Grey’s Anatomy is a TV show that’s been around for a long time. When we watch the latest episodes, we might find ourselves thinking about how the characters looked in the earlier seasons. Some of them aren’t in the show anymore, showing how the cast has changed over time. It’s a reminder of the show’s popularity and how it has kept us hooked with its characters. Warning, the article has spoilers!
1. Meredith Grey
Meredith Grey, who began her career as an intern at Seattle Grace Hospital and ended up being Chief of General Surgery, was the primary character in this story. Her life has been a roller coaster, with friends and afterward, her husband dying, surviving a plane collapse, even facing being dismissed for insurance fraud, and performing community service before returning to work.
Ellen Pompeo, the delightful actress who displayed Meredith on the screens, considered departing in 2018 to spend more time with her three children. She poured her heart and all of herself into the show, giving it everything she had, and she hinted at sticking around longer due to the series’ impact and popularity. Later in Season 19, she played a less significant role, appearing in just eight episodes as a result of her choice to leave Seattle and go to Boston with her children.
Despite this, she continued to tell the majority of the narrative. Aside from Grey’s Anatomy, Pompeo will appear in and produce a new Hulu series with similarities to the 2009 film Orphan. She has been married to Chris Ivery since 2007, and the couple has three children: Stella Luna, 14, Sienna May, 9, and Eli Christopher, 6.
2. Derek Shepherd
Dr. McDreamy, also known as Derek Shepherd, was introduced in Season 1 following a rumored one-night affair with Meredith Grey. Their courtship grew into a famous television romance. Tragically, Derek was engaged in a horrific automobile accident while assisting crash victims. The devastating episode highlighted his fight for adequate medical treatment, culminating in his heartbreaking death, a decision justified by creator Shonda Rhimes in order to maintain the honesty of Meredith and Derek’s love.
Patrick Dempsey, the man behind McDreamy, expressed gratitude for Grey’s Anatomy but admitted there was a price to pay. Dempsey said that his departure could have been delayed due to a desire for control over his schedule. Despite his departure, fans were excited to see McDreamy in Season 17. Dempsey took on new projects such as the Italian series Devils and the Disney+ film Disenchanted, in addition to appearances in Bridget Jones’s Baby and Ferrari.
Since 1999, Patrick has been married to makeup artist Jillian Dempsey, with whom he shares three children: Talula, Darby, and Sullivan. His post-Grey’s journey included a variety of film and television projects, ushering in a new chapter in his illustrious career. What many fans liked is the fact that McDreamy was named the “Sexiest Man Alive” last year.
3. Amelia Shepherd
Amelia Shepherd holds the position of Head of Neurosurgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. As the youngest sibling of Derek Shepherd, she initially worked at Seaside Health and Wellness with privileges at St. Ambrose Hospital. Her professional journey led her to relocate to Seattle, where she assumed the role of Head of Neurosurgery at Grey Sloan, succeeding her late brother, Derek. Amelia had several romantic relationships, being engaged to Ryan Kerrigan until his unfortunate passing, then entered into a marriage with Owen Hunt, and finally romantically involved with Atticus Lincoln, and together, they share a son named Scout. Amelia had also health problems, like struggling with addiction and brain tumor she had fought.
Caterina Scorsone is a famous actress from Canada and the United States. She was also part of the spin-off shows Private Practice and Station 19. Apart from TV, she’s been in movies like Edge of Darkness (2010) and The November Man (2014).
Scorsone got married to Rob Giles from The Rescues in June 2009. They are parents to three daughters: Eliza, Paloma Michaela “Pippa,” and Arwen Lucinda “Lucky.” During her first pregnancy, the storyline was incorporated into her character’s arc in season 5 of Private Practice. However, her second pregnancy wasn’t included in Grey’s Anatomy. When she was pregnant for the third time, the show incorporated it into her character’s storyline during season 16 of Grey’s Anatomy.
4. Richard Webber
Having worked with Meredith’s mother, Ellis Grey, in the past, Richard Webber, the former Chief of Surgery, made his debut on the first episode of the show and recognized her brilliance right away. His character was portrayed by James Pickens Jr.
Despite his unwavering demeanor, Richard went through the same rollercoaster of struggles as the show’s characters. He lost his wife and lost his job due to insurance fraud with Meredith. Dr. Webber has shifted from being the Chief of Surgery to leading the hospital’s Residency Program, a fitting role for a character who has mentored numerous others on the show.
In addition to his dedication to Grey’s Anatomy, James Pickens Jr. graced other shows like The X-Files, Roseanne, Yellowstone, and The Conners. He remained a consistent presence throughout Grey’s Anatomy and its spin-offs. He married musician Gina Taylor in 1984, and the two of them navigated life’s highs and lows on and off the screen with their two kids.
5. Cristina Yang
ntern who shared an unbreakable bond with Meredith, left Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital for the Klausman Institute for Medical Research in Switzerland after another round of hospital renaming. Her presence persisted through letters, emails, and phone calls, even though she was acknowledged in later episodes. As a part of the Grey’s Anatomy cast, she surely contributed to the show’s popularity.
After leaving the show in 2014, Sandra Oh told The Hollywood Reporter that she would be willing to come back for the climax of the season if the plot worked out. After leaving Grey’s Anatomy, Oh maintained her popularity on television. She won a second Golden Globe for her role in the BBC series Killing Eve, which was one of her highlights.
She has provided the voice of several animated movies, including Over the Moon (2020), Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), and Turning Red (2022), diversifying her repertoire across various roles since bidding adieu to the medical drama.
6. Alex Karev
In the opening scene of the show, Justin Chambers played Alex Karev, the arrogant intern who foolishly thought Meredith was a nurse. He worked on his character for more than 15 years, addressing his shortcomings until he said goodbye to his wife, friends, and career to move to Kansas and reunite with Izzie and their twins who were born from frozen embryos.
Departing in 2020, Justin Chambers acknowledged the difficulty of bidding farewell to a pivotal period in his life, indicated his desire to investigate various acting jobs at the age of fifty, and offered gratitude to his devoted wife and five children. Expressing gratitude to the ABC family, Shonda Rimes, and the amazing cast and crew, he proceeded to play Marlon Brando in Paramount+’s The Offer in 2022.
7. Lexie Grey
In Season 3, everyone was taken aback by Lexie Grey, Meredith’s half-sister and a vivacious intern, who suddenly became prominent. Particularly for Mark, their love story and her sad death in the season 8 plane tragedy had a lasting effect.
In Season 8, Chyler Leigh bid adieu to Grey’s Anatomy and collaborated with creator Shonda Rhimes to provide Lexie with a meaningful send-off. Leigh praised her five seasons of supporters for their constant support and expressed thanks for her experience. Viewers were reminded of her when she briefly reappeared in Season 17 during Meredith’s dream sequences.
Leigh achieved fame after Grey’s in television series like Supergirl and The Flash, where she played Alex Danvers, the adopted sister of the main character. She co-starred with Andie MacDowell in the Hallmark TV series The Way Home in 2023. Leigh has been married to her former co-star Nathan West on 7th Heaven since 2002. Together, the couple has three kids.
The actress also bravely shared her story of living with bipolar disorder in 2019 when she participated in the Be Vocal campaign. Her path after Grey’s Anatomy has demonstrated her ability and tenacity in both on- and off-screen roles.
8. Owen Hunt
As a talented surgeon suffering from PTSD following his time spent in Iraq, Owen Hunt made a big impression on Grey’s Anatomy during Season 5. As one of the series’ most enduring characters, Hunt’s journey through emotional relationships—including marriages to Cristina and Amelia—and, in the end, a long-term bond and marriage to Teddy Altman in Season 18 were all seen by viewers.
Kevin McKidd experimented with several film projects after leaving Grey’s Anatomy, including Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Home Sweet Hell, and Tulip Fever. In addition, he provided the voice of Fenn Rau in Star Wars: Rebels and animated characters in Brave and the ABC special Toy Story That Time Forgot. In addition to his acting career, McKidd directed more than 30 Grey’s Anatomy episodes.
McKidd went through a number of adjustments in his personal life. After an 18-year marriage ended in 2017, he and his ex-wife, Jane Parker, have two children, Iona and Joseph. He married Arielle Goldrath in 2018, and they have a daughter named Nava and a son named Aiden. But only five months after McKidd announced their breakup on Instagram, Goldrath filed for divorce in December 2022. In the midst of his career success, McKidd managed the difficulties of relationships and family life.
9. Callie Torres
Callie Torres used to be in charge of orthopedic surgery and served as a board member at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. She was previously married to George O’Malley, but their relationship ended in divorce due to his infidelity. Finally, Callie resides in New York with her ex-wife, Arizona Robbins. Together, they share a daughter named Sofia Robbin Sloan Torres, who have been born by Callie from Mark Sloan.
Sara Ramirez started acting in Broadway, then got into movies and TV. They became famous playing the original Lady of the Lake in a Broadway musical called Spamalot in 2005, winning a big award for it. After that, ABC offered Ramirez a chance to choose a TV show, and they picked Grey’s Anatomy. In the show, they played Dr. Callie Torres, one of the longest-running LGBTQ characters on U.S. TV, sticking around for 11 seasons and being in 239 episodes.
Like her character, Sara they discovered their orientation with ages. On June 27, 2011, Sara Ramirez got engaged to their longtime boyfriend, Ryan DeBolt. In October 2016, Ramirez shared that they are queer and bisexual at an event in Los Angeles. They said it felt natural to come out. Then, in August 2020, Sara revealed they identify as nonbinary and use she/they pronouns, which later changed to they/them in 2021.
10. George O’Malley
George O’Malley, who gained the nickname “007” for his surgical accuracy and was well-known for being the first intern to attempt an appendectomy, had a kind and energetic personality as well as a strong bond with Meredith. His tragic death, in which he died while saving a woman from a bus, had a profound effect on Grey’s Anatomy fans.
In a 2009 interview with Entertainment Weekly, T.R. Knight — a 2007 Emmy nominee — left the show after five seasons, claiming issues with screen time, the plot of his character, and a breakdown in communication with Rhimes. Casting doubt on the details given about George’s arc, Knight made a surprising comeback in an episode airing in December 2020.
He performed in a number of TV series after Grey’s, including The Good Wife, 11.22.63, The Catch, When We Rise, Genius: Einstein and Genius: Picasso. Knight also appeared in HBO Max’s first and second seasons of The Flight Attendant. Beyond the drama of the hospital hallways, Knight has been blissfully married to ballet dancer Patrick B. Leahy since 2013. They manage to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
11. Mark Sloan
In Season 2, Episode 18, Dr. McSteamy, also known as Mark Sloan, abruptly entered the scene and was punched by McDreamy after he flirted with Meredith and previously had an affair with Derek’s ex-wife. To put it mildly, that was not the greatest opening. On his trip, he overcame a deadly plane disaster that killed his love interest, only to meet his heartbreaking end following a last-ditch energy boost.
Despite his passion for Grey’s Anatomy, Eric Dane left the show to become a cast member of TNT’s The Last Ship, a five-season commitment he found intriguing. Though he chose different career paths, Dane expressed respect for the show in his reflections about his departure in 2013.
He did, however, make a brief appearance in Season 17. After Grey’s, Dane starred in Euphoria on HBO and made appearances in a number of movies, including Little Dixie (2023), The Ravine (2021), Redeeming Love (2022), and American Carnage (2022). Actress Rebecca Gayheart and Dane were married in 2004, and although they divorced in 2018, they were happy parents to two children, Billie Beatrice and Georgia Geraldine.
Since leaving the medical drama, he has navigated personal transitions and shown off his flexibility in a variety of TV and cinema productions.
12. Preston Burke
In the first episode of the show, Dr. Preston Burke, a brilliant and attractive cardiothoracic surgeon, made a big impression. But his strict methods with George were meant to set a high standard for the interns.
Burke’s choice to desert Cristina at the altar signaled his exit from the show in 2007. Behind the scenes, Isaiah Washington was fired due to a homophobic slur that cast member Knight was the target of. In Season 10, he briefly reappeared and urged Cristina to take over his Swiss hospital.
Isaiah Washington carried on with his acting career after Grey’s Anatomy, most notably in The CW series The 100, Starz series P-Valley, and the 2022 movie Corsicana. Since 1996, he has been married to Jenisa Marie Garland, and together, they have three children. Even while Burke’s on-screen legacy endures, Washington carved out a career for himself in the entertainment world by navigating a variety of jobs after Grey’s departure.
13. Addison Forbes Montgomery
Addison Forbes Montgomery came to Seattle Grace with the intention of saving her marriage to Derek. But things in their marriage became worse with her affair with their colleague Mark and the developing relationship between Derek and Meredith. After failing to make amends with Derek and passing up a career opportunity, Addison left the show, opening the door for her own six-season spin-off, Private Practice.
Similar to some of the Grey’s Anatomy cast, Kate Walsh returned for Season 18, making multiple appearances during the run of the show. In addition to her work on Grey’s Anatomy, Walsh’s acting resume included appearances on Full Circle, Fargo, Bad Judge, 13 Reasons Why, The Umbrella Academy, Emily in Paris, and Sprung.
Walsh, who has been romantically linked to Australian Andrew Nixon since 2020, confirmed her engagement to him in October 2022. Walsh found satisfaction in her personal life outside of the entertainment industry, even as she moved between relationships and positions.
A bunch of TV shows we loved have finished, but we still remember our beloved characters as if it’s today. It’s cool to see what stars of our favorite TV series look like now in interviews or reunions, bringing back good memories.