Is Harry Shum Jr. scrubbing out of the OR for good?
It’s currently unclear what will happen to his character, Dr. Benson Kwan, on Grey’s Anatomy after being fired near the end of season 22. The actor, also known from Crazy Rich Asians, was completely prepared to explore the complex reasons behind his character’s departure.
Harry shared with TopMob News at the Asian American Foundation’s Heritage Month Awards Dinner on May 15th that it’s important to address doctors’ mistakes, even when they’re trying to do their best. He emphasized that the issue wasn’t simply about a doctor being incompetent.
He stressed that the driving force behind the effort was giving people the opportunity to choose life instead of facing death.
Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) fired Kwan after learning he had given patient Quinn Durston (Michael Weston), who had liver cancer, an unapproved experimental gel treatment earlier in the season. This all happened off-screen, meaning it wasn’t shown on television.
Harry, who started as an intern on the ABC show in season 19, responded to the news that the surgical resident might not be back next season.
I was really struck by what he said at the TAAF event celebrating AAPI leaders. He honestly admitted he doesn’t know what’s going to happen with his character, just like the rest of us fans! He put it beautifully – he’s hoping the viewers will give some indication of whether they want to see his character recover and return, or if they’d prefer a different direction. It’s a really vulnerable moment, and it shows how much he cares about what the audience thinks.
Dr. Miranda Bailey (played by Chandra Wilson) faced trouble with the hospital’s ethics committee, which oversees medical research, after accepting responsibility for a decision made by Kwan.
Despite developing a blood clot in her lungs after the injection, Durston assured Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) on the April 30th episode of the show that the patient was recovering nicely.
After the report was finished, Webber spoke privately with Kwan about Bailey. Dr. Dani Spencer (played by Jade Pettyjohn) had reported that Bailey was being blamed for something someone else did.
He stated, “I know it was you, not her, who gave the hydrogel injection.” Then he asked, “Please tell me everything that happened, from the very start.”
Webber finally spoke with Bailey, the head of the residency program, and she was temporarily removed from performing surgeries.
She pointed out that the current system doesn’t encourage growth because people can be punished severely for even small errors. She asked them to be patient with Kwan, who is still developing his skills, especially while she’s away.
Webber wasn’t pleased with what was happening and immediately told Bailey, “Consider him fired.”
It’s still unclear if Kwan will be back for future episodes, but here’s a look at other doctors who have left Grey’s Anatomy over the years.
During the third season, Burke left Cristina at their wedding and disappeared, eventually achieving success with a Harper Avery award and moving to Zurich, Switzerland, where he founded a state-of-the-art hospital. He built a family and, in season ten, offered Cristina the opportunity to run the hospital as he retired.
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 do some personal reflection. He stated he’s seeking help to understand his own shortcomings.
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 battle with cancer, found love with Alex Karev, and overcame the illness. However, she unexpectedly left Seattle during season six. She briefly returned, explaining she no longer felt connected to the city. It was later revealed that Alex received divorce papers, and the reason was surprising: Izzie had secretly given birth to their twins and was living on a ranch in Kansas, where she had become a surgeon specializing in cancer.
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 written off completely. While Heigl expressed interest in revisiting the role later on, creator Shonda Rhimes decided against it, stating in 2015 that she had moved past that storyline.
Katherine Heigl was becoming well-known for romantic comedies when she moved back 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 and faced confusion because people often mistook him for a doctor instead of an intern, likely due to his mature appearance. He made a serious error by mistakenly telling a patient she was terminally ill, and later suffered a stroke, collapsing as a result. After successful surgery to remove a blood clot, he decided to switch his medical focus to psychiatry.
Edward Herrmann was a well-known actor, best remembered for playing Richard Gilmore on Gilmore Girls. Throughout his career, he also made appearances in popular 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 annoyed many people. She briefly dated Derek, but was written off the show around the beginning of season four. She made a short return appearance in season 21, which aired in 2024.
Kali Rocha is an actress known for her roles on Disney’s Liv and Maddie and Man with a Plan. She also appeared in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm and briefly returned to Grey’s Anatomy in 2024.
One of the most heartbreaking 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 severely injured, he was unrecognizable until he wrote his nickname, “007,” on Meredith’s hand. Despite their best efforts, he couldn’t be saved and tragically died.
As a longtime fan, it was really disheartening to learn about everything Don Cheadle went through during his time on the show. Apparently, things were pretty rough behind the scenes – I remember hearing about the on-set drama with Isaiah Washington and the disrespectful language used. Beyond that, Don actually voiced concerns about the direction of his character, George, and how little he was featured at the start of season five. Ultimately, he felt so strongly about it that he asked to be let out of his contract, which was a huge loss for the show, honestly.
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 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 ultimately received came from one of Erica’s patients. Because Callie wouldn’t report this incident, Erica broke up with her and resigned from her job at the beginning of season five.
Brooke Smith continued her career with roles in popular TV shows like Bosch, Bates Motel, Supergirl, The Good Doctor, Chicago Med, and The Good Fight. She also appeared in the 2019 film Bombshell.
She recently appeared in several shows, including Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie, The Recruit, The Hunting Party, and Chicago Fire.
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. Megan then became pregnant with Steve’s child, and surprisingly, they eventually married. She hasn’t appeared on the show since season six, after Derek Shepherd brought her back on staff.
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.
Pierce, who was part of a complicated love triangle with Megan and Steve, left the show in season six after being laid off. Since then, the actor who played Pierce, Joe Williamson, has appeared in shows like Here and Now and the 2019 movie Ford v Ferrari, alongside Christian Bale and Matt Damon.
Let me tell you about Steve – he was a bit of a heartthrob back in the day! He ended up with Megan, and they actually had a child together, which was lovely to see. He was a real trooper, sticking it out through some tough times and making it all the way to season eight. It’s a shame we never saw what happened with him after that, though – he just sort of disappeared!
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 while she was visiting family in Seattle. Her son was treated by Alex, a doctor she previously had a relationship with, and she spent time catching up with his 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, is actually actress Gloria Garayua. Garayua has been consistently working, recently appearing in a storyline on How to Get Away with Murder and guest starring 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 also had a role in the 2019 miniseries Reckoning and appeared on a 2024 episode of Tracker as a character named Rona.
In season six, Nora was the first person killed by Gary Clark, who went to the hospital with the intent of murdering Derek. She was fatally shot in the head and died instantly.
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, then starred in Designated Survivor and the 2019 series The Right Stuff. Most recently, in 2025, she played Melissa in Grosse Pointe 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 desperate attempts to save him, he couldn’t be rescued when the elevators stopped working during the evacuation.
Robert Baker has consistently worked as an actor, with roles in popular shows like Riverdale, Modern Family, and The Originals. He recently played Otis Graves on Supergirl, and in 2025, he made a guest appearance on St. Denis Medical.
Dr. Lucy, an OBGYN, unexpectedly took a fantastic job opportunity in Africa that Alex was also hoping for. This happened partly because Alex hadn’t mentioned his potential plans to move to Africa to Lucy. She ended up moving instead 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, who started as Derek’s estranged and initially resentful wife, became a popular character and even got her own show. She last appeared as a regular on Grey’s Anatomy during the musical episode in season seven, where she assisted in saving Callie after a car accident. She also made a guest appearance in a 2012 episode featuring Meredith’s fantasy about her mother, and returned for another storyline in 2023.
She ended Private Practice married to Jake (Benjamin Bratt) with a son, Henry.
She’s known for her roles in shows like Fargo, Bad Judge, and 13 Reasons Why, as well as The Umbrella Academy. More recently, she starred in Emily in Paris and made a guest appearance in a 2025 episode of Optics. She also made several appearances on Grey Sloan Memorial.
Lexie’s death was a heartbreaking moment for viewers. The plane crash storyline, in which she died, was one of the most devastating the show ever presented. She didn’t survive the crash and passed away while her fiancé, Mark Sloan, was desperately by her side. Later, in a touching scene during Meredith’s COVID-19 coma, Lexie and Mark appeared to suggest they had found each other again after death.
Oh my gosh, Chyler Leigh is just amazing! I first discovered her in Taxi Brooklyn – seriously, the title is so funny! But then, she became Alex Danvers on Supergirl, and honestly, she totally owned that role. She’s such a total badass! And now? Now she’s Kat Landry in The Way Home on Hallmark, and I’m completely hooked! I’ve been watching since 2023 and she’s just incredible in everything she does.
Mark, known as ‘McSteamy,’ also died in the season eight plane crash, though not right away. He managed to return to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries after a few days. The hospital has since been renamed in honor of Mark and Lexie, thanks to funds from a lawsuit filed by the other plane crash survivors. In a poignant moment, Mark appeared to Meredith in a dream while she was in a coma, suggesting he and Lexie were reunited in the afterlife.
Eric Dane departed the series to lead the cast of TNT’s The Last Ship, which concluded after five seasons in November 2018.
The actor publicly announced he had ALS, a disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s, in April 2025. He sadly passed away in February 2026, but his contributions are still seen in the final season of Euphoria.
Do you remember Jo’s boyfriend from season nine, the resident at OGYN? 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 during the altercation. Alex talked him out of pressing charges against Jo, and he disappeared after that.
Charles Michael Davis has appeared in several popular television shows, including The Originals (The CW), Younger (TV Land), For the People (ABC), and Chicago P.D. (NBC). He recently made an appearance on a 2022 episode of Legacies and is scheduled to appear in a story arc on The Rookie in 2026.
In season 10, the intern Heather tragically died during a major storm. She was electrocuted while attempting to help Dr. Richard Webber.
Tina Majorino, known for her role on Veronica Mars, has recently been seen in episodes of Scorpion and The Good Doctor, as well as in Devil May Cry.
Dr. Herman was a tough mentor to Arizona during her fetal surgery training, but Arizona understood why when she found out about Nicole’s terminal 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 recurring roles on Netflix’s GLOW and the She-Ra reboot. Currently, she primarily works behind the scenes as a producer, most notably 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 wouldn’t offer her the opportunities she needed to succeed, 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 – gave her that opportunity. Following a final celebratory dance with Meredith, she left in season 10.
Sandra Oh remained a prominent television actress, most notably as Eve in the highly praised series Killing Eve, earning her a Golden Globe award. Similar to Geena Davis, she also appeared in a recurring role on Netflix’s She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Additionally, she provides voice work for a character in Robert Kirkman’s animated show Invincible.
Shane started as a confident intern and became a resident, pushing himself to the point of exhaustion. He developed a connection with Cristina and eventually asked to join her in Zurich, which she allowed.
Gaius Charles, best known for playing Smash Williams in Friday Night Lights, has also appeared in Aquarius, Taken, and recently, The Walking Dead: Dead City.
Derek Shepherd went through a challenging period when he took a job with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. He wanted his family to join him, but Meredith didn’t want to move, leading to a separation. Eventually, Derek realized he needed to be closer to home and found a way to do his job remotely so they could be together.
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, 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 head scan, which ultimately led to his death.
Patrick Dempsey explained he left Grey’s Anatomy because the show’s storylines were becoming difficult to maintain and he wanted to prioritize spending time with his family, so he requested an early release from his contract. Since then, he’s appeared in Bridget Jones’ Baby, the miniseries The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, the show Devils, and has even done commercials playfully referencing his past role as a TV doctor. More recently, he starred in Dexter: Original Sin and Fox’s Memory of a Killer.
He shockingly returned to Grey’s for a series of dream sequences in season 17.
Leah Murphy had a tough time on the show. She was fired during season 10 because she struggled as a surgeon. Surprisingly, she reappeared in season 13, working alongside Maggie, but didn’t stay for long and was gone after a few episodes.
In 2019, Tessa Ferrer appeared in the Hulu miniseries Catch-22 alongside George Clooney. She also starred in Grotesquerie in 2024 and made an appearance on All’s Fair.
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 loss 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. They later became known for playing the controversial character Che Diaz in the HBO series And Just Like That, a continuation of Sex and the City. In 2024, Ramirez also provided the voice for Amber in the animated show Velma.
Penelope’s time at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital was consistently difficult. She started off on the wrong foot, arriving as Callie’s girlfriend and being unfairly judged for her past connection to Derek Shepherd’s death. She also had to navigate working under a difficult Meredith Grey. Later, when she landed a great job in New York and Callie joined her, it sparked a painful custody battle with Arizona. 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 strict hospital rules over a resident’s safety, failing to inform the police that Stephanie was missing during a fire and nearly causing a tragedy.
I was so excited to see Marika Dominczyk land a role on ABC’s Whiskey Cavalier! What made it even cooler was that she starred alongside her husband, Scott Foley – you might remember him from Grey’s Anatomy. It was a shame the show didn’t last, but it was fun while it did!
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 off to explore new possibilities.
Jerrika Hinton continued her 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.
Nathan Riggs left Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in the beginning of season 14 after his longtime love, Megan Hunt, was finally rescued after being held captive for ten years. They moved to Los Angeles together with Megan’s adopted child. While it ended his growing romance with Meredith, it gave Riggs the happy ending he’d always hoped for.
Martin Henderson, known for being in Britney Spears’ “Toxic” music video, also starred in the series Virgin River until 2024.
Read More
- FRONT MISSION 3: Remake coming to PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, and PC on January 30, 2026
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun season 4 release schedule: When are new episodes on Crunchyroll?
- Taylor Sheridan’s Gritty 5-Part Crime Show Reveals New Final Season Villain
- From season 4 release schedule: When is episode 2 out on MGM+?
- Mark Zuckerberg & Wife Priscilla Chan Make Surprise Debut at Met Gala
- The Boys Season 5 Officially Ends An Era For Jensen Ackles’ Soldier Boy
- ‘The Bride!’ Review: Jessie Buckley Breathes Life into a Monstrous Mess
- Invincible Season 4 Episode 4 Post-Credits Unveils a Demonic Return & More
- Meet the cast of Good Omens season 3: All the actors and characters
2026-05-15 18:50