Grey’s Toxicity: All Cast Members Who Were Fired from Cult Show (And Why)

Throughout the 19 seasons of Grey's Anatomy, actors have come and gone. Some left because they wanted to, while others were fired, often to the surprise of fans who got used to their favorite characters over the years.

1. Isaiah Washington

Preston Burke was the first to leave the walls of Seattle Grace. The doctor fell in love with an intern and was supposed to marry her at the end of the third season, but he never showed up at the altar. He just left, leaving a note.

The reason for this turn of events is simple: the actor constantly argued with the crew and the director. The creators of the series got tired of this, but the very last straw was his homophobic insults towards another actor, T. R. Knight. After that, Isaiah was fired from the show.

2. Brooke Smith

Brooke Smith played the role of Dr. Erica Hahn, who appeared on the show as a heart surgeon and was one of the few gay characters. She left the series in season 5 after learning that Izzie Stevens tricked other doctors to get a heart for her patient.

According to the show's creators, Brooke's character could not be properly developed, so her contract was terminated after the fifth season. But many fans, as well as Brooke herself, felt that ABC didn't feel comfortable showing a lesbian relationship on the network.

3. Sarah Drew

Sarah Drew joined Grey's Anatomy in 2009 as Dr. April Kepner and became a regular cast member in 2010.

There are no scandals associated with Drew's departure. Officially, the actress' contract was not renewed after season 14 due to creative decisions.

4. Jessica Capshaw

Capshaw joined the show in the fifth season as Dr. Arizona Robbins and left along with Sarah Drew. The explanation was the same – Jessica's character just didn't fit with the new creative direction.

5. Loretta Devine

Devine played Adele, the wife of Dr. Richard Webber, and did it so well that she won an Emmy for the role.

However, immediately after receiving the award, the actress was fired, which was extremely surprising given the circumstances. According to the theory of the actress herself, this made way for another actress, Debbie Allen. Up to this day, no official explanation was given for the dismissal.

6. Tessa Ferrer

Ferrer first appeared on Grey's Anatomy in season 9 and joined the main cast in season 10. However, her contract was not renewed. After some time, the actress rejoined the show, but soon left again.

It is still unknown why such a decision was made, but it is possible that the Ferrer’s character simply did not fit into the future scenario.