Ellen Pompeo Reveals Why She Genuinely Hasn’t Left Grey’s Anatomy
With regards to three years after Ellen Pompeo took a step lend a hand from her leading perform in Grey’s Anatomy, she published the the clarification why hasn’t totally left the clinical collection.
Ellen Pompeo’s decades-prolonged tenure at Grey Sloan Memorial has been a whirlwind.
However without reference to the chaos, the Grey’s Anatomy enormous title—who stepped lend a hand from her full-time perform as the titular Meredith Grey all the device in which by device of the insist’s 19th season in 2022—no longer too prolonged previously shared that she isn’t willing to fully retire her scrubs.
“That will assemble no sense, emotionally or financially,” Ellen told El País in an interview printed on April 13. “The insist became streamed bigger than a thousand million situations in 2024. Bigger than a thousand million situations. The companies that obtain the insist and circulate the insist assemble deal of money from our photos and our voices and our faces.”
The 55-yr-historical—mother to Stella Luna, 15, Sienna Would possibly perhaps well additionally, 10, and Eli Christopher, 8 with husband Chris Ivery—favorite that strolling a long way flung from Grey’s Anatomy will likely be a disservice to her “Two decades of exertions” as she would now no longer “assemble any money.”
“To me, it doesn’t assemble any sense that everybody [else] will get to income off of my exertions,” she persisted. “And emotionally, the insist technique lots to people. I are searching to be pleased an perspective of gratitude in the direction of the insist.”
And he or she’s no longer the most traditional fashioned enormous title who’s compelled to pause in the Shonda Rhimes-led collection. Her costar Chandra Wilson (who has played Miranda Bailey on myth of the insist’s 2005 premiere) expressed a the same mindset in April 2023, telling Of us that she’s titillating herself to be provocative in the insist except its “very last episode.”
Although devoted to the collection, Ellen has a minute bit slowed her connection to Grey’s Anatomy over the years. She’s seemed in fewer episodes in the reveals 20th and ongoing 21st season, in favor of specializing in her executive producer responsibilities and other works at the time.
That shift also contains her latest major perform in Hulu’s Factual American Household, a mission that made her “take a look at” her acting abilities again.
“I’ve been taking part in the same perform for Two decades, I had no reason to imagine that I could assemble the rest else,” Ellen explained to El Pais of the novel insist, which is galvanized by the steady existence case of Natalia Grace. “I will’t request my viewers to imagine me as the rest else. If I’m going to inquire of them to verify me as a novel character, then I’d better direct on all fronts.”
As for her extended time as a fictional surgeon, she isn’t the most traditional Grey Sloan doctor that’s restricted their time from the insist. Preserve finding out to survey other actors who’ve moved past the Grey’s Anatomy universe…
Isaiah Washington as Preston Burke
In season three, Burke abandoned Cristina at the altar and then appropriate took off, in the slay successful a Harper Avery award in totally different areas and then at some point, transferring to Zurich, Switzerland to commence his obtain good day-tech health facility. He bought married, started a household, and then in season 10, he invited Cristina to his health facility to scheme shut it over for him as he retired.
Isaiah Washington left the collection after it became reported that he known as costar T.R. Knight a homosexual slur all the device in which by device of an argument on perform with Patrick Dempsey, and all his defenses appropriate saved making it worse sooner than he sooner or later became let depart from the collection. Interestingly he and ABC made up, on myth of they let him return for a 2nd in 2014.
As for what Washington has acknowledged of the incident? He later issued a public apology, adding in but one more assertion, “I could additionally now no longer insist to myself that there are elements I clearly decide to perceive interior my obtain soul, and I've requested for lend a hand.”
In the years since his Grey's Anatomy departure,he has starred as Thelonious Jaha on The CW's The 100, except his character died in season five, followed by Starz' severely acclaimed P-Valley.
Katherine Heigl as Izzie Stevens
Izzie Stevens bought most cancers, married Alex Karev, survived the most cancers, and then sorta appropriate disappeared in season six. She in the slay returned for a 2nd and admitted she didn't in point of fact feel cherish Seattle became her residence anymore. Later, Alex bought sent divorce papers, and now we know Izzie secretly had Alex's twins, lives on a ranch in Kansas, and be pleased become a surgical oncologist.
Katherine Heigl's exit typically began in 2008 when she withdrew her title from Emmy consideration on myth of she didn't in point of fact feel cherish the arena fabric deserved it. In 2010, the character disappeared totally. She acknowledged in the years since that she would desire to return to the character, nonetheless creator Shonda Rhimes did no longer. “I'm performed with that myth,” she told TVLine in 2015.
Heigl, then a burgeoning romcom enormous title, went on to enormous title in a few more romcoms sooner than returning to TV with Pronounce of Affairs, then Doubt, and more no longer too prolonged previously, she had an arc Suits and starred in Firefly Lane except it ended in 2023.
Edward Herrmann as Intern Norman
Intern Norman arrived in season four and had to fend off assumptions that he became an attending, relatively than an intern, due to his age. He tousled and told the execrable patient she became demise, and later he collapsed and had a stroke. He had surgical map to scheme shut away the blood clot, and determined after his surgical map that he became going to transfer to psych.
Edward Herrmann, a rather legendary actor, is mostly widely acknowledged as Richard Gilmore on Gilmore Girls. He also seemed in lots of episodes of The Factual Wife, Harry's Regulation, and even American Dad sooner than his death in 2014.
Kali Rocha as Sydney Heron
Sydney became the perky resident who took over for Bailey all the device in which by device of her maternity leave and drove everybody crazy in conjunction with her perkiness. She even went on a date with Derek at one point, nonetheless form of disappeared in early season four. She temporarily reprised her perform for season 21 in 2024.
Kali Rocha most no longer too prolonged previously starred on Disney's Liv and Maddie and Man with a Conception plus a 2024 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
T.R. Knight as George O'Malley
One amongst the greatest tearjerkers on this list, at the slay of season five, George had appropriate determined to enlist as a trauma surgeon in the military and became on his technique to assemble so when he saved a woman from getting hit by a bus, easiest to be hit himself. He became in such inferior shape when he bought to the health facility that no-one identified him except he historical his finger to write down his nickname, 007, in Meredith's hand. They be pleased been unable to attach him, and he tragically died.
After lots of tumultuous seasons unhurried the scenes (in conjunction with Isaiah Washington utilizing the f-be aware whereas allegedly relating to him), Knight struggled with some of George's storylines and the proven truth that George barely seemed in the initiating of season five, and requested to be released from his contract.
Knight returned to Shondaland in 2017 for an arc on The Rep, and has also seemed on The Factual Wife, 11.22.63, and Genius, amongst other collection. In 2019, he started command acting for The Bravest Knight sooner than departing in 2024. He also seemed in HBO Max collection The Flight Attendant with Kaley Cuoco between 2020 and 2022.
He also returned to Grey's for one episode to meet Meredith all the device in which by device of her COVID-19 coma in season 17.
Brooke Smith as Erica Hahn
Erica Hahn and Callie Torres started a relationship that in point of fact could just be pleased long gone someplace, except Erica realized in regards to the time Izzie Stevens lower Denny Duquette's LVAD wire in attempts to attach his existence. The heart that then went to Denny became taken from one of Erica's sufferers. When Callie refused to sage the arena, Erica up and left the relationship and her job in early season five.
Brooke Smith went on to appear in Bosch, Bates Motel, Supergirl, The Factual Doctor, Chicago Med, and The Factual Struggle, and the 2019 film Bombshell.
Most no longer too prolonged previously, she had arcs in Ryan Murphy's Grotesquerie, The Recruit and The Hunting Celebration.
Brandon Scott as Intern Ryan
Intern Ryan disappeared in early season six and Brandon Scott most no longer too prolonged previously starred on Netflix's Ineffective To Me, 13 Reasons Why, This Is Us and The Factual Doctor.
Molly Kidder as Intern Megan
For the overall drama that the bulk Grey's interns are inclined to perform off, Megan appropriate could just scheme shut the scalpel. She bought into a like triangle with Steve and Pierce, as she became relationship Pierce, nonetheless slept with Steve, and then Pierce wished to assassinate Steve, and Megan bought pregnant by Steve, and then she later married Steve, and he or she hasn't been viewed since season six after Derek Shepherd rehired her.
Molly Kidder has performed a few acting gigs since Grey's, in conjunction with a guest jam on Outsourced in 2010 and a few just motion photos. She also seemed as an further in Ghosts in 2025.
Joe Williamson as Intern Pierce
Pierce, one nook of the Megan/Pierce/Steve like triangle, became in the slay fired in a round of layoffs and left in season six. Joe Williamson has since seemed on reveals cherish Right here and Now and the 2019 film Ford v Ferrari with Christian Bale and Matt Damon.
Tag Saul as Intern Steve
Steve became the replacement nook of the intern like triangle, in the slay marrying Megan and fathering her child. Steve survived the layoffs and made it the overall technique to season eight, easiest to by no technique be viewed again.
Tag Saul has seemed on other TV reveals since his mysterious disappearance from Grey's, cherish Franklin & Bash, Mom, The Massive Indoors, Grace & Frankie, Popular Household and I Think You Must Drag away.
Sarah Utterback as Nurse Olivia
Nurse Olivia became laid off all the device in which by device of the merger with Mercy West in season six, nonetheless returned for a moment in season 14 when her son swallowed a toy whereas she became visiting her people in Seattle. Finally, her son became treated by Alex, the guy who once gave her syphilis, and he or she had deal of time to whine to Jo, his then-fiancée.
Sarah Utterback has made a few TV appearances in the years since leaving Grey's in 2009, in conjunction with on the reveals Reception and Mysteries of Laura. In 2024, she had a minute perform in 9-1-1.
Gloria Garayua as Intern Graciella
Intern Graciella became last viewed all the device in which by device of the health facility taking pictures at the slay of season six, nonetheless Gloria Garayua has been working typically nonstop, in conjunction with a latest arc on The device to Win Away with Assassinate and appearances on S.W.A.T., The Factual Doctor, American Housewife, Animal Kingdom, Snowfall, Prison Minds, NCIS: LA, Madden Administration, Bones, and the 2019 miniseries Reckoning. She also seemed as Rona on a 2024 episode of Tracker.
Nora Zehetner as Reed Adamson
Nora became the first casualty of Gary Clark, who brought a gun to the health facility desiring to assassinate Derek. She died straight after being shot in the head in season six.
Nora Zehetner seemed in a couple episodes of Excited Men after her Grey's demise, and no longer too prolonged previously starred on Designated Survivor and the 2019 collection The Correct Stuff. In 2025, she seemed as Melissa in Grosse Level Garden Society.
Robert Baker as Charles Percy
Percy also died all the device in which by device of the season six taking pictures, although his death became a long way more drawn out as he became trapped in a room with a patient (Mandy Moore!) and Bailey, and shot at steady shut fluctuate. Bailey did her easiest to attach Percy, nonetheless when the elevators be pleased been disabled in the evacuation, he became doomed.
Robert Baker has performed appropriate fine ever since, displaying on Riverdale, Popular Household, The Originals, and most no longer too prolonged previously as Otis Graves on Supergirl. In 2025, he scrubbed lend a hand in at a totally different health facility—displaying in an episode of St. Denis Medical.
Rachael Taylor as Lucy Fields
OBGYN Lucy kinda sorta stole an spacious job in Africa appropriate out from below Alex's nose, partly on myth of Alex hadn't even talked to her in regards to the proven truth that he could pass to Africa. So she moved to Africa as an replacement and became by no technique heard from again after season seven.
Rachael Taylor is now easiest is named Jessica Jones' pal Trish on Netflix's Jessica Jones, to boot to The Defenders. She also seemed in a 2024 episode of Hacks.
Kate Walsh as Addison 1st viscount montgomery of alamein
Addison, the woman who began as Derek's bitter estranged fundamental other and in the slay changed into a fan fave in conjunction with her obtain spinoff, became last viewed as a neatly-liked on Grey's Anatomy in that moderately controversial musical episode in season seven, when she helped attach Callie after her automobile accident. She also seemed in the 2012 episode where Meredith imagined that her mother became tranquil alive and fortunately married to Richard, whereas Derek and Addison be pleased been tranquil unhappily married and returned again for an arc in 2023.
She ended Interior most Prepare married to Jake (Benjamin Bratt) with a son, Henry.
She went on to appear in Fargo, be pleased her obtain quick-lived insist Noxious Determine, enormous title as a grieving mother in 13 Reasons Why, and lend a hand bring in regards to the slay of the realm in The Umbrella Academy. She also stars on the 2020 insist Emily in Paris and seemed in a 2025 episode of Optics.
Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey
The death of Lexie, Meredith's perky half of-sister, became but one more major tearjerker, as she perished in a single of the most devastating storylines the insist has ever had: the airplane rupture. She by no technique even made it lend a hand to the health facility (then known as Seattle Grace) alive after being beaten by share of the airplane whereas the like of her existence, Tag Sloan, cried over her. She and Tag returned to reunite with Meredith all the device in which by device of her COVID-19 coma and hinted that the couple found every other again in the afterlife.
Chyler Leigh starred in the hilariously named collection Taxi Brooklyn sooner than taking up the perform of the badass Alex Danvers on Supergirl. Since 2023, she has starred as Kat Landry in Hallmark's The Manner Home.
Eric Dane as Tag Sloan
Tag, a.okay.a. McSteamy, also died in the airplane rupture of season eight, nonetheless no longer straight. He made it lend a hand to the health facility and lived for a few days, nonetheless his injuries be pleased been too excessive. The health facility is now named in his and Lexie's honor after the relaxation of the airplane rupture survivors sold it with the money they received from their lawsuit. Tag returned with Lexie to search recommendation from Meredith in her coma, hinting that the couple reunited after death.
Eric Dane left the insist to enormous title in TNT's The Last Ship, which ended after five seasons in November 2018. He currently stars on the HBO collection Euphoria with Zendaya, perform to appear in the awaited season three of the collection.
Charles Michael Davis as Jason Myers
Do now not overlook that OGYN resident who Jo dated lend a hand in season 9? They bought into a fight after he figured out in regards to the overall things she hadn't told him, and the fight changed into physical, landing Jason in the health facility after he fell and hit his head. Alex happy him no longer to press charges in opposition to Jo, and then he became by no technique viewed again.
Charles Michael Davis went on to enormous title in The Originals on The CW, then Younger on TV Land, then For the Of us on ABC, and Chicago P.D. on NBC. Most no longer too prolonged previously, he seemed on a 2022 episode of Legacies.
Tina Majorino as Heather Brooks
Quirky intern Heather died in season 10 all the device in which by device of the colossal storm, after she became electrocuted whereas making an are attempting to lend a hand Richard Webber.
Tina Majorino most no longer too prolonged previously seemed on CBS' Scorpion and an episode of The Factual Doctor.
Geena Davis as Nicole Herman
Dr. Herman changed into Arizona's unreasonably annoying mentor in fetal surgical map, although she seemed a long way more cheap when Arizona realized about Nicole's extensive terminal mind tumor. Amelia fixed the tumor, nonetheless Herman misplaced her eyesight and ended up leaving in season 11. Alternatively, she returned to lend a hand Arizona leave the insist at the slay of season 14 by offering her grant money to commence a heart for ladies's effectively being in New York.
Geena Davis starred in the Fox collection The Exorcist in 2016, sooner than her last return to Grey's. In latest years, she has had ordinary roles on Netflix's GLOW and the provocative She-Ra reboot collection. Alternatively, she mostly works as a producer nowadays, executive producing Mission Unstoppable With Miranda Cosgrove.
Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang
Cristina Yang went by device of a severely titillating time after the airplane rupture, and it took a very very prolonged time for her to fully get effectively. Then she misplaced the Harper Avery award, found that whereas working at that health facility she could by no technique receive the award and commenced to have she could decide to pass on. Her technique lend a hand like Preston Burke then invited her to Zurich to speed the decreasing edge health facility he had opened, so he could retire in conjunction with his household. She left, after one last dance occasion with Meredith, in season 10.
Sandra Oh is currently a few of the greatest TV stars, starring as Eve in the severely acclaimed BBC The United States collection Killing Eve, for which she has received a Golden Globe. Bear Geena Davis, she too also has a ordinary perform on Netflix's She-Ra and the Princesses of Energy. She also also lends her command to a personality on Robert Kirkman's provocative collection Invincible.
Gaius Charles as Shane Ross
Shane became the cocky intern changed into resident who nearly killed himself working too great, nonetheless he bought shut to Cristina and requested if he could be aware her to Zurich, which he then did.
Gaius Charles, is also named Friday Evening Lights' loved Atomize Williams, starred in the reveals Aquarius and Taken, and most no longer too prolonged previously seemed on The Walking Ineffective: Ineffective City.
Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd
Derek Shepherd had a rough couple of seasons as he bought a job working for then-President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. and tried to assemble Meredith and the household come with him. She refused and they lived aside for a whereas, except he determined to assemble things appropriate and pass residence to assemble the job more remotely.
Proper as he and Mer be pleased been happy again in season 11, he became on his technique lend a hand to tie up some free ends and took perform upon an enormous automobile accident. He spent hours caring for the victims, easiest to then be hit by a truck as soon as he bought lend a hand into his obtain automobile. The clinical doctors at the health facility where the ambulance took him be pleased been unprepared for trauma and did now not get a head CT, leading to his death.
Patrick Dempsey acknowledged that he left the insist on myth of “it became hard to defend the storylines provocative” and he wished to be pleased more time to utilize in conjunction with his household, and he requested to be perform free of his contract early. For the rationale that slay of his time on Grey's, he starred in Bridget Jones' Little one, a miniseries known as The Truth Referring to the Harry Quebert Affair, the insist Devils, and commercials where he reminds us he became once a TV doctor. This present day, he's starring in Dexter: Authentic Sin.
He shockingly returned to Grey's for a group of dream sequences in season 17.
Tessa Ferrer as Leah Murphy
Oh Leah Murphy. This heart-broken resident went by device of deal of sooner than getting fired in season 10 on myth of she appropriate wasn't lower out to be a surgeon. Then out of nowhere, she returned in season 13 to work with Maggie. A pair of episodes later, appropriate as , she became long gone again.
Tessa Ferrer also starred in the Hulu adaptation of World War II miniseries Rep-22 with George Clooney in 2019, and Grotesquerie in 2024.
Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres
Callie left Grey Sloan when her moderately controversial female friend Penny bought a love fellowship in New York. After shedding a in point of fact devastating custody fight with Arizona, she became going to pause in Seattle, nonetheless Arizona had a alternate of heart and sent her on her technique with Sofia at the slay of season 12.
Sara Ramirez left to scheme shut a novel gig on CBS' Madame Secretary. They’ve since played the divisive Che Diaz on HBO's Intercourse and the City spinoff And Proper Bear That. In 2024, additionally they voiced Amber in Velma.
Samantha Sloyan as Penelope Blake
Penelope's time at Grey Sloan became rough from commence to assemble. She arrived as Callie's novel female friend with the reputation as a few of the clinical doctors who had killed Derek, and located herself having to work for a grumpy Meredith. Then when she bought a prestigious job in New York and Callie determined to be pleased a examine her, she suggested the devastating custody fight between Callie and Arizona. Last we heard, she and Callie had broken up (therefore Arizona's transferring to New York), nonetheless that relationship became continuously doomed.
Samantha Sloyan went on to enormous title in The Haunting of Hill Residence as Leigh, and seemed on reveals comparable to SEAL Group and The Rookie. In 2025, she reentered the ER ground by joining The Pitt.
Marika Dominczyk as Eliza Minnick
In Season 13, Minnick arrived to scheme shut over for Richard Webber in teaching the residents, nonetheless actually everybody hated her (Meredith even bought suspended over it), and he or she became fired when she became so enthusiastic about protocol that she brushed off to insist the police that a resident became unaccounted for all the device in which by device of a hearth. Stephanie nearly died!
Marika Dominczyk later joined ABC's quick-lived Whiskey Cavalier, alongside her husband (and Grey's alum) Scott Foley.
Jerrika Hinton as Stephanie Edwards
Stephanie determined to head off and explore, trying one thing novel at the slay of season 13 after nearly demise in a hearth following months of exhaustion and grieving over her slow boyfriend Kyle (Wilmer Valderrama).
Jerrika Hinton went on to enormous title in the quick-lived HBO drama Right here and Now in 2018, and likewise joined the solid of the Amazon collection Hunters as a Nazi hunter. In 2024, she seemed as Lycia in The Accused.
Martin Henderson as Nathan Riggs
Nathan left Grey Sloan in early season 14 when his greatest dream came right and his fiancee, Megan Hunt, returned from being held captive for a decade. Together, they moved to LA with the kid she had adopted whereas foreign. It broke up his blossoming relationship with Meredith, nonetheless it became a heck of a happy ending for Riggs.
Martin Henderson (who, stress-free truth, seemed in Britney Spears' video for “Poisonous”) later seemed in the collection Virgin River except 2024.
Source credit : eonline.com
