A look at 7 longest-serving Grey’s Anatomy characters as Dr. Owen Hunt exits after 300+ episodes

With Kevin McKidd leaving after Grey’s Anatomy Season 22, fans have started looking back at the show’s longest-running cast members. Holding the spot as the 7th longest-serving performer by episode count is Bokhee An, who has appeared in 265 episodes as the beloved Nurse Bokhee. Before joining the show in 2005, An spent 56 years working as a real-life scrub nurse. She was originally hired to guide the production team on realistic operating room procedures, but eventually became a familiar face onscreen. Since then, she has appeared throughout every season.

Coming in as the 6th longest-running cast member on Grey’s Anatomy is Jesse Williams, who played Dr. Jackson Avery across 276 episodes. Williams first appeared on the medical drama during Season 6 in 2009, entering the story as part of the Mercy West merger. After initially recurring on the show, Williams was upgraded to a full-time cast member in Season 7 and stayed for more than a decade before leaving during Season 17. Even after his exit, he continued returning for guest appearances in later seasons, including Seasons 18, 19, and 22.

Holding the No. 5 spot among cast members with the highest episode counts is Kevin McKidd, who appeared in 346 episodes as Dr. Owen Hunt. McKidd first joined the drama in 2008 during Season 5 and was originally introduced as a guest character before becoming a full-time cast member. Over the next 18 years, Owen became one of the hospital’s most recognizable surgeons. His run officially came to an end with the Season 22 finale in May 2026. While there has been no announcement about Owen returning onscreen in future seasons, McKidd has confirmed that he still plans to direct episodes of the series moving forward.

Landing in fourth place among Grey’s Anatomy’s most featured cast members is Justin Chambers, who appeared in 358 episodes as Dr. Alex Karev. Chambers was part of the original cast when the medical drama premiered in 2005, introducing viewers to Alex as a surgical intern. Across 16 seasons, the character grew into one of the hospital’s most dependable doctors. Chambers exited the series in 2020, surprising many longtime viewers. Since leaving the show, he has not returned for any guest appearances, despite years of fan rumors and constant speculation surrounding Alex Karev’s possible comeback.

Holding the third spot on Grey’s Anatomy’s all-time episode list is Ellen Pompeo, who has appeared in 420 episodes as Dr. Meredith Grey. Pompeo has been part of the series since its very first episode in 2005. After starring as a full-time cast member for many seasons, she stepped back from regular appearances beginning in Season 19 to focus on other projects outside the show. Although viewers now see Meredith less often, Pompeo still remains connected to the series as an executive producer and the show’s narrator. Despite reducing her screen time, she is still expected to return in Season 23.

There is technically no second-place holder on Grey’s Anatomy because two actors share the highest episode count in the show’s history. One of them is James Pickens Jr., who has appeared in 426 episodes as Dr. Richard Webber. Pickens joined the series when it premiered in 2005 and has remained part of the medical drama ever since, making him one of the few original cast members still connected to the show today. While many longtime stars have left the series, Pickens is still expected to reprise his role in Season 23.

Sharing the highest episode count in Grey’s Anatomy history alongside James Pickens Jr. is Chandra Wilson, who has also appeared in 426 episodes as Dr. Miranda Bailey. Wilson has been part of the medical drama since the very first episode in 2005 and remains one of the show’s most recognizable faces more than two decades later. Wilson continues to stay at the center of the series and is expected to return once again for Season 23.