Grey's Anatomy original cast now from Hollywood success to feuds

It's almost two decades since the hit medical drama Grey's Anatomy first graced our screens. The show, which premiered on ABC on March 27, 2005, delves into the lives of interns and staff at the fictitious Seattle Grace Hospital.

The brainchild of Shonda Rhimes, the series centres around Dr. Meredith Grey as she navigates her way from surgical intern to fully-fledged doctor, eventually becoming the hospital's chief of general surgery. The narrative also explores the journeys of her fellow interns, their career trajectories and unfortunate ends.

However, the show hasn't been without its share of controversy - executive producer/writer Elisabeth Finch was caught in a lie about surviving a rare form of bone cancer, losing a kidney and even opting for an abortion due to treatment.

Much like the hospital's name, the cast has seen numerous changes over the years, but three original members still remain. The cast has garnered Golden Globe awards, respectable careers and some have even been dismissed for inappropriate language on set.

Here's a look at where the original cast of Grey's Anatomy are now, reports the Mirror.

Ellen Pompeo - Meredith Grey

One of only three remaining original cast members, Meredith Grey began her journey at Seattle Grace Hospital as an intern and is now the Chief of General Surgery.

Throughout the series, she has endured the loss of friends, her husband, and survived a hospital shooting, plane crash and insurance fraud scandal.

Ellen Pompeo, the actress who plays Meredith Grey on the long-running series Grey's Anatomy, announced in September 2018 that she would be leaving the show. However, a month later, she confirmed that she would stay for the foreseeable future.

The role has earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award and made her one of the highest-paid TV actresses. Despite having a reduced role in the series, Meredith still narrates it.

Ellen has also appeared in Taylor Swift's Bad Blood music video, the Grey's Anatomy spin-off Station 19, and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars.

James Pickens Jr - Richard Webber

Webber was introduced in the first episode of the series as the Chief of Surgery. He quickly formed a bond with Meredith, having worked with her mother Ellis Grey.

Over the course of the series, Webber has faced his fair share of drama - he struggled with alcohol addiction, lost his wife, was electrocuted, and temporarily lost his job after helping Meredith commit insurance fraud.

James Pickens Jr. has also featured in the spin-off shows and appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm, The X-Files, Roseanne, Yellowstone, and The Conners.

Chandra Wilson - Miranda Bailey

The original cast member was known as "The Nazi" for her stern demeanour and refusal to take any nonsense. Miranda is revealed to be a loving and caring character who thoroughly supports her interns and stands up to the Chief of Surgery.

After an insurance fraud incident, Miranda fired both Richard and Meredith, but they have since returned to work under her.

Chandra Wilson, a four-time Emmy nominee for her role in Grey's Anatomy, has also graced the screen in Sex and the City, The Sopranos, and General Hospital.

Sandra Oh - Cristina Yang

Sandra Oh, who portrayed Meredith's best friend Cristina Yang, known for her sharp intellect and no-nonsense approach at work. She left the show to join the Klausman Institute for Medical Research in Switzerland, but her character continued to be referenced through occasional emails and phone calls.

Since departing from Grey's Anatomy, Sandra Oh has seen her career soar, becoming one of the most recognisable faces from the series. She clinched her second Golden Globe award as the lead in the critically acclaimed BBC series Killing Eve.

Oh has lent her voice to animated features such as Raya and the Last Dragon and Turning Red, and has been involved in projects like The Sandman, the superhero series Invincible, and The Tiger's Apprentice.

Katherine Heigl - Isobel "Izzie" Stevens

Isobel "Izzie" Stevens was a hard-working intern who paid for her medical training by modelling. Izzie's time on the show was a rollercoaster, involving a romance with patient Denny Duquette, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, a risky move to secure him a heart transplant, his subsequent death.

She also had her own battle with brain cancer, marriage to Alex, and her eventual dismissal from Seattle Grace following the merger with Mercy West Hospital in season 6. She tried to rejoin, but she was refused.

Katherine Heigl made headlines when she removed herself from Emmy consideration in 2008, just a year after claiming the award for best supporting actress, arguing her Grey's Anatomy material wasnt worthy of the accolade - a move seen as denying other actresses the chance to win.

Heigl gained further fame with roles in State of Affairs, Doubt, Suits and Firefly Lane, while also lending her voice to animated hits The Nut Job and its sequel The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature.

Justin Chambers - Alex Karev

Alex Karev saw a dramatic evolution from smug intern to interim Chief of Surgery across sixteen seasons. In a surprise move, Alex controversially rejoined his love Izzie and their twins born from her frozen embryos.

Since leaving the show, Chambers has kept a lower profile. He recently portrayed Marlon Brando in Paramount+'s The Offer, delving into the creation of classic film The Godfather.

Patrick Dempsey - Derek Shepherd

Patrick Dempsey earned hearts as Dr. McDreamy, one half of a duo that started with a casual fling and ended in holy matrimony. Dempsey's character met a tragic end following a car crash, with an under-prepared hospital team unable to save him.

Viewers heard Shepherd's thought process throughout the episode with him unable to speak. Reflecting on his character's death, Patrick Dempsey told PEOPLE, "I'm very grateful for Grey's Anatomy. It's given me the opportunity to do everything. But at the same time, there was a cost."

He added: "I think after a certain period of time, no matter how much money you make, you want control out of your own schedule."

"It had been long enough. It was time for me to move on with other things and other interests," Dempsey added of the decision. "I probably should have moved on a couple of years earlier. I stayed a bit longer than I should have."

Derek Shepherd returned for a few episodes during season 17. Since leaving the series, Patrick Dempsey has appeared in romantic films Valentine's Day and Bridget Jones's Baby as well as the action flick Transformers: Dark of the Moon, horror film Thanksgiving, Ferrari and the Disney+ movie Disenchanted.

Derek Shepherd made an unforgettable comeback for several episodes during season 17. After exiting the prime-time drama, Patrick Dempsey has graced the silver screen in heartwarming romantic comedies like Valentine's Day and Bridget Jones's Baby, action-packed Transformers: Dark of the Moon, the scream-inducing horror flick Thanksgiving, high-speed drama Ferrari and Disney+'s enchanting feature Disenchanted.

George O'Malley - played by T. R. Knight

George began as an enthusiastic surgical intern at the Seattle Grace Hospital, climbing the ranks to surgical resident. As the lovelorn intern besotted with Meredith, George O'Malley, who was once married to Callie Torres (portrayed by Sara Ramirez), later found his way into a romance with Izzie.

O'Malley's exit from the series was shrouded by one of television's most heart-wrenching exits, being rendered unrecognisable post-heroically rescuing a woman from a bus, only for his identity to be tragically discovered just as he succumbed, pronounced brain dead. He made an unexpected cameo in 2020.

Knight's decision to walk away from the series came amidst unsatisfactory storylines and deteriorating dialogue with the showrunners. Since leaving, Knight has brought his talents to The Good Wife, The Catch, When We Rise, Genius: Einstein, Genius: Picasso and most recently, on The Flight Attendant.

Isaiah Washington - Preston Burke

Isaiah Washington, known for his role as Preston Burke, the exceptional cardiothoracic surgeon who was notoriously hard on George to set a precedent for the other interns. His romantic involvement with Cristina Yang and the devastating scene where he left her at the altar are unforgettable moments.

Washington exited the show in its third season following allegations of using a homophobic slur against fellow cast member Knight. Despite this, he made a comeback in the tenth season to convince Cristina to leave Washington and take charge of his Swiss hospital.

Following Grey's Anatomy, Washington went on to feature in Bionic Woman, The 100 and the 2022 film Corsicana.