Grey’s Anatomy
Grey ’s Anatomyhas become known for not handling its characters ’ divergence well , commonly opting for killing them , but even those who were killed have reelect somehow , and here ’s everyGrey ’s Anatomycharacter who left the show and then repay . One of the most successful and beloved aesculapian drama in late year isGrey ’s Anatomy , created by Shonda Rhimes . The serial commence as a mid - time of year substitution in 2005 , but its success was such that the serial publication has lived on for over 15 seasons , and even though the lineament has decreased as years pass by , it still has a solid fanbase .
Like any other medical drama , Grey ’s Anatomyfocuses on the life of surgical intern , residents , and attendance as they do their best to juggle their professional and personal life , which often overlap and make direction for a fortune of drama inside and outside the hospital . The series is lead by Meredith Grey ( Ellen Pompeo ) , who viewers have seen go through a peck of personal job that have threaten her vocation at some point , but she still managed to go from an intern to Head of General Surgery and now Director of the Residency Program atGrey Sloan Memorial Hospital . Through her , the hearing has met a variety of theatrical role , both coworkers and affected role , but not all have gotten as far as Meredith has , and they have either leave the hospital to pursue other opportunities or they have been killed .
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A prominent problem inGrey ’s Anatomythat many viewers have pointed out is how the writers choose the “ easy ” way out when it ’s time for a fibre to give the show , choosing to kill them rather of giving them an end that fit their story . Others simply left Grey Sloan for better professional opportunities or for personal reasons , though most of these have also been pick apart . However , when a fictional character leavesGrey ’s Anatomyfor whatever reason , their absence is not always permanent , and many of them have come back at some point . Here ’s everyGrey ’s Anatomycharacter who left the show and then fall .
Derek Shepherd
One of the most heartrending deaths inGrey ’s Anatomywas that of Derek Shepherd ( Patrick Dempsey ) , Meredith ’s husband and father of her baby . Derek died in Grey ’s Anatomy time of year 11after a lot of ramification follow a car stroke , and his leaving was even sadder as he and Meredith had just made up after a couple of problems and Meredith was fraught with their third child . After that , Derek showed up in short in seasons 13 and 15 , first when Meredith imagine him being with her after complete a retentive surgery as she was eat up and used the thought of him as something good to get through the surgery , and in season 15 Derek was among the spirit who claver Meredith on the Day of the Dead . Derek ’s most notable return was inGrey ’s Anatomy’sseason 17 , where he and Meredith reunite in one of her COVID - rush dream set at the beach , where they utter about their family , his death , and more , with Derek tell apart her that she had to go back as it was n’t her time yet .
George O’Malley
George O’Malley ( T.R. Knight)is one of the most dear case fromGrey ’s Anatomyand one of Meredith ’s closest friends . George fight a mo during his first eld at Seattle Grace Hospital , but he eventually found his path as a hurt surgeon . However , onGrey ’s Anatomyseason 6 , George of a sudden decided to join the U.S. Army in Iraq . Richard Webber gave him the last sidereal day off so he could spend it with his family , but on his direction back home , George jump in front of a busbar to keep a charwoman ’s life history . This left him severely disfigured , so no one recognized him when he get in at the infirmary , and it was n’t until he traced “ 007 ” on Meredith ’s hand that they knew who he was , as that was one of his many nicknames . Despite the squad ’s drive , George could n’t be saved and was declared brain dead . George concisely returned in time of year 15 as one of the John Barleycorn who visited Meredith on the Day of the Dead and in season 17 , where he also joined Meredith at the beach .
Lexie Grey
Lexie Grey ( Chyler Leigh)was Meredith ’s younger parental half - sister and made her first appearance inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 3 when she consider up a operative internship at Seattle Grace . It use up a while for Meredith to welcome Lexie into the squad at the hospital and her life as well given their tough crime syndicate backdrop , and yet , the main focus on Lexie ’s bow was her on - again - off - again relationship with Mark Sloan ( Eric Dane ) . Lexie was on the planing machine that crash in season 8 when she , Meredith , Cristina Yang ( Sandra Oh ) , Mark , Arizona Robbins ( Jessica Capshaw ) , and Derek were jaunt to another hospital to perform surgery , and she was crush by a small-arm of the plane . Lexie was gravely injure and could n’t move , so Mark stayed by her side until she died . Very much like Derek and George , Lexie was one of the strong drink who visited Meredith in time of year 15 and reunited with her at the beach in time of year 17 .
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Mark Sloan
Mark Sloan ( Eric Dane)was the Head of Plastic Surgery at Seattle Grace , Derek ’s secure ally , and Lexie ’s on - and - off partner . As name above , Mark was on the planer that crashed inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 8 , and though he seemed fine at first , Cristina realized he had a cardiac tamponade ( fluid around the centre ) , and with Meredith ’s assist , she drained the fluid . His wellness continued to degenerate , and on time of year 9 ’s premier instalment , he was on spirit support , but as determine by his will , the machines were turned off , and so Mark Sloan snuff it with Derek and Callie Torries ( Sandra Ramirez ) by his side . Just like the reference mention above , he retrovert to visit Meredith on the Day of the Dead and met her at the beach in time of year 17 .
Ellis Grey
Ellis Grey ( Kate Burton ) was Meredith ’s mother and a humans - famous operating surgeon . Her relationship with her daughter was complicated , as Ellis ’ affair with Richard Webber and her work kept her away from Meredith and even made her forget about her . Ellis was diagnosed with Alzheimer ’s , and as time passed , she seldom recognise Meredith , and she passed away in season 3 . However , Ellis has returned toGrey ’s Anatomya duet of prison term ever since : on the Day of the Dead , in a ambition to Meredith , and inthe alternate universe episode , in which she never developed Alzheimer ’s , Richard and her stayed together , and they raise Meredith together . Ellis Grey is confirmed to return inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 18 .
Preston Burke
Preston Burke ( Isaiah Washington)was the Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Seattle Grace and Cristina ’s fiancée , who left her on their wedding sidereal day and quit forthwith after in time of year 3 . Burke proceed on to found the Klausman Institute for Medical Research in Zurich , Switzerland , with a focus on cardiac check , where he also served as principal medical policeman until he reach this blot to Cristina so he could move to Milan , Italy , with his wife . Burke really regress toGrey ’s Anatomyto make the whirl to Cristina , which she finally take . Burke was then able to move to Italy with his wife and move on with his life , while Cristina took over at the Institute in Switzerland .
Olivia Jankovic
Olivia Harper ( Sarah Utterback ) was a nursemaid at Seattle Grace who arrive together withAlex Karev ( Justin Chambers ) , contracting lues venerea in the mental process , which she then passed on to George , make water elbow room for an outbreak at the infirmary . Olivia had an on - again - off - again relationship with Alex , and she leftGrey ’s Anatomyin season 6 after she was displace as a result of the hospital uniting . Olivia married a humankind just referred to as Mr. Jankovic and take back briefly in season 14 when her Word swallowed a chew toy , and while at the hospital , she monish Jo about Alex ’s story , but later changed her nous understand Alex had changed for the better .
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Teddy Altman
Teddy Altman ( Kim Raver ) is part of the cardiothoracic surgical process team at Grey Sloan and Owen Hunt ’s ( Kevin McKidd ) partner . Teddy was introduced inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 6 and left Seattle to take a military problem in Germany , returned briefly in season 14 when Owen ’s sister , Megan , was rescued from a basement in Germany and take to Grey Sloan , and made a proper return in season 15 , where she shortly got back together with Owen in Germany , and once she turn back to Seattle , she found out she was pregnant . During season 15 , Teddy got involved withTom Koracick ( Greg Germann ) , but they broke up after she gave nascency and she get back together with Owen . Teddy ’s love triangle and problems with Owen continue through seasons 16 and 17 , and after going through a major breakdown inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 17 followingthe death of Andrew DeLuca ( Giacomo Gianniotti ) , Owen proposed to her again .
April Kepner
April Kepner ( Sarah Drew ) was an attending harm surgeon and made her debut onGrey ’s Anatomyseason 6 . April had a human relationship withJackson Avery , with whom she got married in mystical , but their married couple was n’t an wanton one . Their first baby croak away , they almost got divorced , had another baby , and she went through a crisis of faith , believing that right people get punish and high-risk mass get well things . In season 14 , April got in a elevator car fortuity with Matt Taylor ( Justin Bruening ) and almost died of hypothermia . In the season finale , she and Matt got married , and she resigned from the hospital to help stateless communities in Seattle . April returned in season 17 , where Jackson told her about his plans to move to Boston to range the Harper Avery Foundation , and after some hesitancy , she agreed to move to Boston with him and their girl .
Addison Montgomery
Addison Montgomery ( Kate Walsh ) is a world - family neonatal operating surgeon and Derek ’s ex - wife , who had an social function with Mark . Addison was insert inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 1 , making way for a love trigon with Meredith and Derek , a go bad relationship with Mark , and an affair with Alex . Addison left Seattle in season 7 to move to Los Angeles , but viewers continued following her career and personal living inthe spinoff seriesPrivate Practice , which come to an end in 2013 . Addison is confirmed to return inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 18 .
Megan Hunt
Megan Hunt ( Abigail Spencer ) is Owen ’s younger baby and a hurt surgeon , who made her debut inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 13 . Megan served in the U.S. Army as a trauma surgeon at the same prison term as Owen , Teddy , and Nathan Riggs ( Martin Henderson ) , and she disappear for ten years after the helicopter she was flying in with Sana , an Iraqi cleaning woman , was hijack by her . Megan was detect in the basement of a star sign in a rebel - hold neighborhood and acquire to Grey Sloan , where the team process a monumental abdominal wound she had as a effect of a bombing . After being released from the hospital , she be active to Los Angeles with her adopt boy , Farouk , and Nathan . Megan Hunt is one of the reassert characters to return inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 18 .
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