Greatest ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ Returns Over the Years

All through its prolonged run, Gray’s Anatomy has stated goodbye — after which good day once more — to numerous standard characters.

As the primary sequence common to exit from the ABC medical drama, followers have been stunned when Isaiah Washington (Preston Burke) returned to Gray’s Anatomy in 2014 — seven years after he was fired for utilizing a homophobic slur throughout a struggle with Patrick Dempsey.

“He’s a ready, energized actor and he was able to play. I’ll say, although, he was nervous,” creator Shonda Rhimes advised Leisure Weekly about his season 10 return, which served as a technique to wrap up Sandra Oh (Cristina Yang)’s story line. “My first determination and my first accountability is to the story,” she stated. “I’ve to be the keeper of the story and ensure that we’re telling the story we have to inform, no matter no matter exterior components are concerned or no matter historical past is concerned and, frankly, Sandra was so beautiful and open to it. It has been a extremely form of superb expertise.”

The producer added on the time that “Isaiah is an individual that all of us love and have beloved for a really very long time.”

“I really feel like there have been lots of people which have been like, ‘How will you do that?’” Rhimes continued. “And I really feel very strongly and totally consider in folks’s capacity to develop and alter and study from their errors and once they know higher, to do higher. If folks don’t suppose that, over the course of seven years, it’s potential for a human being to vary, then there actually is not any future for the human race in any respect.”

Whereas a number of actors and actresses left Gray Sloan following Washington’s departure, Dempsey’s exit (and the demise of his character, Dr. Derek Shepherd) rocked the fanbase in 2015. Viewers have been delighted, nevertheless, when he appeared in a number of season 17 episodes via Meredith (Ellen Pompeo)’s desires as she battled coronavirus.

“There’s simply a lot darkness, and we knew that coming collectively could be a little bit ray of sunshine,” Pompeo advised Deadline about reuniting along with her former onscreen husband in 2020. “And so, I believe we had the identical thought, on the core, to wish to assist folks and convey a smile to folks’s faces. So, he beloved the thought, and we have been simply so excited, and we had a ball filming it. … It was very therapeutic to return again, and know that we’re doing one thing good, placing out a constructive story, a therapeutic story, going to make folks smile, and I believe, for me, I’m actually grateful for the chance to have the ability to be at this place within the present the place we will do that.”

The next season, viewers have been in for one more shock when Scott Speedman, who appeared on a season 14 episode as Dr. Nick Marsh, bumped into Meredith in Minnesota. After the episode aired in September 2021, information broke that the Felicity alum could be a sequence common for season 18.

“It’s timing. To be completely trustworthy, the final time wasn’t the correct time. I haven’t executed a present for the reason that final present I did. I believe lots of people love that schedule, and I actually do, too, however I used to be desirous to do different issues,” the actor advised Deadline about becoming a member of the solid 4 years after his preliminary visitor star function. “However you at all times know, you place one thing behind your thoughts whenever you do have chemistry with any individual, and also you do benefit from the work expertise, as a result of that’s uncommon, really. So, when this chance got here round, I used to be attempting to consider why to not do it, and I couldn’t give you any causes. It was an important present, actually enjoyable folks, and it simply felt the correct timing for me. I needed to leap in, after which, after I heard what the storyline may very well be, that was thrilling to me.”

Gray’s Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET. Scroll via for extra on the largest returns over time: