Grey’s Anatomy Deaths: Who All Are Remaining From Season 1?

Grey’s Anatomy has come a long way since its premiere in 2005, and here we are gearing up for Season 22, dropping October 9, 2025. That’s right, 21 seasons strong and still ticking. Unlike most shows that start limping after a decade, Grey’s somehow keeps its pulse alive with an impressive 84% Rotten Tomatoes critic score and a 7.6 on IMDb. Pretty wild for a medical soap opera that’s old enough to vote.

How does it manage this? Well, Shonda Rhimes has mastered the art of ripping our hearts out. Deaths, shock twists, and emotional sucker punches are her surgical tools. One moment you’re cheering Derek Shepherd for pulling off another miracle, the next he’s gone, and Meredith is left to rise stronger from the ashes. They’re basically the Game of Thrones of the ER, don’t get too cozy with anyone, because chances are they’re one tragic storyline away from the morgue.

Of course, not every death is about drama. Sometimes actors move on to other projects, and the writers swing the axe for closure. Still, the show remains special. So before Season 22 rolls in, let’s check who from the original crew is still alive.

1. Miranda Bailey – Played by Chandra Wilson

Miranda Bailey, played by Chandra Wilson, has always been one of the most important characters on Grey’s Anatomy, and she is still alive in the series. She is a general surgeon and the Director of the Residency Program, and she was once the Chief of Surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. With more than 448 episodes across 21 seasons, according to IMDb, Bailey has become one of the strongest and most respected characters on the show.

In the early seasons, Bailey was often called “The Nazi” because of her strict and intimidating teaching style. It was a running joke that showed how tough she could be, but by Season 4, the writers started to move away from it. Over time, she became better known as the “Mama Bear,” showing how much she cared for the people she trained. Bailey’s mix of tough rules and real compassion is what makes her so memorable.

Her personal life has also been full of changes. She has a son, Tuck, with her ex-husband Tucker Jones. With her husband Ben Warren, she later welcomed another son, Joey, and together they also raised Pruitt after his father, Dean Miller, passed away.

Bailey has had her share of health scares, too, including a heart attack in Season 14 that shocked fans. Still, she survived and continued to be a constant on the show. In Season 21, she focused on guiding a new group of interns, pushing them to grow as surgeons. With another season coming soon, fans are excited to see what happens next for Bailey.

2. Richard Webber – Played by James Pickens Jr.

Another key character who has been part of Grey’s Anatomy from the very beginning is Richard Webber. He was introduced in the pilot episode, A Hard Day’s Night, which aired on March 27, 2005. At the time, he was the Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital, holding one of the most powerful roles in the hospital and shaping the early journeys of Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, and the other original interns.

Over the years, he has worn many titles, from Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace and later Seattle Grace Mercy West to his current role as Chief Medical Officer of the Catherine Fox Foundation, while still working as an attending general surgeon at Grey Sloan Memorial.

Portrayed by James Pickens Jr., Webber has appeared in 448 episodes across 21 seasons, making him one of the longest-running and most consistent members of the cast. His influence even stretches beyond the main show, with appearances in Private Practice and Station 19.

Despite his strong leadership, Webber’s journey has been full of personal challenges. At one point, he developed a tumor pressing against his optic nerve, which caused him to struggle during surgeries and nearly ended his career. On top of that, his long battle with alcohol addiction led to painful relapses, costing him the position of Chief of Surgery and forcing Derek Shepherd to take over. These struggles created moments when it seemed like the writers were preparing to write him out.

Fortunately, Webber always pulled through, proving his resilience and cementing his place as one of the show’s most beloved constants. With another season ahead, fans are eager to see if this mentor figure finally considers retirement or continues guiding the next generation of surgeons.

3. Meredith Grey – Played by Ellen Pompeo

Meredith Grey has always been the face of Grey’s Anatomy, and even with her reduced screen time in recent years, she remains one of the most important characters in the show’s history. Played by Ellen Pompeo, Meredith first appeared in the pilot episode, A Hard Day’s Night, in 2005. For the first 18 seasons, she was a regular presence, appearing in more than 400 episodes, just like Chandra Wilson’s Bailey and James Pickens Jr.’s Webber.

Starting in Season 19, however, her appearances became less frequent. She was in only 8 out of 20 episodes in Season 19, 5 out of 10 in Season 20, and 7 out of 18 in Season 21. Despite the reduction, Pompeo continues to serve as an executive producer and still provides the iconic narration for the series.

Meredith’s professional career has been just as dynamic as her personal life. Over the years, she has held major positions at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, including Attending General Surgeon, Chief of Surgery, Head of General Surgery, and Director of the Residency Program. She is also the daughter of Ellis Grey, a legendary surgeon, and Thatcher Grey, both of whom have passed away.

Ellen Pompeo explained her decision to step back from the series in an interview with El País. She said:

I’ve been doing it for 20 years, so it was time to step away. I have three children and I love spending time with them and I love being involved in their lives. I’m very lucky to be able to get to work sometimes and take time off. I have a nice balance in my life.

While Meredith is no longer the central figure every week, her presence still defines Grey’s Anatomy, and her voice continues to guide the story.

4. Cristina Yang – Played by Sandra Oh

Now moving away from the long-time faces of Grey Sloan Memorial, Cristina Yang is a character who left the hospital but is still very much alive in the world of Grey’s Anatomy. Played by Sandra Oh, Cristina was part of the main cast from the very first episode, A Hard Day’s Night, and quickly became a fan favorite. Unlike Meredith Grey, Richard Webber, or Miranda Bailey, she did not stay for the later seasons. Cristina was a regular for 10 seasons and appeared in 221 episodes, with her last appearance as a main character coming in the Season 10 finale.

Cristina’s storylines were some of the most complex in the series, especially her relationships with Preston Burke, played by Isaiah Washington, and Owen Hunt, played by Kevin McKidd. Both relationships highlighted Cristina’s struggles between personal life and her fierce dedication to surgery. In the end, it was Preston Burke who gave Cristina her exit.

Years after their relationship ended, he offered her his position as the head of a prestigious hospital in Zurich, Switzerland. Cristina accepted and moved overseas to continue her career, closing her chapter at Grey Sloan.

Sandra Oh explained her decision to leave in a 2013 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. She said:

Creatively, I really feel like I gave it my all, and I feel ready to let her go… It’s such an interesting thing to play a character for so long and to actually get the sense that she wants to be let go as well. [Cristina] wants to be let go, and I am ready to let her go.

Her departure was bittersweet, and fans still hold hope that Cristina could one day return from Zurich.

5. Izzie Stevens – Played by Katherine Heigl

Izzie Stevens is another main character from Grey’s Anatomy who had a shorter run compared to others, but she left the series without being killed off. Played by Katherine Heigl, Izzie was part of the original group of interns introduced in Season 1, training under Miranda Bailey alongside Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, and George O’Malley. Over time, she rose to become a surgical resident and later an attending surgical oncologist.

Her storylines were often intense, especially when she was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in Season 5, a form of advanced skin cancer that spread to her liver, skin, and brain. During this time, she married Alex Karev, and many fans believed her illness might write her out of the show. However, that was not the case. Instead, Izzie was fired from Seattle Grace-Mercy West after a treatment error endangered a patient. With her marriage to Alex breaking down, she eventually left Seattle to start a new life in Kansas and raise her twins.

Katherine Heigl’s exit was connected to her complicated working relationship with the show’s production. Speaking about her time on Grey’s Anatomy, she told Business Insider:

I only saw it as this one thing: I was up here at a level of intensity that was not healthy for me. And I just kind of fled in a panic.

On Instagram years later, she added,

Some of you may remember over ten years ago I was very vocal about the absurdity of the working hours crews and actors were being forced into by production.

Izzie appeared in 110 episodes through Season 6 and was later referenced in Season 16, showing she continued her life away from Grey Sloan.

6. Alex Karev – Played by Justin Chambers

Alex Karev is another original character who joined Grey’s Anatomy in the very first season, though his introduction was unusual. Played by Justin Chambers, Alex was not originally part of the pilot. Since the episode had already been filmed, his scenes were later reshot or digitally placed into completed scenes, making his arrival one of the most unique cast additions in the series. Over time, he became a central figure, appearing in 343 episodes across 16 seasons.

In his career, Alex rose from intern to Head of Pediatric Surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital and later became Chief of Surgery at Pacific Northwest General Hospital. His personal life was just as eventful. He first married Izzie Stevens, but their relationship ended when she left the hospital. He later married Jo Wilson, yet his storyline ended with him leaving Jo and returning to Izzie, who had secretly given birth to their twins using embryos they had frozen years earlier.

Alex’s last physical appearance came in the episode My Shot, which aired on November 14, 2019. His controversial exit was explained through letters sent to Jo, Meredith, Miranda Bailey, and Richard Webber, which left many fans frustrated by the suddenness of his departure.

Speaking to Deadline in 2020, Justin Chambers explained his decision to leave:

There’s no good time to say goodbye to a show and character that’s defined so much of my life for the past 15 years. For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices. And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is that time.

Though his ending divided fans, Alex Karev’s legacy as one of the “original five” remains unforgettable.

7. Preston Burke – Played by Isaiah Washington

Preston Burke is another important character from the early seasons of Grey’s Anatomy who left the hospital but was never killed off. Played by Isaiah Washington, Burke was first introduced in Season 1 as a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon and head of the department at Seattle Grace Hospital. He quickly became one of the most respected doctors on staff and played a central role in many storylines, particularly his complex relationship with Cristina Yang.

Burke’s story took a dramatic turn in Season 3 when he left Cristina at the altar on their wedding day. Following that, he left Seattle Grace altogether. His final appearance as a series regular came in the Season 3 finale, Didn’t We Almost Have It All? Years later, Burke returned in Season 10 for the episode We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. By this time, he had won a Harper Avery Award and founded the Klausman Institute for Medical Research. In that episode, he gave the institute to Cristina so that she could carry on his work, while he moved with his family to Milan.

Behind the scenes, Burke’s departure was tied to controversy. In 2007, Isaiah Washington was fired from the series after using a homophobic slur during an argument with co-star T. R. Knight.

While the remark itself was not taken lightly, a source close to him told Today:

I think it had less to do with homophobia and more to do with his own intimidating nature. It was more about his personality than it was about any homophobia or perceived homophobia.

In total, Washington appeared in 62 episodes between 2005 and 2014. Burke remains one of the characters who left without being killed, though it seems unlikely that he will return again in the future.

Grey’s Anatomy has seen countless exits and shocking returns over the years. Which character do you think could come back, and who might be the next to leave the series?

Season 22 of Grey’s Anatomy is set to release on October 9, 2025, and will be available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.