James Wilson (House)

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Dr. James Wilson
House character

Time on show	2004-present
Position	Head of the Department of Oncology
First appearance	Pilot
Portrayed by	Robert Sean Leonard

Dr. James Wilson is a fictional character portrayed by Robert Sean Leonard, on the American television drama House. Wilson is the head of the Department of Oncology at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Conventionally, he is the only true friend of the drama's anti-hero, Dr. Gregory House. Wilson frequently provides House with consultations and aid.

In the pilot episode for House, the viewing audience learns Wilson is Jewish; the revelation occurs when Dr. Eric Foreman says he found ham in the refrigerator of the team's current patient, whom Wilson insisted was his cousin in order to get House to take the case. He also invites House over for Christmas dinner in "Damned If You Do". When House points that Wilson is Jewish, he alters his invitation to invite him for Hanukkah dinner instead. His educational background is unknown, although in two episodes he was dressed in a McGill University sweatshirt.

He is shown to have been married several times. His current marriage, which from all clues in the series is probably his third, went on the rocks when he discovered that his wife was having an affair. In all truth, however, Wilson himself may not be innocent of cheating. In episode 2.6 ("Spin"), Wilson confessed to Cameron that an unnamed "someone" (whom he presumably met during his first marriage) made him feel "funny, good" and that he "didn't want to let that feeling go", therefore sparking his own series of mental affairs and damaging his relationships. This person's identity, or even gender, has not been revealed.

Wilson frequently protests his reputation as a serial philanderer, to no avail as far as House is concerned. In addition to ribbing Wilson about the oncologist's flirtatious nature with young nurses and other hospital staff members, House put the pieces together regarding the state of Wilson's third marriage: Wilson wearing the same clothes he'd worn the day before indicating he had not been home for the night; a mismatched pair of socks indicating Wilson was dressing in the dark to avoid waking his wife; a purchase of an expensive box of candy indicating some form of guilt and/or need to reconcile with his wife: all odd, small details most people outside a situation would be unlikely to notice.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details about Episode 2.14, "Sex Kills", and later episodes follow.

As a result of his wife's affair, Wilson and his wife separated. He reluctantly took up refuge in House's apartment (episode 2.14, "Sex Kills"). In episode 2.16, "Safe," House told Wilson why he didn't look for a new apartment: "As long as you're here, it's just a fight. As soon as you get a place, it's a divorce." A few episodes later, he moved out, informing House that he had found another apartment, in spite of House's various attempts to prevent Wilson from leaving. It was revealed over the course of that episode ("House vs. God") that Wilson had lied and was actually living with Grace (Tamara Braun), one of his terminally ill patients, against all rules of physicians' ethics. House postulated that this was because Wilson feels a need to "fix" the vulnerable women he meets, and when they become well-adjusted (thanks to their relationship with Wilson), he becomes discontent and moves on. Wilson later moved out after Grace decided to spend her last days touring the world as she'd always dreamed of doing, and was now living on his own. On a "date" with Dr. Lisa Cuddy in "Who's Your Daddy" (episode 2.23), he admitted that he and his ex-wife were dividing possessions and friends, and neatly evaded questions about if he'd wanted children.

In the Emmy Award-winning episode "Three Stories" (1.21), House referred to "a buddy of mine people say 'thank you' to when he tells them they are dying." This was later revealed to be Wilson; House convinces him to use this skill to talk a patient into authorizing treatment in "House vs. God" (2.19).

Within the scope of a popular comparison that draws parallels between Dr. House and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, Wilson is equivalent to Dr. Watson. This becomes evident as, throughout the course of the show, Dr. House consults upon his medical quandaries with Wilson, much as Holmes did with Watson upon his cases. His multiple marriages may also echo his association with Watson, as some Holmes critics postulate that Watson was married more than once. Wilson is also one of the few characters in the show with whom House will discuss what remains of his personal life, or who can make him laugh.

[edit] Trivia

Out of all the main characters, Wilson is the only character who has not yet been seen crying.
According to his medical degree as seen in the background in the episode 2.09, "Deception", Dr. Wilson's full name is James Evan Wilson.

Has several posters of the Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo on the walls of his office, and is even seen watching the film at the end of the season two episode 'House vs God'.