Kim Raver, Kevin McKidd’s Costars React to Their Grey’s Anatomy Exits

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Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd’s costars don’t quite know how to say goodbye.

Following the announcement that Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd – who play Dr. Teddy Altman and Dr. Owen Hunt on Grey’s Anatomy – will be leaving the show after its 22nd season, many of their co-stars took to social media to share supportive messages.

After 18 seasons, Kevin posted a touching farewell to his character on Instagram on March 26th. His coworker, Chris Carmack, who has played Dr. Atticus “Link” Lincoln since 2018, simply commented, “Kev, you’re a gem!”

Camilla Luddington, who has portrayed Dr. Jo Wilson since season nine, simply called him a “legend.”

Kevin, age 52, also made a significant impact working behind the scenes. He directed almost 50 episodes of the show. Zaiver Sinnnett, who worked on the production team and also played Dr. Zander Perez for three seasons, shared a heartfelt, “Love you, Kevin!”

Nicole Cramer, the set decorator for Grey’s Anatomy, also shared that Kevin was wonderful to work with and she’s excited to see his future projects.

Even though Kim was on Grey’s Anatomy for a shorter time overall than Kevin—she first appeared in 2009, left in 2012, and then returned in 2017—her departure still felt emotional and sad for the other actors.

Adelaide Kane, who became Dr. Jules Millin in season 19, shared a heartfelt message saying, “Love you so much Kim.” Chris also expressed his affection, simply writing, “Love you Kim!”

Camilla was visibly upset and expressed her sadness by sharing a GIF from That ’70s Show. The GIF featured Debra Jo Rupp’s character, Kitty, making herself a strong drink.

Soccer player Ashlyn Harris playfully cheered on her girlfriend, Sophia Bush, and the actor playing her love interest in a show.

“Kim you are the real MVP,” Ashlyn wrote in a comment. “Always have and always will.”

Even though Kim and Kevin are leaving Grey’s Anatomy, and some fans might be upset when the season 22 finale airs on May 7th, creator Shonda Rhimes promises their last episode won’t involve dramatic events like plane crashes, bombs, or shootings.

Shonda Rhimes shared that it’s been wonderful to see Owen and Teddy’s relationship grow over time, noting they always gravitate back to one another. She described giving the couple the happy ending they earned as both happy and sad.

For fans rooting for Towen, this could finally be the happy ending they’ve been waiting for. If you’re interested in other memorable couples from Grey’s Anatomy, continue reading!

It all began with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek Shepherd, affectionately known as “McDreamy” (Patrick Dempsey). Their love story captivated viewers from the very first episode, when Meredith discovered her one-night stand was a doctor at the hospital where she was starting her internship. For over eleven seasons, we watched them navigate challenges like his existing marriage, her suicidal thoughts, and numerous life-threatening emergencies, eventually leading to a quirky Post-It note wedding. Sadly, Patrick Dempsey chose to leave the show, and Shonda Rhimes decided the only fitting end to their story was to tragically kill Derek in a car accident, though their love remained powerful.

She is the sun, after all. 

Japril, the relationship between April and Jackson, began amidst chaos – famously, April left her fiancé at the altar to be with Jackson. Their happiness was short-lived, however, as they discovered their baby, Samuel, had a condition that meant he wouldn’t survive, and April delivered him stillborn. They divorced, but later had a daughter, Harriet, after a brief reconnection. When April left the show, she had found love again with Matthew, her former fiancé, and they impulsively married with Jackson’s support.

Despite their separation, fans of April and Jackson (known as ‘Japril’) weren’t ready to give up hope. April returned to Grey’s Anatomy in season 17 to support Jackson as he began a new chapter in Boston, leading a foundation dedicated to racial justice. After Jackson’s move, April, recently divorced, decided to move to the East Coast with their daughter, Harriet, sparking optimism that the couple might find their way back together.

The season 18 finale of Grey’s Anatomy officially brought April and Jackson back together as a couple, showing them sharing a kiss in the episode.

Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) dated people before Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) joined the show in season five, but their connection was far more significant. (No offense to George!) Callie and Arizona married, co-parented Callie’s daughter Sofia with Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), and navigated major life challenges, including Arizona’s amputation and a period of infidelity, before ultimately divorcing in season eleven.

When Sara Ramirez left Grey’s Anatomy in season 12, it looked like the beautiful love story between Callie and Arizona would end sadly, as Callie moved away with a new partner. However, when Jessica Capshaw left the show in season 14, fans began to hope for a reunion, imagining a single Arizona moving to New York City to be with Callie. It’s a shame Ramirez wasn’t available to film that episode!

Let’s remember the very first heartbreaking romance on Grey’s Anatomy. When intern Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) met heart patient Denny Duquette (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in season two, it was instant chemistry. Izzie quickly fell in love with the charming, yet grumpy, Denny—and viewers did too.

We all had a feeling their engagement wouldn’t work out, and unfortunately, we were right. His health got worse, and in a desperate attempt to get him a heart transplant faster, she risked her career by disconnecting his heart pump. He did receive a new heart, but sadly passed away from a stroke just hours later, as the drama unfolded on screen.

Even after his passing, George’s legacy continued when Izzie received an inheritance of $8.7 million and used it to establish the Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic – a free healthcare facility at the hospital. And for those of us who knew him, the song “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol still carries a special, bittersweet weight, even after all this time.

Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) and Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) dated other people during their time at Seattle Grace Hospital. However, their most significant relationship began in season five. It was a complicated, on-again, off-again romance that ultimately ended tragically when they both died in the plane crash at the end of season eight. They will be missed.

Chief Webber and Ellis Grey, Meredith’s mother and a talented surgeon, had an affair while both were married to other people. This caused significant turmoil in Meredith’s family and ultimately resulted in the birth of Maggie Pierce, who joined the show in season 10.

Their forbidden romance was doomed from the start, especially since Ellis suffered from Alzheimer’s and passed away in the third season. However, it deeply affected almost every aspect of the story.

Izzie and Alex consistently supported each other through tough breakups, and their connection had the potential to become something special. Unfortunately, Katherine Heigl left the show after their characters got married, creating yet another painful situation where a beloved partner suddenly disappears, similar to what happened with Burke earlier in the series.

Few people predicted that Alex’s (Justin Chambers) departure from Grey’s Anatomy in early 2020 would be explained by him secretly raising children with Izzie on a farm. The storyline, revealed after Chambers’ sudden exit, offered a way to justify his leaving his wife without portraying him as completely unsympathetic, and it shocked many fans.

Cristina’s first relationship on this list fared better than her second (we’ll discuss Burke later). This couple did actually get married, even though Owen (Kevin McKidd) once nearly suffocated her in his sleep due to nightmares caused by PTSD.

Their relationship fell apart after she became pregnant and decided to have an abortion, something he struggled with. They eventually divorced, and it became clear that Cristina was most devoted to her work. And that’s perfectly fine.

Despite a difficult first marriage, Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) found love again with Ben Warren (Jason George), a charming anesthesiologist. Their relationship has faced numerous challenges, including Ben’s frequent career changes – from aspiring surgeon to firefighter and back to residency – and Miranda’s serious heart attack. The stress of Ben’s dangerous job as a firefighter, explored in both Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, put a strain on their marriage, but it seems like they can handle anything life throws their way.

After a complicated love life, Alex might have finally found lasting happiness with fellow determined doctor Jo (Camilla Luddington). However, their path to marriage – which finally happened in the season 14 finale – wasn’t easy. They had to deal with Jo’s history of a difficult and abusive marriage and Alex’s brush with the law after a violent fight with a colleague. (It was a shame about DeLuca, even if the situation appeared heated when Alex arrived.)

When they finally got married and she changed her last name, it seemed like their story would have a happy ending. Unfortunately, Chambers unexpectedly leaving the show mid-season 16 quickly showed us we were mistaken.

We first met Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) in season six, and her storyline focused on her complicated history with Owen and how it threatened his relationship with Cristina. However, by the next season, Teddy became caught up in a classic Grey’s Anatomy doctor-patient romance when she fell for Henry Burton (Scott Foley). They quickly married – he needed her insurance to pay for his medical treatment – and their relationship unexpectedly blossomed into love.

As expected, he passed away from his heart condition during surgery in season eight, which deeply affected Teddy and led to her losing her job. Owen fired her intentionally, hoping she would finally start a new chapter in her life, as he knew she wouldn’t leave on her own.

Richard found himself in an awkward situation as his wife, Adele, suffered from Alzheimer’s. Catherine Avery, Jackson’s mother and a hospital executive (played by Debbie Allen), made romantic advances toward him, but he turned her down, explaining he was married and didn’t want to repeat past infidelity.

Though Adele passed away during season nine, Richard eventually grew closer to Catherine, and they were married and happy from seasons eleven through sixteen. However, given this is Grey’s Anatomy, their relationship hit a rough patch when Catherine’s ambition and strong actions caused a separation after Meredith’s insurance fraud was revealed at the end of season fifteen. After a period of difficulty, including a near-fatal health scare for Richard, they managed to find their way back to each other.

Oh my god, Owen and Amelia? Their story was… intense, to say the least. It felt like every time they started to get somewhere, BAM, another disaster! I mean, it wasn’t exactly happy, you know? It was just… drama, drama, drama. He always seemed to be hung up on wanting kids, something that clearly stemmed from his history with Cristina, and then with Amelia, it was always something else – her struggles with addiction, and then that terrifying brain tumor. They even got married and divorced! It was a mess, but I couldn’t look away. It was just… epic in its own tragic way.

To make things even more complicated, Teddy came back pregnant with Owen’s baby while Owen was already raising a foster child and his teenage mother, who struggled with drug addiction. Owen and Teddy are now attempting to co-parent, though it’s proving difficult, while Amelia has started a family with the new doctor, Link (Chris Carmack).

Could Dr. Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman) be the one for Meredith? Things are looking hopeful! He first appeared in season 14 and returned in season 18 to join Meredith in Minnesota. What initially seemed like a casual connection has quickly become something more serious.

Their relationship grew after he moved to Boston to be closer to her and her children, and they bought a house together. Hopefully, she will continue to choose him and love him.

We were genuinely hoping Amelia and Dr. Kai Bartley (E.R. Fightmaster) would work out. Amelia hasn’t had much luck in love on Grey’s Anatomy – remember her divorce from Owen and when Link proposed and she turned him down? – but she seemed to have found a real connection with Kai. They both love neuroscience, and Kai isn’t afraid to challenge Amelia when she starts to undermine her own happiness. (And Amelia definitely has a habit of doing that!)

Ultimately, Kai’s decision not to have children, combined with the challenges of a long-distance relationship, caused the couple to split up when Kai accepted a job in London.

Oh my god, season three was brutal for Alex! It all started with this woman, Jane Doe, brought in after a ferry accident. She had amnesia, and honestly, watching Alex with her was just… everything. He really fell for her, and he helped her build a new life, even picking out the name Ava for her! It was so sweet, seeing him so invested. But then, the worst happened. Her memory came back after she had the baby, and she revealed she wasn’t Ava at all, she was Rebecca Pope, escaping a terrible marriage. It completely broke my heart for him!

She briefly reunited with her husband before reappearing in Alex’s life during season four, claiming she was pregnant. However, this turned out to be a delusion caused by a mental health condition, and after a suicide attempt, Alex understood she needed professional help. He made the difficult decision to have her admitted to a psychiatric facility and say goodbye.

Cristina Yang appears on this list again, but it’s mostly remembered for how her relationship with Preston Burke ended. Their romance was the opposite of Meredith and Derek’s – Burke was often unkind, and it was deeply wrong for him to let Cristina secretly perform his surgeries after he was injured. To make things worse, he blamed her for admitting what happened? That was a terrible reaction.

So, he abandoned her at the wedding and completely cut her out of his life – a decision that came after he was fired for inappropriate behavior towards T.R. Knight. Honestly, it was for the best. When he reappeared in season 10, offering Cristina his hospital in Switzerland to help send Owen away, it was the absolute minimum he could do. It’s pretty clear we’re not fans of Burke, right?

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2026-03-26 18:21