Fate of Grey’s Anatomy Revealed After Season 22

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Grey’s Anatomy fans will need to push one of epi over this news

The popular TV show Grey’s Anatomy, created by Shonda Rhimes, will return for a 23rd season. Shondaland, the production company behind the series, has confirmed the renewal as the show continues its current 22nd season.

Since Grey’s Anatomy first aired in 2005, fans have often joked about how long the show has lasted. Considering the doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial have survived explosions, plane crashes, shootings, and countless dramatic relationships, it’s easy to see why – there’s enough material for several albums worth of emotional songs!

After the show was renewed for a twenty-second season last year, a popular post on X (formerly Twitter) jokingly said, “Someone needs to blow up that hospital.”

Many fans quickly pointed out that this had happened before, and wouldn’t affect the show. One fan even commented, “You’re sweet to think this would cancel it.”

Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital suffered another major explosion at the end of season 21. Thankfully, the hospital survived and is still open with many of the doctors and staff ready to return to work. Sadly, not everyone made it through the explosion.

Although Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, has experienced the most trauma throughout the series, the 56-year-old actress never thought about leaving the show, even if it meant appearing in fewer surgeries recently.

Ellen, one of the original cast members alongside Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. who has been with the show for all 22 seasons, explained to El Pais in 2024 why she wouldn’t consider leaving. She said it wouldn’t make sense either emotionally or financially, especially considering the show was streamed over a billion times in 2024 – more than a billion times!

Ellen’s character on Grey’s Anatomy is known for being complex and emotionally reserved, and true to form, she wasn’t ready to leave the show completely, even after significantly reducing her role following season 19.

Ellen explained that if she stopped working altogether, others would profit from her two decades of effort while she wouldn’t see any financial benefit, which she found illogical.

Even though they played a part in making the show successful, former cast members like Patrick Dempsey and Sandra Oh are glad they don’t have to be available for filming anymore.

Speaking to TopMob News in 2021, Sandra described the show as something from her past, adding that she felt fortunate to have been a part of it.

For more Grey’s Anatomy departed doctors and what they’re up to now, keep reading… 

Okay, let’s talk about Burke. Honestly, leaving Cristina at the altar was a shocker, and then he just disappeared! He really made a name for himself, eventually winning a prestigious Harper Avery award and moving to Zurich to build his dream hospital. He built a wonderful life – got married, had a family – and then, years later, he reached out to Cristina with an incredible opportunity. He basically offered her his hospital to run, as he was ready to retire. It was a full-circle moment, but definitely a complicated one!

Isaiah Washington was fired from the show after reports surfaced that he used an offensive slur against his co-star, T.R. Knight, during an on-set argument with Patrick Dempsey. His attempts to defend himself only worsened the situation. However, he later reconciled with ABC and made a guest appearance in 2014.

Washington publicly apologized for the incident and acknowledged he needs to do some personal reflection. He stated he’s seeking help to address these issues.

Since leaving Grey’s Anatomy, he’s appeared in several successful shows. He played Thelonious Jaha on The CW’s The 100 until his character was killed off in the fifth season, and then went on to star in the critically praised P-Valley on Starz.

Izzie Stevens faced a cancer diagnosis, married Alex Karev, and overcame the illness, but then left the show during season six. She briefly returned, explaining she no longer felt connected to Seattle. Later, Alex received divorce papers, and it was revealed Izzie had secretly given birth to their twins. She’s now living on a ranch in Kansas and working as a surgeon.

Katherine Heigl’s departure from the show started in 2008 when she asked to not be considered for an Emmy Award, feeling the writing wasn’t strong enough. By 2010, her character was gone. While she later expressed interest in returning, creator Shonda Rhimes decided against it, stating in 2015 that she had moved past that storyline.

Katherine Heigl first became well-known for romantic comedies, appearing in several before returning to television. She starred in shows like State of Affairs, Doubt, and had a role on Suits. Most recently, she played a lead in Firefly Lane, which concluded in 2023.

Norman joined the show in its fourth season, but people often mistook him for a doctor because of how old he looked, even though he was just an intern. He made a serious error by mistakenly telling a patient she was terminally ill, and later suffered a stroke. After successful surgery to remove a blood clot, he decided to switch his focus to psychiatry.

Edward Herrmann was a well-known actor, best remembered for playing Richard Gilmore on Gilmore Girls. Before he passed away in 2014, he also had roles in shows like The Good Wife, Harry’s Law, and even the animated series American Dad.

Sydney temporarily replaced Bailey while she was on maternity leave, and her overly enthusiastic personality often annoyed her coworkers. She briefly dated Derek, but her character was mostly gone by the beginning of season four. She made a quick return in season 21, which aired in 2024.

Kali Rocha is an actress who recently appeared in Disney’s Liv and Maddie and Man with a Plan, as well as an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2024.

One of the most emotionally devastating moments in the series happens at the end of season five. George, having just committed to joining the army as a trauma surgeon, heroically saved a woman from being hit by a bus, but was struck himself. Arriving at the hospital in critical condition, he was unrecognizable until he wrote his nickname, “007,” on Meredith’s hand. Despite their best efforts, he tragically passed away.

Following a difficult period filled with backstage drama – including a reported incident where Isaiah Washington used offensive language – actor Knight had concerns about the direction of his character’s storylines and the limited screen time his character received at the start of season five. As a result, he requested to be let out of his contract.

Knight revisited Shondaland in 2017 with a role on The Catch, and has since appeared in shows like The Good Wife, 11.22.63, and Genius. From 2019 to 2024, he provided voice work for The Bravest Knight. He also starred alongside Kaley Cuoco in the HBO Max series The Flight Attendant from 2020 to 2022.

He also returned to Grey’s for one episode to meet Meredith during her COVID-19 coma in season 17. 

Erica Hahn and Callie Torres were in a promising relationship, but it ended when Erica discovered Izzie Stevens had disconnected Denny Duquette’s life-support device, hoping to save him. That heart ultimately went to Denny, but it had originally been intended for one of Erica’s patients. When Callie wouldn’t report what Izzie did, Erica broke up with her and resigned from her job at the beginning of season five.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always admired Brooke Smith’s consistent work! You might recognize her from a ton of fantastic shows – she’s popped up in everything from Bosch and Bates Motel to Supergirl, The Good Doctor, Chicago Med, and The Good Fight. Plus, she was in the movie Bombshell a few years back – a really versatile actress!

Most recently, she had arcs in Ryan Murphy‘s Grotesquerie, The Recruit and The Hunting Party. 

Ryan, who played the intern, left the show early in season six. Brandon Scott has recently appeared in several popular Netflix series, including Dead To Me, 13 Reasons Why, This Is Us, and The Good Doctor.

Megan, one of the interns on Grey’s Anatomy, was known for her complicated relationships. She was involved in a love triangle with Steve and Pierce – she dated Pierce but had a brief affair with Steve, which led to a near-violent confrontation between the two men. To further complicate things, Megan became pregnant with Steve’s child, and they eventually married. After being rehired by Derek Shepherd, she disappeared from the show after season six.

Since her time on Grey’s Anatomy, Molly Kidder has continued to act, appearing in shows like Outsourced (in 2010) and several independent films. More recently, she had a small role as an extra in Ghosts in 2025.

As a long-time follower of daytime dramas, I remember when Pierce, part of that iconic Megan, Pierce, and Steve love triangle, unexpectedly left the show back in season six due to layoffs. It’s great to see what Joe Williamson, the actor who played Pierce, has been up to since then! He’s had some fantastic roles, including appearances on shows like Here and Now and even a part in the 2019 film Ford v Ferrari alongside Christian Bale and Matt Damon. A true testament to his talent!

Steve was part of a workplace romance involving an intern, and he eventually married Megan and had a child with her. He managed to keep his job through several rounds of layoffs, lasting until the eighth season of the show, but then disappeared from the series.

Since leaving Grey’s Anatomy, Mark Saul has been on several other television shows, including Franklin & Bash, Mom, The Great Indoors, Grace & Frankie, Modern Family, and I Think You Should Leave.

Olivia, a former nurse at the hospital, lost her job when the hospital merged with Mercy West in season six. She briefly reappeared in season fourteen when her son accidentally swallowed a toy during a visit to her parents in Seattle. Naturally, Alex, a doctor with whom she had a past relationship, treated her son, and she spent some time catching up with his then-fiancée, Jo.

Since leaving Grey’s Anatomy in 2009, Sarah Utterback has appeared in several television shows, including Reception and Mysteries of Laura. Most recently, in 2024, she had a small part in 9-1-1.

Graciella, who was last seen as an intern during the hospital shooting in season six, has been consistently working as an actress. Recently, she had a role on How to Get Away with Murder, and has made guest appearances on numerous shows including S.W.A.T., The Good Doctor, American Housewife, Animal Kingdom, Snowfall, Criminal Minds, NCIS: LA, Anger Management, and Bones. She was also in the 2019 miniseries Reckoning and appeared as Rona in a 2024 episode of Tracker.

In season six, Nora was the first person killed by Gary Clark, who went to the hospital with a gun intending to kill Derek. She was fatally shot in the head and died instantly.

Nora Zehetner has appeared in several popular TV shows. After her role on Grey’s Anatomy ended, she had a few episodes on Mad Men, and more recently starred in Designated Survivor and the 2019 series The Right Stuff. In 2025, she played Melissa in Grosse Point Garden Society.

Percy tragically died during the filming of season six. His death was particularly harrowing, as he was trapped with a patient (Mandy Moore!) and Bailey, and shot at point-blank range. Despite Bailey’s efforts to save him, he couldn’t be rescued when the elevators stopped working during the evacuation.

Robert Baker has enjoyed a successful acting career, with roles in popular shows like Riverdale, Modern Family, and The Originals. He recently played Otis Graves on Supergirl, and in 2025, he appeared in an episode of St. Denis Medical.

Dr. Lucy, an OBGYN, unexpectedly took a fantastic job opportunity in Africa that Alex was also hoping for. This happened, in part, because Alex hadn’t mentioned his potential interest in moving to Africa. Lucy took the position and wasn’t seen on the show after season seven.

Rachael Taylor is widely recognized for her roles as Trish Walker, Jessica Jones’ friend, in the Netflix series Jessica Jones and The Defenders. More recently, she made an appearance in an episode of the 2024 show Hacks.

Addison, initially introduced as Derek’s estranged and resentful wife, became a popular character who eventually starred in her own show. Her last regular appearance on Grey’s Anatomy was in a memorable, though divisive, musical episode during season seven, where she assisted in saving Callie after a car accident. She later returned in 2012 for an episode featuring Meredith’s fantasy about her mother, and again in 2023 for a multi-episode storyline.

She ended Private Practice married to Jake (Benjamin Bratt) with a son, Henry. 

Kate Walsh has appeared in a variety of popular shows, including Fargo, and starred in her own short-lived series, Bad Judge. She’s known for her emotional role as a grieving mother in 13 Reasons Why and for playing a character who helped end the world in The Umbrella Academy. More recently, she’s been featured in the 2020 series Emily in Paris and made a guest appearance on the 2025 show Optics.

Lexie’s death was a heartbreaking moment for viewers, and one of the most devastating storylines in the show’s history. She died in the plane crash, never making it back to the hospital alive after being trapped under wreckage while Mark Sloan desperately tried to reach her. Later, in a touching scene during Meredith’s COVID-19 coma, Lexie and Mark appeared together, suggesting they were reunited in the afterlife.

Chyler Leigh first appeared in the comedy series Taxi Brooklyn. She then became known for her strong and capable role as Alex Danvers in Supergirl. More recently, since 2023, she’s been starring as Kat Landry in Hallmark’s The Way Home.

Mark, known as ‘McSteamy,’ also died in the season eight plane crash, though not right away. He managed to get back to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries after a few days. The hospital has since been renamed in his and Lexie’s memory, funded by a settlement the other plane crash survivors received. In a dream sequence while Meredith was in a coma, Mark and Lexie appeared together, suggesting they were reunited in the afterlife.

Eric Dane departed the show to lead the cast of TNT’s The Last Ship, which concluded after five seasons in November 2018. He now stars in the HBO series Euphoria alongside Zendaya and is scheduled to appear in the highly anticipated third season.

In April 2025, the actor announced he had been diagnosed with ALS, a disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Do you remember Jo’s boyfriend from season nine, the resident named Jason? They had a big argument when Jason discovered Jo had been keeping secrets from him, and it escalated into a physical fight. Jason fell and hurt his head badly enough to end up in the hospital. Although he was injured, Alex talked him out of filing charges against Jo, and he disappeared from the show after that.

Charles Michael Davis became known for his roles in several popular TV series. He starred in The Originals (The CW), Younger (TV Land), For the People (ABC), and Chicago P.D. (NBC). His most recent appearance was in a 2022 episode of Legacies.

In season 10, the intern Heather tragically died during a major storm. She was electrocuted while attempting to assist Richard Webber.

Tina Majorino most recently appeared on CBS’ Scorpion and an episode of The Good Doctor.

Dr. Herman was a tough mentor to Arizona during her fetal surgery training, but Arizona understood why when she found out about Nicole’s fatal brain tumor. Amelia successfully removed the tumor, but Herman later lost her vision and departed the show in season 11. She returned in season 14 to support Arizona’s exit, providing funding for her to establish a women’s health center in New York.

Geena Davis appeared in the 2016 Fox series The Exorcist and later returned to Grey’s Anatomy. More recently, she’s had roles in the Netflix show GLOW and the She-Ra animated series reboot. Currently, she primarily works behind the scenes as a producer, executive producing Mission Unstoppable With Miranda Cosgrove.

Following the devastating plane crash, Cristina Yang faced a difficult recovery. Adding to her struggles, she didn’t receive the Harper Avery award and realized her current hospital wouldn’t allow her to win it in the future, prompting her to consider a change. An invitation from her former love, Preston Burke, to lead his state-of-the-art hospital in Zurich – allowing him to retire and focus on his family – presented that opportunity. After a final, memorable dance party with Meredith, she left in season 10.

Sandra Oh is a hugely popular TV actress, best known for her role as Eve in the award-winning series Killing Eve, for which she received a Golden Globe. Similar to Geena Davis, she also appears in a recurring role on the Netflix show She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. In addition, she provides voice work for a character in Robert Kirkman’s animated series Invincible.

Shane started as a confident intern and became a resident, pushing himself to the point of exhaustion. He developed a close relationship with Cristina and eventually asked to join her in Zurich, which she allowed.

Gaius Charles, who many fans know as Smash Williams from Friday Night Lights, has also been in Aquarius and Taken. He recently appeared in The Walking Dead: Dead City.

Derek Shepherd went through a difficult period when he started working for President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. He wanted his wife, Meredith, and their family to join him, but she didn’t want to move. They lived separately for a time, until Derek realized he needed to be closer to them and found a way to do his job from home.

After finally finding happiness with Mer in season 11, he was driving back to resolve some unfinished business when he came across a serious car crash. He spent hours helping those involved, but tragically, he was then struck by a truck while returning to his own vehicle. The hospital he was taken to wasn’t equipped to handle severe trauma, and doctors didn’t order a crucial CT scan of his head, which ultimately led to his death.

As a huge fan, it was so sad to see Patrick Dempsey leave Grey’s Anatomy! He’s explained that it just became difficult to keep the stories fresh and exciting, and honestly, he wanted more time with his family, which I totally get. He asked to be released from his contract, and since then, he’s been incredibly busy! I’ve loved seeing him in things like Bridget Jones’ Baby and The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, and even enjoyed his role in Devils. It’s fun seeing him playfully acknowledge his doctor days in commercials, too. Now, I’m really excited to see what he does in Dexter: Original Sin – he’s just fantastic!

He shockingly returned to Grey’s for a series of dream sequences in season 17.

Ugh, Leah Murphy. Honestly, my heart broke for her! She really struggled as a surgeon, and it was so sad when they let her go at the end of season 10. But then, can you believe it, she just showed up again in season 13, working with Maggie! I was SO excited… but then, just like that, poof! Gone again after a few episodes. It was so frustrating! They just didn’t give her enough time, you know?

In 2019, Tessa Ferrer appeared in the Hulu miniseries Catch-22 alongside George Clooney. More recently, in 2024, she starred in Grotesquerie.

Callie moved to New York when her girlfriend, Penny, received a prestigious fellowship there. Initially, Callie planned to stay in Seattle after a difficult custody battle with Arizona, but Arizona ultimately allowed her to leave with their daughter, Sofia, at the end of season twelve.

Sara Ramirez departed to join the cast of CBS’s Madame Secretary. Since then, they’ve become known for playing the controversial character Che Diaz on HBO’s Sex and the City sequel, And Just Like That. In 2024, Ramirez also provided the voice for Amber in Velma.

Let’s talk about Penelope – her time at Grey Sloan was, honestly, a whirlwind of drama! She came in with a lot of baggage, being linked to Derek’s passing and immediately facing a pretty chilly reception from Meredith. Just when she landed a fantastic job in New York, things got even more complicated when Callie decided to join her, which unfortunately sparked a really painful custody battle with Arizona. As far as we know, Penelope and Callie ultimately went their separate ways – and looking back, it always felt like that relationship was heading for trouble.

Samantha Sloyan gained recognition for her role as Leigh in The Haunting of Hill House, and has also appeared in shows like SEAL Team and The Rookie. In 2025, she returned to medical dramas with a role in The Pitt.

During Season 13, Dr. Minnick replaced Richard Webber as the residents’ teacher, but she was widely disliked – Meredith was even suspended because of conflicts with her. Ultimately, she was fired after prioritizing hospital protocol over safety, failing to inform the police that a resident, Stephanie, was missing during a fire and nearly died.

Marika Dominczyk later appeared on ABC’s brief series Whiskey Cavalier with her husband, Scott Foley, who is also known for his role on Grey’s Anatomy.

After a difficult season – including the loss of her boyfriend Kyle (Wilmer Valderrama), months of grief, and a near-fatal fire – Stephanie decided she needed a fresh start and set out to explore new possibilities.

I’ve been a fan of Jerrika Hinton ever since her days on Grey’s Anatomy, so I was thrilled to see her in HBO’s Here and Now back in 2018. I really enjoyed her work on that show! Then, I was so excited when she joined the cast of Amazon’s Hunters – her role as a Nazi hunter was fantastic. Most recently, in 2024, I watched her play Lycia in The Accused, and she was amazing as always. She consistently delivers such compelling performances!

Nathan Riggs left Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in the beginning of season fourteen when his longtime love, Megan Hunt, was finally rescued after being held captive for ten years. They moved to Los Angeles with Megan’s adopted child, giving Riggs the happy family he’d always wanted. This meant the end of his developing romance with Meredith, but it was a fulfilling conclusion to his story.

Martin Henderson, known for being in Britney Spears’ “Toxic” music video, later starred in the series Virgin River until 2024.

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2026-03-30 22:52