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E. R. Fightmaster
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Emmett Rogers Fightmaster (born 8 June 1992), known professionally as E. R. Fightmaster, is an American non-binary actor, producer, and writer.[1][2] Fightmaster is known for their work on Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Kai Bartley, and through their solo music project Fightmaster (stylized in all caps) with their 2023 EP Violence.
Key Information
Early life and education
[edit]Fightmaster grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, attending the Seven Hills School.[3] They then started college at the University of Cincinnati[1] before moving to Chicago and earning a degree in women and gender studies from DePaul University.[4]
Acting career
[edit]Fightmaster is a former member of The Second City's Chicago and touring companies. Their previous work includes performing with Boom Chicago, an English-language comedy troupe in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In 2020, Fightmaster was named a CBS creative and writing team member to lead the studio's actors showcase, formerly known as the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase.[5]
Following a two-season stint on Hulu's Shrill[6] in 2021, Fightmaster was cast in a recurring role on Grey's Anatomy as the show's first non-binary doctor.[7]
Fightmaster was cast in the 2025 film Sorry, Baby, playing Fran.[8]
Podcasting career
[edit]Beginning in 2024, Fightmaster has co-hosted Jockular, a queer and women's sports-centered podcast, alongside Tien Tran and Katie Kershaw.[9][10]
Musical career
[edit]Aside from acting work, they are one half of the music duo "Twin."[6] They also started a solo music project named FIGHTMASTER in August 2023, releasing their debut EP, "Violence," on October 20.[11] In June 2024, they released "Bloodshed Baby", their second EP.[12]
Personal life
[edit]Fightmaster is their real surname. "People will never stop asking me how it's spelled," they told the Chicago Tribune in 2018.[1]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tales from the Closet | Themself | TV series (2 episodes); credited as Emily Fightmaster |
| 2019, 2021 | Work in Progress | Alexis | TV series (2 episodes) |
| 2020 | Yew Boys | Gill | Short film; also producer; credited as Emily Fightmaster |
| 2020 | Pathetic Woman | Andy | Short film; also producer and writer; credited as Emily Fightmaster |
| 2020 | Ancient Methods | Tara-Jay | Short film; credited as Emily Fightmaster |
| 2020–2021 | Shrill | Em / Emily | TV series (12 episodes) |
| 2021–2023 | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Kai Bartley | TV series; Recurring role (Seasons 18-19) |
| 2025 | Sorry, Baby | Fran | Feature film |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Jones, Chris (September 7, 2018). "Our Hot New Faces of Chicago Theater: Here come the next names to know, Class of 2018". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ Dry, Jude (May 21, 2021). "'Shrill's' E.R. Fightmaster on Bringing a Non-Binary Dreamboat to Screen". Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ The Seven Hills School [@7_hills] (March 11, 2022). "Upper School students learned about media literacy and representation for Civic Engagement Day. 'Grey's Anatomy' star and alum E.R. Fightmaster gave the keynote speech on how good diversity representation creates empathy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "E.R. Fightmaster". The Second City. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ Low, Elaine (December 17, 2019). "CBS Unveils 2020 Showcase Creative Team, Writers' Room".
- ^ a b Rosario, Alexandra Del (October 27, 2021). "'Grey's Anatomy': 'Shrill' Alum E.R. Fightmaster To Recur As ABC Drama's First Nonbinary Doctor". Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ Aurthur, Kate (October 27, 2021). "'Grey's Anatomy' Casts E.R. Fightmaster as First Non-Binary Doctor (EXCLUSIVE)". Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (January 28, 2025). "'Sorry, Baby' Review: Eva Victor Wrote, Directed and Stars in What's Sure to Be One of the Year's Most Talked About Debuts". Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (February 26, 2024). "E.R. Fightmaster, Tien Tran and Katie Kershaw Team on 'Jockular' Queer Sports Podcast From Adam McKay's Hyperobject". Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ Anne, Valerie (February 27, 2024). "Sports Gays, Lace Up! E.R. Fightmaster Is Starting a Podcast For You". Autostraddle. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ "Los Angeles Downtown News Events - FIGHTMASTER".
- ^ "Grey's Anatomy's E.R. Fightmaster on their new EP Bloodshed Baby". CBC. June 25, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
External links
[edit]E. R. Fightmaster
View on GrokipediaFightmaster first built a foundation in improvisational comedy, performing with The Second City's Touring Company and later on the ETC mainstage in Chicago after training there.[2] Their acting breakthrough came with the role of Dr. Kai Bartley, a non-binary surgeon who briefly dated Dr. Amelia Shepherd, on the long-running medical series Grey's Anatomy, introduced in 2021 as the show's initial openly non-binary character.[1] Additional television credits include appearances in Shrill (2019–2021) and the lead role of Quinn in Netflix's Survival of the Thickest (2023), a comedy series about a plus-size Black woman's post-divorce experiences in New York.[1]
In music, Fightmaster has released independent EPs including Violence (2023) and Bloodshed Baby (2024), blending indie rock with personal themes, and has toured in support of these works while maintaining an active presence on platforms like TikTok and Instagram for creative content and advocacy.[3] No major professional controversies have been documented in primary career records, though Fightmaster's public identification as non-binary has positioned them as a visible figure in discussions of representation in mainstream television, often highlighted in entertainment reporting despite varying source emphases on identity versus performance metrics.[1]
