‘It was like working in a factory’: She left Grey’s Anatomy without explanation after 15 seasons

With a history of 19 years and going into its 20th season, Grey’s Anatomy has managed to be renewed several times by introducing new characters to fill the absence of those who have left.

And even if the charm of the beginning of the series is not the same in the end, some of its new doctors, such as Jo (Camilla Ludington), Link (Chris Carmack), Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) and even Owen (Kevin McKidd), have managed to win the hearts of viewers and their Staying despite the heavy absence of veterans at Gray Sloan Memorial Hospital.

To date, the original cast members still on the show can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Only Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. still play the timeless Miranda Bailey and Richard Webber, and Ellen Pompeo herself has faded into the background. The upcoming 20th season will also be the first without Meredith Gray as a series regular, but the actress remains an executive producer in addition to continuing to voice the show at the beginning and end of each episode.

Over the years, there have been some notable departures from the show, such as Patrick Dempsey, Sandra Oh, and Katherine Heigl, but none of them were unexpected: the cast announced their decision in advance, and we were able to. See them in the farewell episodes.

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But what about Justin Chambers? His passing came as a shock to fans: we found out last night that he would not be returning to the role of dear Alex Karev. Indeed, we never got to see the character say goodbye in the show’s 16th season, as when her interpreter’s departure was announced, the last episode Alex appeared in had already aired. The series later addressed this issue, but had to do so without him on screen.

“It’s not a good time to say goodbye to a show and a character that has defined so much of my life for the past 15 years.“, he said Justin Chambers Deadline in 2020. “However, for some time now, I have been hoping to diversify my acting roles and career choices. And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my wonderful, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is the time.“

“As I leave Grey’s Anatomy, I want to thank ABC Family, Shonda Rhime, original cast members Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens, and other incredible cast and crew, past and present, and of course, the fans. for this extraordinary journey“, he concluded.

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More Details: Devastating Routine

However, after some time, the actress learned a little more about the reasons for her departure, as we read in Lynette Rice’s book dedicated to the series, How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy In 2021, Shonda Rhimes revealed many secrets about her show. Justin Chambers He admitted that his work in the series began as a routine, with which he no longer felt comfortable.

“You are in a bubble“, he said. “You wear scrubs every day, you see almost the same people every day, in the same four walls, in the same studios, you take the same route to work. For me it was like working in an actor’s factory. It just clocks in and out. Yeah, I guess it’s sentimental, but it’s kind of like, “Wow, I can’t believe how fast it all went.”“

In the show, Alex finally says goodbye to his companions with a series of letters read by Meredith, Joe and Bailey, explaining that he has reunited with his ex-wife Izzy (Katherine HeiglAfter discovering that she had given birth to twins, Eli and Alexis, whom he fathered.

And they lived happily ever after.

Grey’s Anatomy season 20 will debut on March 14 in the US on ABC. Meanwhile, the first 19 seasons of the show can be seen on Disney+.