Grey's Anatomy is an American television medical drama that debuted on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), as a mid-season replacement for Boston Legal on March 27, 2005. While creating the show, producers emphasize the casting process.[1] The series has aired for twenty seasons, and focuses on the fictional lives of surgical interns and residents, as they gradually evolve into seasoned doctors, while trying to maintain personal lives. The show's premise originated with Shonda Rhimes, who serves as an executive producer, along with Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, Krista Vernoff, Rob Corn, Mark Wilding, and Allan Heinberg.[2] It is primarily filmed in Los Angeles, California.[3]
The series was created to be racially diverse, utilizing a color-blind casting technique.[4] All roles for the series are cast without the characters' races being pre-specified, in keeping with Rhimes' vision of diversity.
The series' protagonist, Meredith Grey, is portrayed by Ellen Pompeo. Pompeo starred in the leading role in Moonlight Mile, which led to her being cast as Meredith.[5] Meredith is assigned to work under Miranda Bailey, the only character developed with a racial description in mind, who is portrayed by Chandra Wilson. On Wilson's addition to the cast Rhimes reported, "[Wilson] is exactly who Miranda is." The other interns working with Meredith under Bailey are Cristina Yang, George O'Malley, Izzie Stevens, and Alex Karev played by Sandra Oh, T.R. Knight, Katherine Heigl and Justin Chambers respectively. Chambers' character was not originally part of the pilot but was added later as the fifth and final intern. Oh was initially brought to play the character of Bailey, but she was pressed to read for the role of Cristina instead at the audition.[6] Many actors read for the role of Dr. Derek Shepherd including Isaiah Washington, but when Patrick Dempsey read for the part, "he was just perfect", according to Rhimes. Washington was cast as Burke because the original actor to play Burke had to withdraw.[7] [4]
The second season marked the introduction of Eric Dane as leading plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan and Sara Ramirez as ortho-resident Dr. Callie Torres. They were initially cast as recurring characters, but both were given star billing at the opening of the third season. Ramirez was cast after ABC executives offered them a role in the network show of their choice, Dane had previously auditioned unsuccessfully for a role in the pilot episode.[8] [9] Kate Walsh also joined the show in season two, after making a guest appearance in season one as Dr. Addison Montgomery, the estranged wife of Derek,[10] and leaves the show at the end of the third, to launch her own spin-off medical drama Private Practice.[11] Burke departs after the third season, and is replaced by Erica Hahn, played by Brooke Smith, who leaves the show during the fifth. Chyler Leigh first appears in the third as the half-sister of Meredith, Lexie Grey.
Kevin McKidd playing Dr. Owen Hunt was signed as a series regular after originally being cast for a specific story arc joins the cast in season 5.[12] Jessica Capshaw is given series regular status at the beginning of the sixth season after playing peds-attending Arizona Robbins in season 5. Following O'Malley's death and Stevens' departure, Jesse Williams and Sarah Drew joined the cast as new residents from Mercy West Jackson Avery and April Kepner both having made their series debuts as recurring characters in the sixth season. Kim Raver, who was cast as recurring character Dr. Teddy Altman in the sixth season, was given star billing later in the season.[13]
In the tenth season, the new batch of interns introduced during the ninth season were made series regulars including Camilla Luddington as Dr. Jo Wilson, Gaius Charles as Dr. Shane Ross, Jerrika Hinton as Dr. Stephanie Edwards, Tessa Ferrer as Dr. Leah Murphy except Tina Majorino as Dr. Heather Brooks (who died during the second episode of the tenth season. Caterina Scorsone was upgraded to a series regular to continue her role as Dr. Amelia Shepherd, one of Dr. Derek Shepherd's four sisters. Scorsone previously played Dr. Amelia Shepherd in the seventh season as a recurring role. Kelly McCreary as Dr. Maggie Pierce was promoted to a series regular after being credited as guest-starring until the eleventh episode of the eleventh season. The cast has received numerous awards and nominations, including a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series,[14] a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama,[15] and numerous Primetime Emmy Award nominations for individual cast members.[16]
| Actor | Character | Seasons | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | ||
| Kathy C. "BokHee" An | BokHee | colspan="21" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kate Burton | Ellis Grey | colspan=2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Linda Klein | Nurse Linda | colspan="3" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Anjul Nigam | Raj Sen | colspan="8" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sarah Utterback | Olivia Harper | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Moe Irvin | Tyler Christian | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| John O’Brien | Jeffrey | colspan="5" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Noelle McCutchen | Nurse Vivian | colspan="19" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Robin Pearson Rose | Patricia Murphy | colspan="5" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Steven W. Bailey | Anesthesiologist Jeremy | colspan=20 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Joe | colspan="14" | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Loretta Devine | Adele Webber | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kate Anthony | Nurse Kate | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeffrey Dean Morgan | Denny Duquette | colspan="16" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris O'Donnell | Finn Dandridge | colspan="18" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ray Ford | Ray Sutera | colspan="5" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Various | William "Tuck" George Bailey Jones | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| BJ Tanner | colspan="4" | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Cress Williams | Tucker Jones | colspan="17" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cathy Lind Hayes | Debbie | colspan="19" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff Perry | Thatcher Grey | colspan="6" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kali Rocha | Sydney Heron | |||||||||||||||||||||
| George Dzundza | Harold O'Malley | colspan="18" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tim Griffin | Ronny O'Malley | colspan="18" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jack J. Yang | Walter | colspan="18" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Greg Pitts | Jerry O'Malley | colspan="18" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mare Winningham | Susan Grey | colspan="18" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Diahann Carroll | Jane Burke | colspan="17" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Debra Monk | Louise O'Malley | colspan="13" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Roger Rees | Colin Marlow | colspan="18" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mitch Pileggi | Lawrence Jennings | colspan="13" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicole Rubio | Nicole Cummins | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Elizabeth Reaser | Rebecca "Ava" Pope | colspan="17" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Candice Afia | Laura | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Saul | Steve Mostow | colspan="13" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Molly Kidder | Megan Nowland | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gloria Garayua | Graciella Guzman | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Williamson | Pierce Halley | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Winston Story | Leo Byrider | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Amrapali Ambegaokar | Dani Mandvi | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tymberlee Chanel | Claire | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Amy Madigan | Katharine Wyatt | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Joy Osmanski | Lucy | colspan="16" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Lauren Stamile | Rose | colspan="16" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Keith | Mitch | colspan="17" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Edward Herrmann | Norman Shales | colspan="17" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Payton Silver | Dr. Knox | colspan=2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Brandon Scott | Ryan Spalding | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Melissa George | Sadie Harris | colspan="16" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mary McDonnell | Virginia Dixon | colspan="16" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric Stoltz | William Dunn | colspan="16" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Samantha Mathis | Melinda Prescott | colspan="16" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Aaron Refvem | Jackson Prescott | colspan="16" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jennifer Westfeldt | Jen Harmon | colspan="16" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ben Shenkman | Rob Harmon | colspan="16" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kimberly Elise | Rebecca Swender | colspan="16" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Robert Baker | Charles Percy | colspan="9" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael O'Neill | Gary Clark | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leven Rambin | Sloan Riley | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nora Zehetner | Reed Adamson | colspan="15" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott Foley | Henry Burton | colspan="13" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Daniel Sunjata | Eli Lloyd | colspan="13" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| James Tupper | Andrew Perkins | colspan="14" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter MacNicol | Robert Stark | colspan="14" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rachael Taylor | Lucy Fields | colspan="14" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Janora McDuffie | Janet Meyers | colspan="13" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Eva Ariel Binder | Sofia Robbin Sloan Torres | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jela K. Moore | Zola Grey Shepherd | colspan="10" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Aniela Gumbs | colspan="11" | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Debbie Allen | Catherine Fox | colspan="14" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Holley Fain | Julia Canner | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jon Schmidt | Logan | colspan="13" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Amanda Fuller | Morgan Peterson | colspan="13" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| William Daniels | Craig Thomas | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Justin Bruening | Matthew Taylor | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dominic Hoffman | Jeff Russell | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tina Majorino | Heather Brooks | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Steven Culp | Darren Parker | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Meeghan Holloway | Doctor's Rep | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Roma Maffia | Roberta Thompson | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Constance Zimmer | Alana Cahill | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hilarie Burton | Lauren Boswell | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Charles Michael Davis | Jason Myers | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Enid Graham | Rachel Dawson | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Buie | Paul Dawson | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kyle Red Silverstein | Ethan Dawson | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jennifer Bassey | Nancy Dawson | colspan="12" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebecca Field | Sabine McNeil | colspan="10" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Billy Malone | Jon McNeil | colspan="10" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| James Remar | Jimmy Evans | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Melissa Center | Ashley Glazier | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| JD Cullum | Lloyd | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Adair-Rios | David Morris | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bresha Webb | Teresa Morris | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jadin Gould | Ivy McNeil | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Armani Jackson | Braden Morris | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Harley Graham | Francesca McNeil | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Barbusca | Link McNeil | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Marguerite Moreau | Emma Marling | colspan="11" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Geena Davis | Nicole Herman | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nick D'Agosto | Graham Maddox | colspan="10" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Joe Adler | Isaac Cross | colspan="8" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Joe Dinicol | Mitchell Spencer | colspan="9" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Samantha Sloyan | Penny Blake | colspan="9" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Vivian Nixon | Hannah Brody | colspan="5" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott Elrod | William Thorpe | colspan="9" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wilmer Valderrama | Kyle Diaz | colspan="9" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mavrick and Brassix Orion | Harriet Kepner-Avery | colspan="6" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Penelope Kapudija | colspan="3" | |||||||||||||||||||||
| LaTanya Richardson | Diane Pierce | colspan="2" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Marika Dominczyk | Eliza Minnick | colspan="8" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Abigail Spencer | Megan Hunt | colspan="3" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Matthew Morrison | Paul Stadler | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jaicy Elliot | Taryn Helm | colspan="8" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stefania Spampinato | Carina DeLuca | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sophia Ali | Dahlia Qadri | colspan="5" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Alex Blue Davis | Casey Parker | colspan="5" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Peyton Kennedy | Betty Nelson | colspan="6" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rushi Kota | Vikram Roy | colspan="6" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeanine Mason | Sam Bello | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bethany Joy Lenz | Jenny | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Blake Hood | Clive Johnson | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Lesley Boone | Judy Kemp | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nayah Damasen | Kimmie Park | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Candis Cayne | Michelle Velez | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rachel Ticotin | Marie Cerone | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jaina Lee Ortiz | Andy Herrera | colspan=2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Lindsay Wagner | Helen Karev | colspan="6" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Alex Landi | Nico Kim | colspan="2" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Caroline Clay | Cece Colvin | colspan="6" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jennifer Grey | Carol Dinkinson | colspan="6" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kyle Secor | John Dinkinson | colspan="6" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jasmine Guy | Gemma Larson | colspan="5" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Barrett Doss | Victoria Hughes | colspan="3" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Devin Way | Blake Simms | colspan="5" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleo King | Robin | colspan=5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Devika Parikh | Nancy Klein | colspan=5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sarah Rafferty | Suzanne | colspan=5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Lindy Booth | Hadley | colspan=5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shoshannah Stern | Lauren Riley | colspan=5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Zaiver Sinnett | Zander Perez | colspan=3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Melissa DuPrey | Sara Ortiz | colspan=3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Robert I. Mesa | James Chee | colspan=3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mackenzie Marsh | Val Ashton | colspan=4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Lisa Vidal | Alma Ortiz | colspan=4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nikhil Shukla | Reza Khan | colspan=4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| E.R. Fightmaster | Kai Bartley | colspan=2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bardia Seiri | Farouk Shami Hunt | colspan=3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sylvia Kwan | Mabel Tseng | colspan=3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Gallagher | David Hamilton | colspan=3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Lynn Chen | Michelle Lin | colspan=3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Greg Tarzan Davis | Jordan Wright | colspan=3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Skylar Astin | Todd Eames | colspan=3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rome Flynn | Wendell Ndugu | colspan=3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bianca A. Santos | Kristen Clark | colspan=3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cedric Sanders | Simon Clark | colspan=3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Juliet Mills | Maxine Anderson | |||||||||||||||||||||
| William Martinez | Trey Delgado | colspan=2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Marla Gibbs | Joyce Ward | colspan=2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sam Page | Sam Sutton | |||||||||||||||||||||