House’s colleague Dr. Wilson is named James Wilson. He is an oncologist at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital and one of Gregory House’s closest friends.
James Wilson is played by Robert Sean Leonard. His calm, empathetic manner contrasts with House’s confrontational personality, although Wilson repeatedly enables House’s risky behavior and remains loyal through professional and personal crises. Their friendship is one of the central relationships in the series.
Wilson’s work as an oncologist also gives the show a recurring connection to cancer diagnosis and treatment. The character’s personal life includes several marriages and complicated relationships, often providing a counterpoint to House’s isolation. In the final season, Wilson is diagnosed with thymoma, a cancer of the thymus, and House ultimately chooses to spend Wilson’s remaining time with him rather than return to ordinary medical practice.