Two more cast members are set to bid farewell to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, and these hurt! Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver will be exiting Grey's Anatomy after this season.
The news was announced by the stars themselves as well the showrunners Shonda Rhimes and Meg Marinis on March 25, marking another set of shocking departures from the long-running medical drama.
© Getty ImagesAt this point, Grey's has become infamous for killing off its main cast members, with a majority of its introductory leads like Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers, Patrick Dempsey, and T.R. Knight now gone. Kevin and Kim will exit the show after the season 22 finale, airing on May 7.
Kevin McKidd's exit
Kevin, 52, made his debut as Dr. Owen Hunt in season five back in 2008, and has remained a main cast member on the show since then. In season seven, he made his directorial debut and has since directed nearly 50 episodes of the show (and will also direct the season finale).
He shared in his statement: "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. 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."
"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."
© Getty ImagesKim Raver's exit
Kim, 57, made her debut as Dr. Teddy Altman in the middle of season six, back in 2009. She was originally billed as a recurring character, but promoted to the regular cast halfway through the season. She left the show after season eight, but returned in season 14, remaining until the end of season 22. She has also directed three episodes of the show.
In her statement, Kim wrote: "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. Since that day, it has been a true gift to bring the iconic words of Shonda and our brilliant team of writers to life."
© Getty ImagesShe added: "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."
Their decision to leave
While neither actor gave a concrete reason for their decisions, per The Hollywood Reporter, it was seemingly a matter of their storylines plateauing. Teddy was introduced as an old friend and potential romantic rival for Owen's affections vs. Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh).
© Getty ImagesOwen chose Cristina, remaining with her until the star's own exit from the show after season 10, with Owen and Teddy finally getting together in season 14 upon Kim's return. They do eventually marry and welcome two children together, but soon split up and get divorced. Shonda's own statement hinted at the natural end of their storyline.
© Getty Images"Over the years, we have had the privilege of watching Owen and Teddy's love story evolve and deepen — two characters who always seem to find their way back to each other. It is both bittersweet and joyful to give this couple the happy ending their story deserves," she shared.
