Grey’s Anatomy
Grey ’s Anatomyhas seen many of its independent characters go , with many being kill off and others being given a more uplifting closing , and the behind - the - fit reason for their departures have all been dissimilar . The medical drama genre has seen a act of popular TV show for decennium , and one that continue its runnel and does n’t seem to be stopping anytime soon isGrey ’s Anatomy . create by Shonda Rhimes , Grey ’s Anatomypremiered on ABC in 2005 and has been unstoppable , even though its timber has decrease over the years and its most pop characters are now conk out .
relate : Grey ’s Anatomy Season 18 Is Teasing A unsound Ending Than Meredith ’s Exit
grey ’ Anatomyhas become know for not being the good at handling the deviation of its most popular characters and for the many behind - the - scenes tilt it has been involved in , of which many have resulted in main actor leaving the show . Of naturally , notevery actor has leftGrey ’s Anatomydue to scandals and government issue with Rhimes and the producers , with many of them just choose to search other acting chance and leave the hospital behind . Here ’s why every main graphic symbol left inGrey ’s Anatomy .
Isaiah Washington’s Preston Burke – Season 3
Isaiah Washington played Preston Burke , the Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital . Burke was in a relationship with Cristina Yang and amaze engaged , but he left her on their nuptials day and renounce immediately after , leavingGrey ’s Anatomyin time of year 3 . Burke repay in time of year 10 to offer Cristina his smear at the medical research institute he founded in Switzerland , which she accepted . Washington ’s departure fromGrey ’s Anatomywas involved in a mess of controversy , as it was the result of a lot of on - set drama with his carbon monoxide gas - stars , most notably an argument with Patrick Dempsey where he used a homophobic smirch , presumptively directed to or in reference point to T.R. Knight .
Kate Walsh’s Addison Montogomery – Season 3
Addison Montgomery was the head of neonatal surgery and OB and gynecology , and Derek Shepherd ’s ( Patrick Dempsey ) ex - wife who had an affair with his expert protagonist , Mark Sloan ( Eric Dane ) . Addison leftGrey ’s Anatomyin season 3 to star in the spinoff TV seriesPrivate Practice , and she reelect for a duo of episodes in time of year 18 . Walsh leftGrey ’s Anatomyto star inPrivate Practice , which came to an end in 2013 after six seasons , but as mentioned above , she in brief returned toGrey Sloan Memorial Hospital .
Brooke Smith’s Erica Hahn – Season 5
Erica Hahn was a cardiothoracic surgeon at Seattle Grace and a long - time rival of Preston Burke . She got involve with Callie Torres ( Sara Ramirez ) , but their relationship was complicated and did n’t last long as Callie was still figuring her gender out . Hahn ’s divergence fromGrey ’s Anatomywas very abrupt , as she simply quit , got into her car , and left . Smith ’s departure was ABC ’s decision , as studio EXEC were not well-off with where Hahns ’ family relationship with Callie was going , and some reportedly did n’t even like the character .
Related : Grey ’s Anatomy S18 Finally recollect It Knows How To Be Fun
T.R. Knight’s George O’Malley – Season 6
T.R. Knight ’s George O’Malleywas one of Meredith ’s fellow interns inGrey ’s Anatomy , and he quickly became a fan deary . George scramble to recover his way , and he of a sudden decided to join the U.S. Army in Iraq . Richard Webber kick in him his last Clarence Shepard Day Jr. off so he could spend time with his family , but on his manner home , he jumped in front of a bus to pull through a adult female ’s life , but he was left severely injured and disfigured . George was unrecognisable , and it was n’t until he trace “ 007 ” on Meredith ’s hand that they knew who the inscrutable affected role was . George ’s brain well up during surgery and was later declared brain dead . Knight ’s deviation was due to a “ gradual dislocation of communicating ” and some behind - the - scene drama , as Rhimes reportedly monish him from come out and Knight was n’t well-fixed withwhere George ’s story was plump .
Katherine Heigl’s Izzie Stevens – Season 6
Izzie Stevens was also one of the interns whose journey began alongside Meredith ’s inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 1 . Izzie was diagnosed with malignant neoplastic disease in time of year 5 and eventually recovered , but she was fire sometime later after give the incorrect dose of medicinal drug to a patient role . Izzie leftGrey ’s Anatomyin season 6 , move to Seattle to bug out a fresh life and sending divorcement paper to Alex Karev ( Justin Chambers ) . Heigl ’s going fromGrey ’s Anatomywas one of the most controversial , and it all begin when she turn down to put her name forward for condition at the Emmy Awards , saying she had n’t been given enough material to justify a nominating address . This , along with reports ofHeigl being very difficult to sour with , led to her departure .
Chyler Leigh’s Lexie Grey – Season 8
Lexie Grey was Meredith ’s half - sister , and she joinedGrey ’s Anatomyin time of year 3 . Lexie ’s death was one of the most tragical 1 in the show ’s history , as it was a result of one of the most traumatic events in the serial : the planing machine crash . Lexie was crushed by a piece of the plane , injuring her pelvis , legs , and left subdivision , and fail minutes after being establish but not before saying goodbye to Mark Sloan . Leigh ’s conclusion to leaveGrey ’s Anatomywasn’t settle on behind - the - scenes dramatic play , as she merely decided it was time to close Lexie ’s arc and spend more time with her family .
Eric Dane’s Mark Sloan – Season 9
Mark Sloan was the top dog of pliant surgery at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital , and just like Lexie , he expire as a resultant of trauma from the planer crash . Cristina did her skilful to help Mark until they were rescued , but inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 9 premier sequence , Mark was on life keep , and as set by his will , the machines were turn off . Eric Dane leftGrey ’s Anatomybecause he was interested in other projects , but Mark Sloan became one of many characters who were belt down off .
Related : Grey ’s soma : How The Plane Crash touch on The Seattle Grace Five
Sandra Oh’s Cristina Yang – Season 10
Cristina Yang was also an intern alongside Meredith , and she became one of the most authoritative characters inGrey ’s Anatomyas she was Meredith ’s serious acquaintance and “ person ” . Cristina ’s fourth dimension to leave Seattle and the series come when Burke offer her a line as the head of the hospital he founded in Switzerland , and as she had always been fiercely free-enterprise , focused , and challenging , she could n’t have this opportunity fall . Oh had been thinking about leaving the show for at least a year , as she felt it was sentence to allow Cristina go .
Patrick Dempsey’s Derek Shepherd – Season 11
One of the most shameful and heartbreakingdeaths inGrey ’s Anatomywas Derek Shepherd ’s , as he and Meredith were the show ’s main duet . After a lot of hassle in their marriage , Derek decided to move back to Seattle from DC , but on his way to DC to relinquish , he got into a automobile accident . Derek could n’t be saved , and he was hit from sprightliness support . Dempsey ’s decision to leaveGrey ’s Anatomywas a compounding of him feeling it was clip to leave the show and on - jell conflicts with Rhimes , Pompeo , and many other cast member .
Sandra Ramirez’s Callie Torres – Season 12
Callie Torres was the head of Orthopedic Surgery , butGrey ’s Anatomypaid more attending to her personal life , as she was in an on - again - off - again relationship with Mark Sloan , got involved with Erica Hahn , and married and by and by divorcedArizona Robbins ( Jessica Capshaw ) , though that was n’t the remnant of their kinship . Callie move to New York with her and Mark ’s daughter , Sofia , and leftGrey ’s Anatomyin season 12 , with Ramirez ’s decision ground on find it was sentence to leave .
Jessica Capshaw’s Arizona Robbins – Season 14
Arizona Robbins was the Head of Pediatric Surgery and one of the “ Seattle Grace Five ” , as she was one of the survivors of the plane clash . Arizona leftGrey ’s Anatomyin season 14 after her daughter , Sofia , moved back to Seattle , but she was deep infelicitous and missed Callie , so Arizona decided to move to New York so Sofia could be tightlipped to her and Callie . As for why Capshaw leftGrey ’s Anatomy , the electronic internet reportedly wanted to go in a dissimilar originative focus , so Arizona ’s prison term had to add up to an end .
pertain : How Grey ’s Anatomy beleaguer Arizona ’s Plane Crash Injury 3 Seasons ahead of time
Justin Chambers’ Alex Karev – Season 16
Alex Karev ’s departure is one ofGrey ’s Anatomy ’s most controversialones – he was n’t killed off , but his termination took many , many stair back . Alex went to Iowa to supposedly help his mom but that was n’t lawful , and he told his married woman , Jo , that he was “ going through something ” before he stopped serve her calls . It was later revealed that Alex had reconnected with Izzie and determine she had Gemini thanks to frozen conceptus , meaning they were Alex ’s children . Alex decided to move in with her and their kids , and so he entrust Seattle . Chambers leftGrey ’s Anatomyto diversify his acting function , and it ’s unknown if Karev will ever turn back .
Giacomo Gianniotti’s Andrew DeLuca – Season 17
Andrew Deluca was one of Meredith ’s love interests and one of the most beloved characters inGrey ’s Anatomy . Deluca was in a constant engagement with his genial health , and it devolve in season 16 , to the dot where Miranda Bailey ( Chandra Wilson ) did n’t believe him when he tell her about a patient role who was the victim of human trafficking . Deluca had a grand dying as he was stabbed while inquire that human trafficking character . Gianniotti ’s departurewas a web decision .
Jesse Williams’ Jackson Avery – Season 17
Jackson Avery joined the hospital as a effect of the merger with Mercy West and became question of plastic operating theatre . Avery left inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 17 as he decided to make a change through his family ’s foundation after facing severe racial inequity . Jesse Williams explainedhe decided to leaveGrey ’s Anatomybecause he begin to find “ progressively safe , protected , insulated ” , so he moved on to different persona .
Next : How Will Grey ’s Anatomy End ? Every Theory
