Grey's Anatomy Cast

Grey's Anatomy cast
Grey's Anatomy main cast (Source: Netflix)


Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama that centers on the personal and professional lives of attendings, residents, and surgical interns at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, which was subsequently renamed the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The pilot was written by Shonda Rhimes, who also served as executive producer, head writer, and showrunner until her departure in 2015. ABC debuted the series as a mid-season replacement on March 27, 2005.


The show centers on Dr. Meredith Grey (Pompeo) for most of its run, following her journey from surgical intern to fully certified physician to the chief of general surgery at the hospital. Throughout the series, there have been significant changes to the cast.


Grey’s Anatomy's Original Main Cast


Ellen Pompeo


Ellen Pompeo
Ellen Pompeo (Source: ABC)


Actress Ellen Kathleen Pompeo was born in the United States on November 10, 1969. She was chosen to play the titular character, Dr. Meredith Grey, in ABC's hit medical drama. Her performance brought her international acclaim, and Pompeo became one of the most well-known television actresses due to the character's widespread popularity.


Patrick Dempsey


Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Dempsey (Source: Screengrab from Grey's Anatomy)


American actor and racing driver Patrick Galen Dempsey was born on January 13, 1966. His most well-known performance was in the ABC medical drama series as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd. Dempsey's role as Dr. Shepherd opposite Ellen Pompeo gained him wide popularity. Dempsey left the show after 11 seasons.


In a dream situation during the two-part season 17 premiere of Grey's Anatomy, Dempsey returned to his role as Derek. Throughout the season, he made a few more appearances, making his brief but significant reappearance to the show.


James Pickens Jr.


James Pickens Jr.
James Pickens Jr. (Source: ABC)


Actor James Pickens Jr. was born in the United States on October 26, 1952 or 1954. Pickens was chosen to play Dr. Richard Webber in the ABC medical drama, in 2005. He is one of the remaining original cast members in the show since its debut in 2005.


Chandra Wilson


Chandra Wilson
Chandra Wilson. (Source: ABC)


Actress and director Chandra Danette Wilson was born in the United States on August 27, 1969. When Wilson tried out for Grey's Anatomy pilot, she used to work at a bank. She was chosen to play Miranda Bailey, who was originally supposed to be a Caucasian woman with blonde hair. She is one of the remaining original cast members in the show since its debut in 2005.


Sandra Oh


Sandra Oh
Sandra Oh. (Source: ABC)


Sandra Miju Oh is an American and Canadian actress, born on July 20, 1971. Oh was chosen to play Cristina Yang in the first season of Grey's Anatomy, the ABC medical drama that became an instant hit. Throughout the show’s run since its debut on March 27, 2005, Oh’s character, Cristina has remained one of the most important characters even after she bid farewell to the show after 10 seasons.


Katherine Heigl


Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl. (Source: Screengrab from Grey's Anatomy)


Actress Katherine Heigl is an American actress. She portrayed Dr. Izzie Stevens in the medical drama Grey's Anatomy on ABC television from 2005 until 2010. Heigl got the part of Dr. Isobel "Izzie" Stevens, a medical intern, which would turn out to be her most well-known performance to date. She gained several awards for her role as Izzie Stevens. Heigl bid farewell to the show after 6 seasons.


Justin Chambers


Justin Chambers
Justin Chambers. (Source: ABC)


American actor and former model Justin Willman Chambers was born on July 11, 1970. In August 2004, Chambers was offered the role of surgical intern Alex Karev in the American medical drama. Chambers’ character in Grey’s had an impacting growth since his debut. He abruptly left the show during the 16th season.


T.R. Knight


T. R. Knight
T. R. Knight. (Source: Screengrab from Grey's Anatomy)


Actor Theodore Raymond Knight was born in the United States on March 26, 1973. Knight was cast as a surgical intern on Grey's Anatomy in 2005. He played the role of his career as Dr. George O'Malley in the American medical drama. Knight quit the show after 5 seasons as a regular. He later appeared once as a guest star in the 17th season’s 4th episode.


Isaiah Washington


Isaiah Washington
Isaiah Washington. (Source: ABC)


Isaiah Washington IV is an American actor and producer who was born on August 3, 1963. Washington devised the character of Dr. Preston Burke, a talented cardiothoracic surgeon, for the ABC medical drama in 2005. He rose to prominence in the series, but he was fired because of an alleged dispute with another cast member.


Burke reappears once in Season 10 while managing a cardiothoracic research hospital in Zurich, Switzerland. Cristina is asked to talk about her studies by him. Burke allows her to take over his hospital, which is his real motivation for bringing her to Zürich. By accepting the opportunity, Cristina opens a new and important chapter in her professional life.


Grey’s Anatomy's other cast


Here is a list of all the other cast and characters in the medical drama:


CharacterPlayed bySeasons
Addison MontgomeryKate WalshGuest - S1, Main - S2, S3, Guest - S4 - S8, Recurring - S18, S19
Callie TorresSara RamirezRecurring - S2, Main - S3 - S12
Mark SloanEric DaneGuest - S2, Main - S3 - S9, Special Guest - S17
Lexie GreyChyler LeighGuest - S3, Main - S4 - S8, Special Guest - S - 17
Erica HahnBrooke SmithRecurring - S2, Guest - S3, Main - S4 - S5
Owen HuntKevin McKiddMain since Season 5
Arizona RobbinsJessica CapshawRecurring - S5, Main - S6 - S14, Guest Star - S20
Teddy AltmanKim RaverMain S6 - S8, Recurring - S14, Main S15 - present
April KepnerSarah DrewRecurring - S6, Main S7 - S14, Guest Star - S18
Jackson AveryJesse WilliamsRecurring - S6, Main S7 - S17, Guest Cast - S19
Jo WilsonCamilla LuddingtonRecurring - S9, Main - S10 - present
Shane RossGaius CharlesRecurring - S9, Main - S10
Stephanie EdwardsJerrika HintonRecurring - S9, Main - S10 - S13
Leah MurphyTessa FerrerRecurring - S9, Mian - S10, Recurring - S13
Amelia ShepherdCaterina ScorsoneRecurring - S3, Regular - S4, Guest Star - S7, Main - S11 - present
Maggie PierceKelly McCrearyGuest - S10, Main - S11 - S19, Guest - S20
Ben WarrenJason GeorgeRecurring - S6, Guest - S7, Recurring - S8 - S11, Main - S12 - S14, Recurring - S15 - S20, Main - S21
Nathan RiggsMain HendersonMain S12 - S14
Andrew DeLucaGiacomo GianniottiRecurring - S11, Main - S12 - S17
Tom KoracickGreg GermannRecurring - S14 - S15, Main - S16 - S17, Guest - S18, S19
Levi SchmittJake BorelliRecurring - S14- S15, Main - S16 - present
Atticus LincolnChris CharmackRecurring - S15, Main - S16 - present
Cormac HayesRichard FloodRecurring - S16, Main - S17 - S18
Winston NduguAnthony HillGuest - S16, Main - S17 - present
Nick MarshScott SpeedmanGuest - S14, Main - S18 - S19, Recurring - S20, S21
Simone GriffithAlexis FlyodMain - S19 - present
Benson KwanHarry Shum Jr.Main - S19 - present
Jules MillinAdelaide KaneMain - S19 - present
Mike YasudaMidori FrancisMain - S19 - present
Lucas AdamsNiko TerhoMain - S19 - present
BokHeeKathy C. “BokHee” AnRecurring all seasons since debut
Ellis GreyKate BurtonRecurring - S1 - S3, S11, S15, S19 Guest - S6, S8, S13, S19
Nurse LindaLinda KleinGuest S4 - S7, S9 - S13, S15 - S18. Recurring S1 - S3, S8, S14.
Katherine FoxDebbie Allen Recurring S8 - present
Zola Grey ShepherdJela K. MooreRecurring S7 - S11
Aniela GumbsRecurring S8 - present
Dr. KnoxPayton SilverRecurring S5 - S9, S13, S15 - S18 Guest S10 - S12, S14, S19
Adele WebberLoretta DevineRecurring S2 - S4, S7, S8 Guest S5 - S6, S9
Denny DuquetteJeffrey Dean MorganRecurring - S2, S3, S5
Thatcher GreyJeff PerryRecurring S3, S6 Guest S2, S4, S5, S7, S15
Sofia Robbin Sloan TorresEva Ariel BinderRecurring S7 - S10, S12, S14 Guest S11



FAQs about Grey’s Anatomy cast

Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo is the longest running character in Grey’s Anatomy being the titular character in the medical drama. Other than Pompeo, Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey) and James Pickens Jr. (Dr. Richard Webber) have also remained in the show since its debut.

Inspired by the famous medical literature Gray's Anatomy, the title of Grey's Anatomy references Meredith Grey (played by Ellen Pompeo), the show's main character.

Ellen Pompeo gained wide popularity owing to her role as Dr. Meredith Grey in the American medical drama. However, Patrick Dempsey who portrayed Dr. Derek Shepherd, also gained huge fame for his role in the show.

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