Grey’s Anatomy’s Kate Walsh Returns During Season 22 Episode

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Dr. Addison Montgomery’s love life is coding. 

On the January 29th episode of Grey’s Anatomy, Kate Walsh briefly reappeared as her character to motivate Dr. Amelia Shepherd, played by Caterina Scorsone, to return to her job.

Now that Amelia is on leave after the death of Dr. Monica Beltran (played by Natalie Morales), which happened at the start of season 22, Addison goes back to Seattle hoping Amelia can help with a patient named Emma (Aneasa Yacoub). While there, Addison reveals a surprising secret about her marriage to Jake (Benjamin Bratt).

Addison desperately tries to get Amelia into the operating room, blurting out, “Jake is leaving me.” She quickly adds, “I don’t want to discuss it, or answer any questions. Right now, I just need you to focus on giving Emma the best possible care.”

Even though she received upsetting news, Amelia has decided to return after taking a break from work since the third episode of the season. She confidently tells Addison that she’s determined to have her hospital privileges restored.

Things don’t necessarily calm down after that. During surgery, Amelia, overwhelmed by the patient’s rapidly beating heart, asks Addison to leave.

Addison later speaks with Dr. Richard Webber (played by James Pickens Jr.), and confesses that she’s alienating everyone who used to be on her side.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always said vulnerability is key, and we definitely see that with Addison on Grey Sloan Memorial. Throughout the season, she’s been dealing with some personal struggles, particularly around her relationship with Jake. Thankfully, by the end of the latest episode, she finally felt comfortable enough to open up to Amelia about everything she was going through. It was a really powerful moment!

She explained that her husband feels distant from her when she is home, like she’s not fully present. He’s told her she isn’t being a good partner, and she agrees with him. She’s made mistakes, like forgetting their anniversary and his birthday, and she realizes she’s changed from the woman he initially fell in love with.

With tears in her eyes, she sadly said, “Everything has changed so much. Science doesn’t even seem like the same thing it once was.”

I completely understand why Addison feels she has to prioritize her work. She’s explained that with so many patients relying on her, she simply can’t put her personal life first right now. It’s a tough situation, but she’s dedicated to her patients, and I respect that.

Amelia offers a thoughtful response: “If someone is forcing you to choose between things, the relationship is likely already seriously flawed.”

Though Addison’s marriage seems to be ending, Amelia shared in a recent, honest conversation that she’s finished her time away and is ready to return.

“Fine,” she tells Addison. “I’ll go back to work.”

For more on other departed Grey’s Anatomy doctors, keep reading…

During the third season, Burke unexpectedly left Cristina at their wedding and moved away. He went on to achieve success, winning a Harper Avery award and eventually establishing a cutting-edge hospital in Zurich, Switzerland. He built a life there, getting married and having a family. 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 towards his co-star, T.R. Knight, during a heated 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 issues better.

Since leaving Grey’s Anatomy, I’ve been so impressed with Isaiah Washington’s career! He really made a splash as Thelonious Jaha on The 100 – I was sad to see that character go in season five, but he quickly followed it up with a fantastic role in the critically acclaimed P-Valley. He’s consistently delivering great performances, and it’s been fun to watch his work evolve.

Izzie Stevens faced a cancer diagnosis, married Alex Karev, and successfully recovered. However, she unexpectedly left Seattle during season six. When she briefly returned, she revealed 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.

Katherine Heigl’s departure from the show started in 2008 when she asked not to be considered for an Emmy Award, feeling the writing wasn’t strong enough. By 2010, her character was written off completely. While Heigl has expressed interest in revisiting the role, 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 went 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 people often mistakenly thought he was a doctor instead of an intern because of how old he looked. 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 playing 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 passing away in 2014.

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 written off the show early in season four. She made a quick return appearance in season 21, airing in 2024.

Kali Rocha is an actress known for her roles on Disney’s Liv and Maddie and Man with a Plan, and she recently appeared in 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 couldn’t be saved and tragically died.

Following a period of backstage conflict, including a reported incident where Isaiah Washington used offensive language towards him, actor Knight had concerns about his character’s storylines and the limited screen time he received at the start of the fifth season. 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. He began voice work for The Bravest Knight in 2019, continuing until 2024. From 2020 to 2022, he also starred in the HBO Max series The Flight Attendant alongside Kaley Cuoco.

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 actually come from one of Erica’s own 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 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.

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

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

Megan was known for being dramatic, even by the standards of the interns on Grey’s Anatomy. Her storyline involved a complicated love life: she dated Pierce but had a fling with Steve, leading to a near-violent confrontation between the two men. She eventually became pregnant with Steve’s child and later married him. 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.

Pierce, who was part of a complicated love triangle with Megan and Steve, was let go during layoffs at the end of season six. Since then, Joe Williamson, the actor who played Pierce, has appeared in shows like Here and Now and the 2019 movie Ford v Ferrari, alongside Christian Bale and Matt Damon.

Steve was part of an office romance involving another 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 TV 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 complicated past, treated her son, leading to some awkward conversations with his then-fiancée, Jo.

Since leaving the show 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 also appeared in the 2019 miniseries Reckoning and had a role on a 2024 episode of Tracker.

In season six, Nora was the first person killed by Gary Clark, who went to the hospital with the intent of killing 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. More recently, she 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 then shot at point-blank range. Bailey fought to save him, but when the elevators stopped working during the evacuation, his fate was sealed.

Robert Baker has consistently worked as an actor, 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 took a fantastic job opportunity in Africa, essentially leaving Alex without it. This happened, in part, because Alex hadn’t mentioned his potential interest in moving to Africa. After season seven of the show, Lucy moved and wasn’t seen or heard from again.

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 resentful wife, became a popular character and even got her own show. She last appeared regularly on Grey’s Anatomy in a memorable, though divisive, musical episode during 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. 

Kate Walsh became well-known for her roles in several popular shows and films, including Fargo, her own short-lived series Bad Judge, and as a mother dealing with loss in 13 Reasons Why. She also played a part in the apocalyptic drama The Umbrella Academy. More recently, she starred in the 2020 series Emily in Paris and made a guest appearance on Optics in 2025.

Lexie’s death was one of the most heartbreaking moments on the show, occurring during the devastating plane crash. She didn’t survive the crash and died while Mark Sloan, her boyfriend, desperately tried to reach her. Later, in a poignant scene during Meredith’s COVID-19 coma, Lexie and Mark appeared, suggesting they were reunited in the afterlife.

Chyler Leigh began her television career with a role in the comedy series Taxi Brooklyn. She then became known for playing the strong and determined Alex Danvers in Supergirl. More recently, since 2023, she’s been starring as Kat Landry in the Hallmark series The Way Home.

Mark, known as ‘McSteamy,’ also died in the season eight plane crash, but not right away. He managed to get back to the hospital and survived for a few days, though his injuries were too serious to overcome. The hospital has since been renamed in honor of Mark and Lexie, thanks to funds from a lawsuit won by the other plane crash survivors. In a touching moment, Mark appeared alongside Lexie while Meredith was in a coma, suggesting they found each other again after death.

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 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 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, and he just disappeared after that.

Charles Michael Davis became known for his roles in several popular TV series, including The Originals (The CW), Younger (TV Land), For the People (ABC), and Chicago P.D. (NBC). He most recently made an appearance on Legacies in 2022.

Oh my god, Heather! It still gets me, even now. She was just… the sweetest intern, so bubbly and a little clumsy, you know? And she died in season ten, during that massive storm. It was awful! She was trying to be a hero, helping Dr. Webber, and she got electrocuted. I mean, electrocuted! It was so sudden and tragic, I literally cried for days. She didn’t deserve that at all.

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 her strictness when she learned 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 briefly in season 14, providing Arizona with funding to establish a women’s health center in New York, which allowed Arizona to leave the series.

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 reboot. Currently, she primarily works behind the scenes as a producer, most notably executive producing Mission Unstoppable With Miranda Cosgrove.

Following the devastating plane crash, Cristina Yang faced a difficult recovery. Later, losing the Harper Avery award and realizing her career path at the hospital wouldn’t lead to winning it, she started considering a change. When her former love, Preston Burke, offered her the chance to lead his new, state-of-the-art hospital in Zurich – allowing him to retire and focus on his family – she accepted. After a final, celebratory 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 appears in a recurring role on 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, initially a confident but inexperienced intern, pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion during his residency. He developed a close relationship 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 the shows Aquarius and Taken. He recently starred 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 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 again.

You know, life can throw you curveballs when you least expect them. Just when things were finally looking up for him – he and Mer had found their happiness again – he got caught in a terrible accident. He was actually on his way back after helping others at a major car crash, and then he was hit by a truck. It’s heartbreaking, but the worst part is the hospital wasn’t equipped to handle such severe trauma. They didn’t do a head scan, and sadly, that led to his death. It’s a stark reminder of how fragile life is and how important it is to have access to quality trauma care.

Patrick Dempsey explained he left Grey’s Anatomy because the storylines were becoming difficult to make interesting, and he wanted to spend more time with his family. He requested to be released 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 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 during season 10 because she struggled as a surgeon. Surprisingly, she came back in season 13 to work alongside Maggie, but disappeared just a few episodes later.

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 difficult custody loss with Arizona, Callie planned to remain 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 their role as 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 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 known as one of the doctors connected to Derek’s death, which made working with a still-grieving Meredith challenging. Later, when she landed a great job in New York and Callie joined her, it sparked a painful custody fight with Arizona. They’ve since broken up – leading to Arizona’s move – 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 rules over patient safety, failing to inform the police that a resident, Stephanie, was missing during a fire, and nearly costing Stephanie her life.

Marika Dominczyk later appeared on ABC’s brief series Whiskey Cavalier, joining 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 opportunities.

After leaving Grey’s Anatomy, Jerrika Hinton starred in the HBO drama Here and Now in 2018. She then joined the cast of Amazon’s Hunters, playing a character who tracked down Nazis. More recently, in 2024, she appeared as Lycia in The Accused.

Nathan Riggs left Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in the early part of season 14 after 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 them the family Nathan had always wanted. While it ended his romance with Meredith Grey, it was a very happy outcome for Riggs.

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

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2026-01-31 00:21