Sid Hammerback

Template:TV-in-universe Template:CSI character Dr. Sid Hammerback MD, is a fictional character on the television series CSI: NY.

Fictional character biography

Known for the breakaway reading glasses he uses in the morgue (thought to be CliC reading glasses), Hammerback is a New York City Medical Examiner described as an "off-the-charts genius" who only recently traded in a career as a chef to become medical examiner. He has a habit of overtalking and oversharing, and has offered commentary on such unusual behaviors as threesomes and necrophilia–much to the unease of predecessor Sheldon Hawkes, who, in one episode, refers to Sid's commentary as "going to that creepy place" (episode 301, "People With Money"). Despite any eccentricities on his part, Hammerback sincerely cares for the well-being of his coworkers; he invited Mac Taylor to join his family for their Thanksgiving festivities so the taciturn CSI would not have to spend another holiday alone. He has apparently either known or worked with Mac, Hawkes, and ME Peyton Driscoll for an unspecified number of years (episode 205, "Dancing with the Fishes," et al.).

Hammerback nearly dies from a severe allergic reaction to a meatball gyro sandwich he ate in episode 317 ("The Ride In") and is saved by the timely intervention of Stella Bonasera, who administers rescue breathing, CPR, and a shot of epinephrine from the first aid kit. When Stella expresses concern that she may have exposed him to HIV, he comforts her, more worried about her own emotional well-being. "I'm sorry I scared you," he tells her contritely. In the season 5 episode Page Turner, he nearly dies once again, this time from prolonged contact with a murder victim who had died of radiation poisoning. However, he undergoes heavy treatment at the hospital and is shown to be fine at the end of the episode, with a few of his friends and co-workers visiting him.

Hammerback is currently married with two daughters, one about college age (episode 302, "Not What It Looks Like," episode 317, "The Ride In"). Sid has been divorced at least once (episode 304, "Hung Out to Dry,") and celebrated by getting incredibly drunk and falling down a flight of stairs, though he claims he "didn't feel a thing." In "Admissions," he mentions to Mac that he occasionally holds a curiousity for what it would be like to take a swig of hydrochloric acid. When Mac jokingly responds that he himself wonders about doing a live autopsy on himself, Sid genuinely agrees before realizing, slightly crestfallen, that Mac is messing with him. In the season 4 episode "Personal Foul," he mentions that he enjoys fencing.

Dr. Sid Hammerback has now had the longest tenure as a coroner of the five shown on the series. "CSI: NY" has also had the most number of coroners of any show in the franchise ("CSI" has had two coroners and one coroner's assistant throughout eight seasons; "CSI: Miami" has had Alexx Woods for six seasons, with Tara Price starting in the seventh season).

See also

• CBS.com official CSI: NY website[1]