Grey’s Anatomy has been a staple of ABC’s Thursday night lineup for over two decades. The show premiered in 2005. Ellen Pompeo is one of only three original stars left. Chandra Wilson (Dr. Miranda Bailey) and James Pickens Jr. (Dr. Richard Webber) are the other two remaining OGs. Yet, Ellen Pompeo’s Dr. Meredith Grey is the heart of the show. The actress dropped a major clue that she’s finally ready to leave the show. Keep reading to find out more.
Two Longtime Cast Members Leave Grey’s Anatomy
After 22 seasons, Grey’s Anatomy has seen a lot of characters come and go over the years. A lot of the characters are killed off in dramatic and heartbreaking accidents. Meredith Grey’s beloved husband, Dr. Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), died in 2015 after a car accident. It was one of the biggest losses on the show.
Departing characters rarely get happy endings. But two longtime cast members were the rare exception. Kevin McKidd (Dr. Owen Hunt) and Kim Raver (Dr. Teddy Altman) left the hospital alive and together at the end of Season 22 to start a new life in Paris.
Ellen Pompeo Drops Major Clue That She’s Next
Ellen Pompeo is the face and the voice of Grey’s Anatomy. Her character narrates each episode. As the lead star, the actress negotiated a hefty paycheck. She’s also an executive producer on the show. It’s widely understood that the show will continue as long as she wants it to. But it might have to go on without her.
The actress has dedicated decades of her life to the show, rarely taking on other projects. But she branched out in 2025 with the Hulu limited series Great American Family, based on the bizarre real-life adoption story of Natalia Grace. It was Ellen Pompeo’s first role outside of Grey’s in years.
She loved the experience so much that she’s headed back to Hulu for more. Ellen Pompeo has teamed up with Great American Family writer Katie Roberts for a new Hulu show, the family dramedy Chicks. The Grey’s Anatomy actress stars in and executive produces the upcoming project.
Fans React To Possible Exit
Ellen Pompeo stepped back from appearing as a full-time series regular on Grey’s Anatomy in 2023. She hasn’t left the show entirely just yet, but ABC dropped another clue that the show might be ending soon. The network announced a spinoff for the 2027 midseason schedule, but none of the current stars are attached to join the spinoff.
The news that Ellen Pompeo has taken on another role outside of Grey’s sparked speculation among fans about her future with the show. However, fans took to Reddit to discuss her upcoming project with Hulu.
- “Ellen is literally only there for five episodes a season anymore”
- “If she doesn’t want to be there she should leave. She has made it pretty obvious that she is just there collecting a paycheck.”
- “Ellen has gone out on record saying how much she hates the show now and how much she wants it to end multiple times”
- “If Ellen is spending more time on this new project, then perhaps it will allow the remaining cast members more screen time”
Ellen Pompeo may leave Grey’s Anatomy eventually, but ABC has already renewed the show for another season. Share your thoughts on her possible exit in the comments.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
