This episode features a rare appearance by Sanford Meisner, one of the most important acting teachers of the 20th century. The acting technique known as the Meisner technique was named for him. Meisner worked with, and taught, students who became well known, such as James Caan, Steve McQueen, Robert Duvall, and Gregory Peck. Like his character in this episode, Meisner underwent a laryngectomy. This was one of his last appearances, including the short Requiem (1995), directed by Elizabeth Sung, one of his students. Meisner died two years later. Noah Wyle, who worked with him here, said that it was the highlight of his career.
The poetry that Carter is reading to a dying patient is "Passage to India", Book XXVI of "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman.
Anthony Edwards and Robert Carradine previously starred in Revenge of the Nerds and its sequel.