Will Kevin McKidd Ever Return After Grey’s Anatomy Exit? He Says…

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Kevin McKidd is well aware that the carousel never stops turning. 

With the future of his character, Dr. Owen Hunt, uncertain as Grey’s Anatomy approaches its final episode on May 7th, the actor has been thinking about leaving the show after announcing his departure last month.

“I’m incredibly thankful,” McKidd shared with TopMob News. “I began on the show as a guest, unsure of how long I’d be involved. But I connected with Sandra Oh and the rest of the cast, and the character really resonated with audiences.”

Kevin McKidd first appeared on the show in 2008, during its fifth season, as a romantic partner for Sandra Oh’s character, Dr. Cristina Yang. He’s been a regular as Owen ever since, continuing to work alongside stars like Ellen Pompeo, Caterina Scorsone, and Kim Raver, who recently announced she was leaving after 16 years.

McKidd said he feels incredibly fortunate, as opportunities like this are rare for actors. He explained that the show has genuinely and profoundly improved his life in numerous ways.

While Kevin McKidd seems positive, viewers of Grey’s Anatomy are on edge after the shocking ending of the second-to-last episode of season 22.

Just before the scene ends, Dr. Teddy Altman, also known as Raver, hears a voicemail message telling him that Owen is in serious trouble after a bridge collapsed.

Okay, seriously, Grey Sloan has seen so much trauma, but this… this crash with Owen? It’s got me terrified. I mean, we’ve lost people we loved before on Grey’s, and it absolutely destroys me every time. I’m already bracing myself, because if Owen doesn’t make it… I don’t know if I can handle another heartbreaking goodbye.

Although viewers will have to watch the season finale to find out what happens to his character, McKidd knows he isn’t leaving the show for good.

McKidd shared that being on Grey’s Anatomy for nearly 20 years has made the cast and crew feel like a true family. He explained it’s more than just a work environment; some of his closest friends are there, and they’ve built strong connections and created memorable episodes together. He genuinely considers it his second home.

Scott McKidd, having directed almost 50 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, confirmed he will definitely return to direct future episodes.

McKidd was heavily involved in crafting his character’s final appearance, and he also directed the episode, expressing his pride in the finished product.

To catch up with more Grey’s Anatomy departed doctors, keep reading… 

During the third season, Burke unexpectedly left Cristina at their wedding and moved away. He later achieved success, winning a prestigious Harper Avery award, and eventually settled in Zurich, Switzerland, where he founded a cutting-edge hospital. He built a family and, in season ten, offered Cristina the opportunity to run his hospital as he prepared to retire.

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 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 star in the critically praised P-Valley on Starz.

Izzie Stevens faced a cancer diagnosis, married Alex Karev, and successfully recovered. However, she unexpectedly left Seattle during season six. She briefly returned, explaining she no longer felt connected to the city. Eventually, Alex received divorce papers, and it was revealed that Izzie had secretly given birth to their twins. She now lives on a ranch in Kansas and works as a surgeon specializing in cancer.

Katherine Heigl’s departure from the show started in 2008 when she asked to be removed from Emmy consideration, feeling the writing wasn’t strong enough. By 2010, her character was no longer part of the series. 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 first became well-known for romantic comedies, appearing in several before returning to television. She had roles in shows like State of Affairs, Doubt, and a recurring part on Suits. Most recently, she starred in Firefly Lane, which concluded in 2023.

Norman joined the show in its fourth season and often had to correct people who mistook him for a fully qualified doctor because of how old he looked. 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 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 was known for being overly cheerful, which annoyed some people. She briefly dated Derek and then left the show around the beginning of season four, but made a quick return for an episode in season 21, airing in 2024.

Kali Rocha is an actress known for her roles in several popular TV shows. She recently appeared on Disney’s Liv and Maddie and Man with a Plan, as well as a 2024 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. She also made a guest appearance on Grey’s Anatomy in the same year.

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. He arrived at the hospital in critical condition, unrecognizable until he wrote his nickname, ‘007’, on Meredith’s hand. Despite their best efforts, he tragically died.

Following a difficult period with behind-the-scenes conflicts – including a reported incident where Isaiah Washington used offensive language – Kyle Knight had concerns about 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, which ran 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 had originally belonged to one of Erica’s patients. Because Callie wouldn’t report what Izzie had done, Erica broke up with her and resigned from her job at the beginning of season five.

Oh my gosh, Brooke Smith is everywhere! After falling in love with her work, I started noticing her in everything! She was amazing in Bosch, and then I spotted her in Bates Motel! It didn’t stop there – she’s been in Supergirl, The Good Doctor, even Chicago Med and The Good Fight! And she was in Bombshell in 2019! Seriously, is there anything she can’t do? I’m constantly looking for her in new shows now!

She recently appeared in several shows, including Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie, The Recruit, The Hunting Party, and Chicago Fire.

Ryan, who previously 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 was known for stirring up trouble during her time as an intern on Grey’s Anatomy, and her romantic life was particularly chaotic. She was in a relationship with Pierce but had a brief affair with Steve, which led to a near-fatal confrontation between the two men. To complicate things further, Megan became pregnant with Steve’s child, and they eventually married. After Derek Shepherd brought her back to the hospital, she disappeared from the show after season six.

I’ve been following Molly Kidder since her days on Grey’s Anatomy, and it’s been great to see her continue acting! She’s had a few roles here and there, like a guest appearance on Outsourced back in 2010, and she’s been in some independent films too. Most recently, I spotted her as an extra in Ghosts in 2025 – it was a fun little cameo!

I was so bummed when Pierce got written off the show – those layoffs in season six really hurt! It was tough seeing him go, especially with everything going on with Megan and Steve. But it’s been great to see Joe Williamson doing so well afterward! I’ve spotted him in a few things, like Here and Now, and I was thrilled to see him in Ford v Ferrari alongside Christian Bale and Matt Damon. He’s a fantastic actor!

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 of the show – after which he simply disappeared from the storyline.

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.

Let me tell you, life throws curveballs, even for our favorite TV characters! Nurse Olivia, you might remember her, faced a job loss when the hospitals merged way back in season six. But family always comes first, and she popped back up in season fourteen when her little boy had a bit of a scare – he swallowed a toy while she was visiting her parents. Can you imagine? And who ended up treating him? None other than Alex, a guy from her past! It was definitely an awkward reunion, and she had a really good chat with his then-fiancée, Jo, while they were all at the hospital. Talk about a complicated situation!

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. She’s been consistently working, recently appearing in a storyline on How to Get Away with Murder and guest starring on shows like 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.

Oh my god, Nora! It still breaks my heart. She was the first one Gary Clark took from us, you know? He just strolled into the hospital, gun blazing, aiming for Derek, but Nora… she was caught in the crossfire. It happened so fast, she didn’t even have a chance. Season six… I’ll never forget it. She died instantly, a shot to the head. It was awful, just awful.

Nora Zehetner acted in a few episodes of Mad Men following her role on Grey’s Anatomy. 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 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 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 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, leaving Alex disappointed. This happened, in part, because Alex hadn’t mentioned his own potential interest in moving there. Lucy then moved to Africa 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.

Oh my gosh, Addison! I’ve been following her since the very beginning, when she was Derek’s… complicated ex. I was SO thrilled when she got her own show! Seeing her back on Grey’s was always a treat, even if it was just for a little while. I remember that musical episode in season seven like it was yesterday – she was amazing helping Callie! And that episode where Meredith dreamed about her mom? Heartbreaking, but Addison was perfect in it. Honestly, when I heard she was coming back for a storyline in 2023, I nearly screamed! She just makes that show, you know?

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

Kate Walsh became well-known for her roles in shows like Fargo, Bad Judge, and 13 Reasons Why. More recently, she’s been a key part of The Umbrella Academy and Emily in Paris. She also had a guest appearance on the 2025 series Optics, and made several appearances as a friend on Grey’s Anatomy.

Lexie’s death was a heartbreaking moment for viewers. The plane crash storyline was particularly devastating, and she tragically died before reaching the hospital. Her boyfriend, Mark Sloan, was left heartbroken at her side. Later, in a touching scene during Meredith’s COVID-19 coma, Lexie and Mark appeared together, suggesting they had found each other in the afterlife.

Chyler Leigh first appeared in the comedy series Taxi Brooklyn. She then became known for her strong and determined role as 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 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 his and Lexie’s memory, funded by the settlement money the other plane crash survivors received. 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.

As a lifestyle expert, I remember when Eric Dane left Grey’s Anatomy – it was a big moment for fans! He went on to lead the cast of TNT’s The Last Ship, a really compelling drama that, sadly, wrapped up after five seasons back 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 featured in the final season of Euphoria.

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 against Jo, and he simply disappeared after that.

I’ve been a huge fan of Charles Michael Davis for years! After first noticing him in The Originals, I loved seeing him pop up in Younger, For the People, and then Chicago P.D. It was great to see him revisit that universe with an episode of Legacies in 2022, and I’m really excited to hear he’ll be joining The Rookie in 2026 – I’ll definitely be tuning in!

In season 10, the intern Heather tragically died during a major storm. She was electrocuted while attempting to help 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 the series Devil May Cry.

Dr. Herman was a tough mentor to Arizona during her fetal surgery training, but Arizona understood why when she discovered Herman was battling a large, 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 recurring roles on Netflix’s GLOW and the She-Ra reboot. Currently, she primarily works behind the scenes as a producer, 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 honor and started considering a change. Luckily, her former love, Preston Burke, offered her a chance to lead his 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 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 appeared 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 an overconfident intern, pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion during his residency. He developed a close bond 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 the shows Aquarius and Taken, and recently starred in The Walking Dead: Dead City.

Derek Shepherd went through a difficult period when he took a job with 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 work remotely from home.

I was absolutely thrilled when he and Mer finally found happiness again in season eleven! It was so heartwarming to see them together. Then, just as things were looking up, he was driving back to resolve a few things and witnessed a terrible car crash. He selflessly spent hours helping those involved, and then, tragically, a truck hit him as he got back into his own car. It was devastating. The hospital staff, sadly, weren’t equipped to handle such severe trauma, and they didn’t do a head CT scan, which ultimately led to his death. It was just… heartbreaking. I still can’t believe it happened.

Patrick Dempsey explained he left Grey’s Anatomy because the storylines were becoming difficult to make interesting, and he wanted more time with his family, so 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. 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 difficult journey on the show. She was fired during season 10 after it became clear she wasn’t suited for surgery. Surprisingly, she reappeared in season 13, working alongside Maggie, but disappeared again just a few episodes later.

Tessa Ferrer appeared in the 2019 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. Since then, they’ve become 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 the character Amber in Velma.

Penelope’s time at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital was challenging. She started off on the wrong foot, arriving as Callie’s girlfriend and being known as one of the doctors linked to Derek’s death, which made working with Meredith difficult. Later, when she landed a great job in New York and Callie joined her, it sparked a painful custody battle between Callie and Arizona. They’ve since broken up, and their relationship always seemed destined to fail, ultimately leading to Arizona moving to New York as well.

Samantha Sloyan became known for her role as Leigh in The Haunting of Hill House, and has 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, specifically failing to inform the police that a resident, Stephanie, was missing during a fire, which nearly cost Stephanie her life.

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.

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 early season 14, Nathan left Grey Sloan after his long-held dream came true: his fiancée, Megan Hunt, was found alive after being held captive for ten years. They moved to Los Angeles with Megan’s adopted child, which unfortunately ended his growing relationship with Meredith, but gave Nathan a very happy conclusion to his story.

Martin Henderson, known for being in Britney Spears’ “Toxic” music video, went on to star in the series Virgin River until 2024.

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2026-05-07 17:50