facinelli portrayed Dr. Fitch Cooper on 'Nurse Jackie' for the show's entire seven-season run from 2009 to 2015.

The players

Peter Facinelli

An American actor best known for playing Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the 'Twilight' films and Dr. Fitch Cooper on the Showtime series 'Nurse Jackie'.

Carlisle Cullen

The benevolent, compassionate vampire doctor and patriarch of the Cullen family in the 'Twilight' franchise.

Dr. Fitch Cooper

The socially awkward, competitive emergency room doctor with quirky mannerisms on the Showtime series 'Nurse Jackie'.

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What they’re saying

“So, every time I was on an airplane — I felt like I lived on American Airlines because I was just always on an airplane.”

— Peter Facinelli, Actor (Collider)

“But, like, as an actor, to have two fantastic jobs and have together doctors who could be completely different and so fun to shoot. And it shows you that people often think that doctors are a certain way, and so they're like 'Oh, you play a lot of doctor roles, you must be this type of person,' but it's not the occupation you play. It's the person in the occupation you play.”

— Peter Facinelli, Actor (Collider)

“The sad part is, you play these roles, then, when the job is over, that character kind of dies. I honestly go through a period, I don't know if you do, but there's like a three-to-four-day, sometimes longer period where you kind of feel sad because this person that you're playing no longer exists.”

— Peter Facinelli, Actor (Collider)

What’s next

Facinelli expressed openness to potentially reprising his role as Dr. Fitch Cooper if a 'Nurse Jackie' reboot materializes, though he has not been contacted about such a project yet.

The takeaway

Peter Facinelli's ability to convincingly portray two vastly different doctor characters - the compassionate Carlisle Cullen in 'Twilight' and the socially awkward Fitch Cooper in 'Nurse Jackie' - showcases his versatility as an actor and challenges the notion that on-screen medical professionals must fit a certain stereotype. His comments highlight the importance of focusing on the person, not just the profession, when crafting memorable characters.