Dr. Eric Foreman was a member of Dr. House's diagnostic team during the first three seasons. He is a specialist in neurology. Overall, Foreman's personality is the closest to House's, although he is often loathe to admit the fact. However, although Foreman is far more outgoing than House, he shares House's introverted nature and is the least concerned about how he is perceived by others.

In the episode Epic Fail, Foreman is promoted to head up the diagnostic department, but once again gives leadership of the team to House the moment House's medical license is reinstated

Foreman obtained a job at New York Mercy Hospital doing diagnostic medicine after leaving House's team. However, he was quickly fired after taking a risk that managed to save the patient's life. Ironically, he was fired for doing the very sort of thing that he had criticized House for doing. The reaction in the medical community was mixed, but no one would risk hiring him so he agreed to come back to work for Cuddy.

It has been speculated that Foreman's name is derived from the word "Foramen", which is used typically in medicine to refer to the holes in bones which nerves pass through. This is appropriate as Foreman is a neurologist.

History

Eric Foreman was born into a poor but honest family. However, Foreman fell into criminal behavior in his adolescence, which we are aware at one point resulted in his imprisonment as a juvenile. He still carries a gang tattoo from this time. Luckily, this experience convinced him he was wasting his life and intellect and he later became a bright, dedicated student. He had a perfect grade-point average both as an undergraduate at Columbia University and a medical student at Johns Hopkins Medical School.

Despite the fact he has excelled in his chosen profession, his family life has virtually fallen apart. His mother suffers from a form of dementia, which is later confirmed by Eric himself to be Alzheimer's in Lucky Thirteen. His father Rodney (played by veteran character actor Charles S. Dutton), although he cares deeply for his son, is disappointed that Eric no longer shares the deep religious beliefs he holds himself. Eric's brother Marcus is currently incarcerated on a serious but unspecific drug offense, and is not expected to be released at any time in the near future. In Season 6 Marcus comes for an unexpected visit to Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital.