Grey’s Anatomy star upset with her character: ‘It touched some lives and that’s what the show is all about’

Warning spoilers! This article will reveal the main elements of “Grey’s Anatomy” seasons 19 and 20.

James Pickens Jr. knows firsthand what it’s like to live with alcoholism, a problem he experienced through his father who suffered from the addiction.

On the show, the timeless Richard Webber — the character he’s played since the show debuted 19 years ago — may be a mainstay at Gray Sloan Memorial Hospital, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t had his own demons. For the first six seasons of Shonda Rhimes’ medical series, Richard struggled with alcoholism until he was finally able to overcome his addiction and stay sober.

Fast forward to the season 19 finale, in which Richard once again found himself drinking in heavy turbulence on a flight to Boston. But luckily, Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson, the show’s other mainstay) was there to stop him from going on, though it did make Richard’s sanity questionable by the end of the season.

Richard didn’t turn to alcohol when Season 20 debuted this year, instead seeking help in the form of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to get back on track.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, James Pickens Jr. He explained how his father’s struggle with addiction helped him become an actor.

“I have a special attachment to this story from the beginning“, he said. “In short, I personally know that my father struggled with alcoholism until the end of his life. He fought valiantly until he died, so I was lucky to be a part of that, and I use that as a kind of emotional launch pad and as a technique as an actor to move this script forward.“

fan reaction

The 69-year-old actor then explained how viewers have responded positively to Richard’s ongoing battle with drug addiction, a reaction that meant a lot to him.

“I think what I’m most proud of is that he’s impacted so many lives. I can’t tell you how many people have come up to me in the past and said, ‘Thank you for this story, I’m a recovering alcoholic or recovering from other addictions and your story helped me, I can keep going.’“

He continued: “So I think the biggest thing for me was that it affected some lives along the way, and that’s the point of fiction. It must affect you in some way. So I’m happy to go back to it and see that it’s as likely as the near-relapse of the others. Thank goodness he didn’t, but he admitted, “I have to go back to AA just to get my act together.”“.

Grey’s Anatomy season 20 (brief) aired in the United States on May 30. Looking ahead to Season 21, the first 19 seasons of the show can be seen in France on Disney+.