Grey’s Anatomy continues to thrive on ABC after more than two decades, which has required some changes — including when it comes to the cast.
The medical drama, which premiered in 2005, follows employees at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Over the years, the cast at the center of the show has changed as characters have come and gone — with many dying on screen due to various accidents in the workplace.
Season 23 will premiere in October 2026 and picks up after numerous cast exits. Fans have previously expressed concern about major changes, which showrunner Meg Marinis has addressed.
“Even in the last two seasons with what you saw this year, we had to reduce the cast a little bit [because of industry-wide budget cuts], and everybody has very passionate feelings about their favorite characters,” Marinis told The Hollywood Reporter in May 2025. “But if we can get the writers upset, then we know we’re doing it right. It’s not as satisfying a story if people aren’t upset when someone leaves. It’s supposed to make people upset and sad, so I’m sure there’ll be some arguments. But I’ve been persuaded before to change my mind on things.”
Keep scrolling for everything to know about the Grey’s Anatomy changes:
Cast Changes
Variety confirmed in September 2026 that Sarah Levy, Martin Martinez and Trevor Tordjman are joining the long-running series in guest-starring roles.
Levy will play Corrie, who is described as “witty and a bit of an oddball.”
“Corrie is very pregnant,” the description read. “She has a lot of anxiety about giving birth to her second child after the traumatic experience she had with her first child.”
Martinez was cast as Charlie, who “has had a rough upbringing and as a result of the trauma he’s experienced, he has a tough exterior and struggles to trust other people,” according to the official character breakdown.
Tordjman’s character, Thomas, was described as “the fun loving and charming boy next door who doesn’t realize he is as cute as he is. Thomas is at the hospital to help ensure his brother’s girlfriend is OK.”
James Wolk, meanwhile, will play Seth Norton in season 23. According to the official character description, Seth is “a handsome, arrogant surgeon-turned-businessman whose focus on the bottom line never wavers.” The newcomer “owns Olympic Regent Health, a luxury care medical center where patients pay out of pocket for elevated care,” the synopsis read.
Onscreen Exits
The latest additions to the cast came after Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver departed the series at the end of season 22.
“Grey’s Anatomy has been a huge chapter of my life, creatively and personally, and I’m deeply grateful for everything the show has given me over the years,” McKidd said in a March 2026 statement. “Playing Dr. Owen Hunt and directing on the show have both shaped me enormously, and I’ve had the privilege of working with an extraordinary group of people throughout that time. I’m particularly thankful to Shonda Rhimes for creating Owen, and for the encouragement she gave me as I stepped into directing.”
He continued: “As that chapter comes to a close, I’m looking forward to what’s ahead — building new work, telling new stories and taking everything I’ve learned into the next phase of my career.”
Raver broke her silence at the time in a statement of her own.
“Playing Dr. Teddy Altman will always hold a dear and special place in my heart. Sixteen years ago, I had the incredible privilege of stepping into this role thanks to the vision of Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers,” she wrote. “Since that day, it has been a true gift to bring the iconic words of Shonda and our brilliant team of writers to life. … To the fans — your unwavering devotion and support are the reason this show remains such a force. Thank you for making this set my place of magic and my home.”
Past Reduced Guarantees
Season 22 of Grey’s Anatomy already experienced some shakeups as the show reduced the minimum guarantees for its veteran cast members to 14 out of its 18 episodes per season. While some of Grey’s Anatomy‘s consistent stars were missing for four episodes, Caterina Scorsone‘s absence doubled.
Potential Reduced Episode Count
In October 2026, rumors swirled that Grey’s Anatomy would return for season 23 with only 13 episodes. ABC didn’t confirm the speculation ahead of the show’s return.
Adjusting for ‘Dancing With the Stars’
Harry Shum Jr., who plays Kwan, pulled double duty while filming Grey’s and competing on Dancing With the Stars at the same time.
