Senior Grey's Anatomy star really wants Ellen Pompeo to return as a series regular

A long-time Grey’s Anatomy star is just as anxious as us for Ellen Pompeo to return to Grey’s as a series regular. Since its premiere in 2005, Ellen Pompeo has been the center of the hit medical drama. While many characters have come and gone, Pompeo’s Meredith Grey remains the flagship doctor at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Debbie Allen, who has played Dr. Catherine Fox on Grey’s Anatomy since 2011, recently jokingly pleaded with Ellen Pompeo at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on April 29, 2025, to put her scrubs back on and return home.

Here’s what the longtime star said about Ellen Pompeo’s return:

Debbie Allen on Ellen Pompeo's return to Grey's Anatomy

Ellen Pompeo was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It has been two decades since the star made her debut on the ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, and since then, she has grown with the show as it became the longest-running primetime medical drama.

She celebrated this honor with her husband, her two kids, Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey’s, and Debbie Allen, Ellen’s co-star and friend on Grey’s, along with other cast members. Debbie Allen and Shonda Rhimes spoke about Pompeo during the ceremony, praising her as a talented artist and a great friend. Allen even ribbed Pompeo, telling her that they had let her out of Grey’s to do the Hulu series Good American Family—Pompeo’s first leading role apart from Grey’s Anatomy in the last 20 years—but now it’s time for her to leave that behind, put her scrubs back on, and come back home.

"We let her out to go do that other show, Okay, Ms. Thing. Are you okay now? You did that. Now bring your butt back home."

Debbie talked about how Grey’s has reached the heights that it has because of her and Shonda Rhimes, of course. But she particularly emphasized that the show is strong because of Pompeo, and Allen herself has achieved success through her part in the series. Debbie expressed all her love and gratitude for Pompeo while jokingly begging her to return to Grey’s Anatomy as a series regular.

"Grey's Anatomy is strong because of you, We are strong because of you. I am standing here because of you. And certainly, Ms. Shonda Rhimes. We love you."

Ellen Pompeo has been the titular star of the show since it started in 2005, growing from a bumbling intern to a confident and accomplished general surgeon. She had been a series regular until Season 19, after which she appeared less frequently. Her character moved with her kids to Boston, leading to reduced screen time for Pompeo.

Meredith continues to be part of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, and Ellen continues to narrate the episodes. However, Meredith appeared in only half of the episodes in Season 20, and even fewer in the twenty-second season.

That said, Ellen Pompeo has consistently reinforced the fact that she would never truly leave Grey’s—even if she steps back as a series regular. Fans will continue to see Meredith Grey for as long as Grey’s Anatomy continues to show no signs of ending.

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