Stringfield Decided To Go Home, Not Call A Doctor

Millions of “ER” fans weren’t the only ones shocked at actress Sherry Stringfield’s decision to leave the popular show.

“My agent was, like, spitting water over the table at lunch when I said what I wanted to do,” the actress told The New York Times.

It wasn’t a ploy for more money, nor was it a cry for more screen time. “I wanted to go home and cook pasta,” the 28-year-old actress said. “But there was no time.”

“Some people may question this from the point of view of the American work ethic,” she added. “But what about the American ethic of family values? There are people who seem to think it’s weird that I don’t want to be famous, that I don’t want to be on magazine covers. I find that so alarming.”

Loose talk

Patti LaBelle on being recognized in public (in People magazine): “You know when entertainers say they can’t stand people coming up to them in a restaurant? Well, I say, ‘If you don’t want to be bothered, stay home.’ When I go out, I hope they notice - I’ll cry if they don’t.”

Question is, when does a man love a woman?

Percy Sledge turns 56 today.

What, none of Dennis Rodman’s old dresses?

Fitness magazine is running a story that says it’s now possible for fans to buy “the used athletic gear of their favorite celebrities.” Star Wares in Santa Monica is the venue, which offers such items as Cher’s old bathing suit ($20), Elizabeth Taylor’s old sweatpants ($45) and Ted Danson’s old tennis shoes ($200).

Spoken by a man who sells records for a living

Tom Petty never had the dough to buy a lot of records until he got into the record business. “Then right away I was amazed at how they would give you records,” he said. “I’d take them home and listen to every cut on every lousy record. But then I started realizing that it’s better to go buy ‘em, because they never sound right if they’re given to you.”

These days, Tommy’s going steady with his tattoos

Pamela Anderson (soon-to-be-no-longer) Lee gave up her $4 million pad with estranged hubby Tommy Lee for much more moderate quarters with her mother. By the way, Anderson has a book coming out in the spring. Working title: “Pamdemonium.”

So, what does he have that a million others guys don’t?

The answer: Odell Lambroza. The question: Who is the guy named by ex-“ER” actress Sherry Stringfield as one of the reasons why she left the popular show to live in New York (see story at left). The additional stuff: Just 32, Lambroza is an investment banker who left Bankers Trust for a boutique outfit.

To Madonna, he was Carlos the baby provider

The man who is the father of Madonna’s daughter, Lourdes Maria, will star in some upcoming episodes of “Nash Bridges.” Carlos Leon will reprise his role as Freddie the car detailer on the Don Johnson show.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color photos

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Dan Webster