Grey’s Anatomy Reveals Surprise Pregnancy After Character’s Death

by

Grey’s Anatomy fans know that the carousel never stops turning. 

The latest season of the Shonda Rhimes medical drama began with a somber note – the departure of Dr. Monica Beltran, played by Natalie Morales – leaving the staff at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital feeling down. However, Dr. Maggie Pierce, portrayed by Kelly McCreary, brought some much-needed positivity with a surprise return and the announcement that she is expecting a baby.

Maggie revealed to Meredith and Amelia that she’s choosing to raise her child on her own. She explained the baby’s father is a sperm donor, identified as ‘Donor No. 12715,’ and that her relationship with her ex, Winston Ndugu, is over.

In the October 16th episode, Maggie wonders if her colleagues think she’s gone crazy. Meredith replies that it’s a possibility, acknowledging how much effort Maggie is putting in.

You know, Meredith really drove home the point that this baby will fill my life with a joy and hope I can’t even imagine right now. It’s such a comforting thought, and I’m holding onto it tightly.

Everyone involved in the medical drama really needed a boost, especially since Camilla Luddington, who plays Dr. Jo Wilson, had previously said she wasn’t excited about coming back for this season due to her character’s difficult storyline.

Okay, so going back to set… honestly, I almost couldn’t breathe! It’s been *so* much, you have no idea. Like, a whirlwind of emotions and everything just hit me all at once. It was intense, to say the least.

Kelly’s brief but welcome return to *Grey’s Anatomy* was a pleasant surprise for viewers, especially after the show’s difficult season premiere. However, Sandra Oh, who famously played Dr. Cristina Yang for ten seasons, recently shared that the actors don’t coordinate returns as much as fans might assume.

Indeed, the Killing Eve alum confirmed there’s no Grey’s Anatomy group chat. 

Sandra told TopMob News on October 13th that when she began, there were no group chats. “There wasn’t even a reliable phone line,” she added.

Sandra acknowledged that the show’s current stars probably still keep in touch. “I’m sure they have a group chat,” she said, “but I’m no longer part of it since I left the show a while back.”

For an update on all the departed doctors from Grey’s Anatomy, keep reading… 

During the third season, Burke unexpectedly left Cristina at their wedding and disappeared. He later achieved success, winning a Harper Avery award and eventually moving to Zurich, Switzerland, where he founded a cutting-edge hospital. He built a life there, getting married and having a family. Years later, in season ten, he asked Cristina to take over his hospital as he prepared to retire.

Isaiah Washington was fired from the show after reports surfaced that he used a homophobic 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 reflect on his own behavior. He stated he’s seeking help to understand and address these issues.

Since leaving *Grey’s Anatomy*, he’s been in several popular 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 appear in the critically praised *P-Valley* on Starz.

Izzie Stevens faced a battle with cancer, found love with Alex Karev, and remarkably recovered. However, she unexpectedly left Seattle during season six. She briefly returned, explaining she no longer felt connected to the city. Later, Alex received divorce papers, and it was revealed that Izzie had secretly given birth to their twins. She’s now living on a ranch in Kansas and working as a surgeon.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve followed Katherine Heigl’s career closely, and her departure from *Grey’s Anatomy* really started brewing back in 2008. She made a bold move by removing her name from Emmy consideration because she honestly didn’t feel the storylines were strong enough. By 2010, her character was completely gone from the show. While Katherine has expressed wanting to revisit the role over the years, Shonda Rhimes, the show’s creator, made it clear in 2015 that she felt that chapter of the story was definitively closed. It was a creative decision, and Shonda stood by it.

Katherine Heigl was a rising star in romantic comedies before returning to television. She appeared in shows like *State of Affairs* and *Doubt*, and more recently had a role on *Suits* and starred 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, when he was actually an intern. He made a serious error and mistakenly told a patient she was terminally ill. Later, he suffered a stroke and needed surgery to remove a blood clot. After recovering, he decided to switch his medical focus to psychiatry.

Edward Herrmann was a well-known actor, best remembered for his role as Richard Gilmore on *Gilmore Girls*. Throughout his career, he also made appearances in shows like *The Good Wife*, *Harry’s Law*, and *American Dad* before he passed away in 2014.

Sydney temporarily replaced Bailey while she was on maternity leave, and her overly cheerful personality often annoyed her colleagues. She briefly dated Derek, but her character was written off the show early in season four. She made a quick return for one episode 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 heartbreaking moments in the series happens at the end of season five. George, after deciding to join the army as a trauma surgeon, heroically saved a woman from being hit by a bus, but was struck himself. Arriving at the hospital severely injured, he was unrecognizable until he wrote his nickname, ‘007,’ on Meredith’s hand. Despite their best efforts, he tragically died.

Following a period of backstage conflict – including a reported incident where Isaiah Washington used a slur – actor Knight had issues with the direction of his character’s storylines and the limited presence of George in the early episodes 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*. More recently, he was in the HBO Max series *The Flight Attendant* alongside Kaley Cuoco, 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. The heart Denny received had originally been meant for one of Erica’s patients. When Callie wouldn’t report this incident, Erica broke up with her and resigned from her job at the beginning of season five.

Brooke Smith has appeared in several popular TV shows including *Bosch*, *Bates Motel*, *Supergirl*, *The Good Doctor*, *Chicago Med*, and *The Good Fight*. She also had a role in the 2019 film *Bombshell*.

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

As a lot of you may remember, Ryan, who was an intern on the show, left partway through season six. And speaking of Brandon Scott, he’s been incredibly busy! You might recognize him from recent roles in popular shows like Netflix’s *Dead To Me*, *13 Reasons Why*, *This Is Us*, and *The Good Doctor*. He’s definitely one to watch!

Megan was known for creating quite a bit of chaos during her time as an intern on *Grey’s Anatomy*. She was involved in a complicated love triangle with Steve and Pierce – she was dating Pierce but had a fling with Steve, which led to a near-violent confrontation. To make things even more complex, she became pregnant with Steve’s child and eventually married him. After Derek Shepherd brought her back to the hospital, she disappeared from the show after season six.

Since her role 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 drama, I remember when Pierce, part of that complicated Megan, Pierce, and Steve storyline, unexpectedly left the show back in season six due to budget cuts. It’s been great to see Joe Williamson, the actor who played Pierce, continue to thrive! He’s popped up in some really fantastic projects since then, including the series *Here and Now* and even the blockbuster film *Ford v Ferrari* alongside Christian Bale and Matt Damon – definitely worth checking out if you haven’t seen it!

Steve completed the office’s love triangle by marrying Megan and having a child with her. He also managed to keep his job through several rounds of layoffs, lasting until the eighth season, after which he left the show and wasn’t seen again.

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 during the merger with Mercy West in season six. She briefly reappeared in season fourteen when her son accidentally swallowed a toy while she was visiting family in Seattle. Naturally, Alex, who she previously had a complicated relationship with, treated her son, and she used the opportunity to catch up with his then-fiancée, Jo.

Sarah Utterback has made a few TV appearances in the years since leaving Grey’s in 2009, including on the shows Reception and Mysteries of Laura. In 2024, she had a small role in 9-1-1.

Graciella, who was last seen as an intern during the hospital shooting in season six, has been consistently working. Actress Gloria Garayua recently appeared in an arc on *How to Get Away with Murder*, and has also had roles in shows like *S.W.A.T.*, *The Good Doctor*, *American Housewife*, *Animal Kingdom*, *Snowfall*, *Criminal Minds*, *NCIS: LA*, *Anger Management*, *Bones*, and the 2019 miniseries *Reckoning*. More recently, she played Rona in an episode of *Tracker* in 2024.

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

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

Percy tragically died during the filming of season six. His death was a slow, agonizing ordeal – he was trapped with a patient (played by Mandy Moore!) and Bailey, and shot at point-blank range. Despite Bailey’s desperate attempts to save him, Percy couldn’t be rescued when the elevators failed during the evacuation.

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

Dr. Lucy, an OBGYN, unexpectedly got a fantastic job opportunity in Africa, essentially taking it from Alex. This happened, in part, because Alex hadn’t mentioned his own potential interest in moving there. Lucy took the position and wasn’t seen on the show after season seven.

I’ve been a huge fan of Rachael Taylor for years! Most people probably recognize her as Trish Walker, Jessica Jones’ best friend, from the Netflix shows *Jessica Jones* and *The Defenders*. I was so excited to see her pop up in an episode of *Hacks* recently too – she’s just fantastic in everything she does.

Addison, who started as Derek’s estranged and resentful wife, became a popular character and even got her own show. She last appeared as a regular on *Grey’s Anatomy* in a memorable (and slightly debated) musical episode during season seven, where she assisted in saving Callie after a car accident. She made a guest appearance in 2012 during an episode where Meredith fantasized about her mother being alive and happily married to Richard, while Addison and Derek were still struggling in their marriage. Most recently, she returned for a storyline in 2023.

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*, *Bad Judge*, and *13 Reasons Why*. She also played a role in *The Umbrella Academy* and currently stars in *Emily in Paris*. More recently, she made a guest appearance on the 2025 show *Optics*.

Lexie’s death was a truly heartbreaking moment on the show, especially considering the tragic circumstances of the plane crash. She didn’t survive the crash and died while Mark Sloan desperately tried to reach her. Years later, during Meredith’s battle with COVID-19, Lexie and Mark appeared in a dreamlike sequence, 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 character, Alex Danvers, in *Supergirl*. More recently, since 2023, she’s been playing Kat Landry in Hallmark’s *The Way Home*.

Mark, known as ‘McSteamy,’ also died in the season eight plane crash, but he didn’t die instantly. He managed to get back to the hospital and survived for a few days, though his injuries were too critical to overcome. Now, the hospital bears his and Lexie’s name, as the other plane crash survivors purchased it using funds from a legal settlement. In a poignant moment, Mark appeared alongside Lexie while Meredith was in a coma, suggesting they found each other again after death.

Eric Dane departed from 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 return for 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 OGYN resident? They had a big argument when he discovered she’d been keeping secrets, and it escalated into a physical fight. Jason ended up in the hospital with a head injury after falling. Alex talked him out of pressing charges, and he just disappeared 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 serious brain tumor. Amelia successfully removed the tumor, but Herman later lost her vision and departed the show in season 11. She reappeared 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 Netflix’s *GLOW* and the *She-Ra* reboot. These days, though, she primarily works behind the scenes as a producer, including executive producing *Mission Unstoppable With Miranda Cosgrove*.

After a difficult recovery from the plane crash, Cristina Yang faced another setback when she didn’t win the Harper Avery award. She realized her current hospital would never allow her to achieve that recognition and started considering a change. An opportunity arose when her former love, Preston Burke, offered her the chance to lead his new, state-of-the-art hospital in Zurich, as he planned to retire and focus on his family. Following a final celebratory dance with Meredith, she accepted and 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 the Netflix show *She-Ra and the Princesses of Power*. Additionally, she provides voice work for a character in Robert Kirkman’s animated series *Invincible*.

Shane started as an overconfident intern and became a resident, pushing himself to the point of exhaustion. He developed a close connection with Cristina and eventually asked to join her when she moved to Zurich, and she allowed him to.

Gaius Charles, best known for playing Smash Williams in *Friday Night Lights*, has also appeared in shows like *Aquarius* and *Taken*. He recently had a role 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 home and found a way to do his job remotely.

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

Patrick Dempsey explained he decided to leave *Grey’s Anatomy* because the show’s storylines were becoming difficult to maintain and he wanted to spend more time with his family, so he requested an early release from his contract. After leaving the show, he appeared in *Bridget Jones’ Baby*, the miniseries *The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair*, the series *Devils*, and even did commercials playfully referencing his past role as a TV doctor. Currently, he’s starring in *Dexter: Original Sin*.

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

Leah Murphy had a difficult journey on the show. She was fired in season 10 after it became clear she wasn’t suited for surgery. Surprisingly, she reappeared in season 13, working alongside Maggie, but her return was short-lived and she was gone again after only a few episodes.

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, after a heartbreaking custody loss to Arizona, Callie planned to stay in Seattle. However, Arizona ultimately changed her mind and allowed Callie to take their daughter, Sofia, with her at the end of season twelve.

Sara Ramirez departed to join the cast of CBS’s *Madame Secretary*. They later became 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*.

Penelope’s time at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital was challenging. She started off with a difficult introduction – known as one of the doctors connected to Derek’s death and having to work under a frustrated Meredith Grey. Later, when she landed a great job in New York and Callie Torres joined her, it sparked a painful custody fight with Arizona Robbins. They’ve since broken up, which led to Arizona moving to New York as well, but their relationship always seemed destined to fail.

Samantha Sloyan became known for her role as Leigh in *The Haunting of Hill House*, and she’s also appeared in shows like *SEAL Team* and *The Rookie*. Most recently, 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 rules over safety, failing to inform the police that a resident was missing during a fire, which nearly resulted in Stephanie’s death.

Marika Dominczyk later appeared on ABC’s brief series *Whiskey Cavalier*, joining her husband, Scott Foley (who previously starred on *Grey’s Anatomy*).

Okay, so after *everything* Stephanie went through – seriously, months of being totally heartbroken over Kyle (Wilmer Valderrama, UGH, he was the best!), then nearly *dying* in a fire?! – she just…needed a change. She decided to just go, you know? Explore, find herself, try something completely new at the end of season 13. It was like, she deserved it after all that trauma!

Jerrika Hinton continued her acting career with roles in the HBO drama *Here and Now* in 2018 and the Amazon series *Hunters*, where she played a Nazi hunter. More recently, in 2024, she appeared as Lycia in *The Accused*.

In the early part of season 14, Nathan left Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital when his fiancée, Megan Hunt, was finally rescued after being held captive for ten years. They moved to Los Angeles together with Megan’s adopted child. While this ended his developing romance with Meredith, it was a very happy outcome for Nathan.

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

Read More

2025-10-17 16:54