Grey’s Anatomy has always been something of a revolving door for actors – and consequently – characters over the years. That is perhaps inevitable for a show that has been on air for 18 seasons, 400 episodes and almost two decades.
The most recently confirmed departure of sorts will be Ellen Pompeo, who has been a fixture of the show since the beginning. The actress plays Dr. Meredith Grey, a role she has portrayed in every single episode of the show since it made its debut on ABC in March 2005. Pompeo is not intended to leave Grey’s completely and will instead take on a much more reduced role starting the upcoming Season 19. The 52-year-old will also continue acting elsewhere, as she pursues other opportunities.
The industry path beyond the Shonda Rhimes medical drama is one that is very well trodden, with very high profile names often leaving the show throughout the years. Among those whose departure was most acutely felt by fans, this is what they have been up to since.
9 Justin Chambers Played Hollywood Legend Marlon Brando
There aren’t many characters in the history of Grey’s Anatomy who can lay claim to the kind of adoration that Justin Chambers received from fans as Dr. Alex Karev. He left the show after 341 episodes, with his final appearance airing in March 2020.
Chambers returned to the small screen this year, playing The Godfather star Marlon Brando in a miniseries titled The Offer on Paramount+.
8 Patrick Dempsey Went Into Motor Racing
Patrick Dempsey was very much a fan favorite in his role as Dr. Derek Shepherd in the first 11 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy. He returned in a recurring capacity for Season 17 between 2020 and 2021.
Before that, Dempsey had invested more time and effort into motor racing, which originally began as a hobby. He has also continued acting, as well as pursuing a myriad of business interests.
7 T.R. Knight Has Become A Familiar Face On Television
In the overall context of how long Grey’s has been on air, T.R. Knight’s time on the show was relatively short. He played Dr. George O’Malley for 103 episodes, including one guest appearance in 2020.
In the years since his original departure, Knight has played roles in TV shows such as The Good Wife, The Flight Attendant and the anthology series Genius on National Geographic.
6 Sandra Oh Has Been Making Waves On Killing Eve
It is always a risk leaving a major role in a show as big as Grey’s Anatomy. For Sandra Oh, however, it appears that her exit was eventually worth it.
Not only has she managed to improve her mental and physical health, she has also been making waves on BBC’s spy thriller drama, Killing Eve. Dr. Cristina Yang from Grey’s is now an M15 analyst by the name Eve Polastri.
5 Jesse Williams Is Pivoting Towards Movies
Jesse Williams returned for the Season 18 finale of Grey’s in May, having exited the show last year in order to “escape his comfort zone.”
Williams’ two biggest projects since have been big screen productions: Secret Headquarters was released recently on Paramount+, while rom-com Your Place or Mine is currently in production.
4 Eric Dane Is One Of The Stars On Euphoria
Eric Dane does not have very good things to say about his spell in Grey’s, despite how crucial his character was. That is despite the fact that he returned as a guest star in 2021.
Dane officially left the show in 2012, after which he starred in The Last Ship on TNT. He is currently playing the villainous Cal Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria.
3 Sara Ramirez Starred In Madam Secretary
Sara Ramirez’s character in Grey’s Anatomy was not always loved by people, but she probably had more good than bad traits overall. Dr. Callie Torres was originally a recurring character before Ramirez was then promoted to the main cast.
Between 2017 and 2019, the actor featured in 36 episodes of Madam Secretary on CBS. They played a character called Kat Sandoval.
2 Kim Raver Returned To 24, And Then To Grey’s Anatomy Again
About two years before stepping into the shoes of Dr. Teddy Altman on Grey’s, Kim Raver had wrapped up a 52-episode run on Fox’s 24. Her tenure in the medical drama lasted two seasons, before she initially left in 2012.
Raver reprised the role of Audrey Raines in 24: Live Another Day in 2014. Three years later, she made her triumphant return to Grey Sloan Memorial.
1 Chyler Leigh Became Sentinel In The Arrowverse
Chyler Leigh and Eric Dane’s tragic exits from Grey’s Anatomy are some of the saddest of all characters to ever leave the show. Since that final bow as Dr. Lexie Grey in 2012, the actress has done a lot of television work.
Most notably, she is now Alex Danvers / Sentinel in various Arrowverse shows, including Supergirl, Arrow, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow.