Which Original 'Grey's Anatomy' Cast Members Are Still With the Show?

“Grey’s Anatomy” has been on ABC for 15 seasons and more than 350 episodes. That incredible run means unavoidable actor turnover. Now that Justin Chambers has said he’s leaving the medical drama, which of the original cast members are even left?

The title itself references main character Meredith Grey, who is played by star Ellen Pompeo. She’s still around, so the show is still on the airwaves.

Along with Meredith/Ellen, the only other O.G. cast members now remaining are Chandra Wilson, who plays Dr. Miranda Bailey, and James Pickens Jr., who plays Dr. Richard Webber. They’ve both appeared in every single episode since the series launched back in 2005.

Also Read: Justin Chambers Is Leaving 'Grey's Anatomy' After Playing Dr Alex Karev for 15 Years

The actor with the next-highest appearance tally is Kevin McKidd, who plays Dr. Owen Hunt. He got a late start, joining the show in 2008. Jesse Williams, a.k.a. Dr. Jackson Avery, came on the program one year later.

High-profile exits include original cast member Patrick Dempsey, who played Dr. Derek Shepherd for 255 episodes. He exited in 2015.

Sandra Oh started with the show as well. She and her character Dr. Cristina Yang left in 2014.

Also Read: Former 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Isaiah Washington Lands New Fox Nation Show (Exclusive)

Eric Dane is associated with the early seasons, but he actually wasn’t part of the first class. Dr. Mark Sloan joined in 2006 and left in 2012.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan boarded the same year that Dane did, but he only lasted until 2009.

And then of course there is Katherine Heigl. Dr. Izzie Stevens did more than 100 episodes of “Grey’s,” starting on Day 1 and signing off in 2010.

Also Read: Tiffany Haddish's 'Kids Say the Darndest Things' Has Darned Poor Ratings

Kate Walsh was one of the freshmen. She left after a few seasons for spinoff “Private Practice,” but popped up again on “Grey’s” a few times.

T.R. Knight was also an original player. We said goodbye to his Dr. George O’Malley in 2009.

Isaiah Washington was a member from “Go.” His Dr. Preston Burke was scrubbed out in 2007 after Washington called co-star Knight a homophobic slur.

“Grey’s Anatomy” airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.

'Grey's Anatomy' Saddest Goodbyes, From Cristina Yang to Derek Shepherd (Photos)

With the Season 14 finale signaling the exit of Dr. April Kepner (Sarah Drew) and Dr. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) after years on the show, we're prepping ourselves to say goodbye to the fan favorite characters. Here's a look back at the hardest goodbyes from the series.
ABC
Denny Duquette

Long before he was bashing people's heads in with a barbed-wire covered bat named Lucille on "The Walking Dead," Jeffrey Dean Morgan played the impossibly romantic -- and dying -- Denny Duquette on "Grey's Anatomy." Denny's charm won over viewers, and Izzy Stevens (Katherine Heigl), and when he eventually died it was heartbreaking.
ABC
George O'Malley

George (T. R. Knight) was the sweetest intern, even if he was a little bumbling at times. He was always there for his fellow doctors, even when they spent plenty of time teasing him. He even died in sacrifice by saving a woman from getting hit by a bus, only to be hit himself. RIP George.
ABC
Lexie Grey

Meredith's half-little sister Lexie (Chyler Leigh) was a little annoying to be honest when she first appeared in Season 3. But it didn't take long for her to win our hearts, and when she died the infamous plane crash episode we were just as devastated as Mark.
ABC
Mark Sloan

Mark initially survives the plane crash, but returns to the hospital in bad condition -- so bad, in fact, that he's on life support. The rest of the doctors have to deal with the fact that he specifies in his will that after 30 days, he is to be taken off life support.
ABC
Cristina Yang

Saying goodbye to Meredith's person felt just as painful as saying goodbye to our own person after 10 years of watching the best friends. In the Season 10 finale, Cristina (Sandra Oh) leaves the hospital for good to go work in Zurich. Our one consoling fact is that Cristina wasn't killed off.
ABC
Derek Shepherd

After everything that Mer and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) have been through together, watching the machines keeping Derek alive turned off one by one with a super-sad rendition of "Chasing Cars" playing in the background -- oh, not to mention the flashback of their relationship -- broke us. It didn't break Mer, though. "It's okay," she tells him. "You go. We'll be fine."
ABC

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These Shondaland character exits left us in tears

With the Season 14 finale signaling the exit of Dr. April Kepner (Sarah Drew) and Dr. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) after years on the show, we're prepping ourselves to say goodbye to the fan favorite characters. Here's a look back at the hardest goodbyes from the series.

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'Grey's Anatomy' Saddest Goodbyes, From Cristina Yang to Derek Shepherd (Photos)

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