"Every day is an adventure" - James Pickens Jr. reflects on his time on set

James Pickens Jr., 70, is one of the original and longest-standing cast members of Grey's Anatomy. The actor has been a part of the iconic show since its debut in 2005. While playing one of the key roles, Dr. Richard Webber, he is also co-executive producer.

On May 13, the veteran actor conversed with People Magazine exclusively on the red carpet of the 2025 Disney Upfront and expressed his thoughts on being associated with the renowned media drama for two decades.

Opening up about the show completing 20 seasons, James Pickens Jr. recalled his experience of working for Grey's Anatomy.

He said:

"Every day is an adventure. And yeah, I feel incredibly lucky."

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James Pickens Jr. spoke about being on the Grey's Anatomy set

While speaking with the outlet, the actor spoke from his heart and shared:

"I feel incredibly blessed and humbled. The majority of the actors who do this will never, never experience what I've experienced. I have a job for this long, something I've enjoyed coming to."

James Pickens Jr. has spent a long time portraying the character of Dr. Richard Webber on screen and acting to undergo scripted fake surgeries. Though he does not feel or exactly come across as a "real doctor," he acknowledged and felt grateful for the people working in the medical industry.

While lauding doctors for their contributions, he expressed his "great appreciation for the men and women who do it for real."

The actor further continued:

"I make no bones about what they do, and I'm just extremely grateful that I get to play [a doctor] and that folks are engaged by it."

Soon, Grey's Anatomy is returning for season 22. And the drama's pivotal actor, James Pickens Jr., will appear in the new episodes along with other cast members.

While speaking about the show on the red carpet, he also shared an update on what's in line for his upcoming projects. Without revealing much or detailing further, he added:

"You know, I don't know. We'll see. I think there's some interesting stuff ahead. We'll reach out and then kind of hopefully craft some storylines that folks will continue to enjoy and be involved in."

In an April 2025 conversation with El País, his Grey's Anatomy co-star Ellen Pompeo's opinions on not leaving the show completely.

Discussing how the decision to walk away does not "make no sense, emotionally or financially," she expressed:

"The show was streamed more than a billion times in 2024. More than a billion times. The companies that own the show and stream the show make a lot of money from our images and our voices and our faces."

She also chimed in:

"If I were to walk away completely, everybody gets to make money from my hard work for 20 years and I wouldn’t make any money."

During James Pickens Jr.'s recent chat with People Magazine, he seemed to be on the same page as his co-star. Echoing the sentiment of her statement, he remarked:

"I couldn't agree with her more. That's a very good quote."

In April 2025, the announcement of Grey’s Anatomy getting renewed for its 22nd season was made. According to TV Insider, it will release in the fall of 2025.