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'Grey's Anatomy' Dr Alex Karev actor Justin Chambers leaving ABC’s medical drama after 15 years

Chambers said, “There’s no good time to say goodbye to a show and character that’s defined so much of my life for the past 15 years. For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices"

It’s a sad day for OG fans of ABC’s medical drama ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. Justin Chambers, who played Alex Karev, one of the original cast members, is leaving the show. 

In a statement to Deadline, Chambers said, “There’s no good time to say goodbye to a show and character that’s defined so much of my life for the past 15 years. For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices. And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is that time.”

Talking about the show -- now in its 16th season -- and its creator Shonda Rhimes, and the last remaining original cast members, Chambers said, “As I move on from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, I want to thank the ABC family, Shonda Rimes, original cast members Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens, and the rest of the amazing cast and crew, both past and present, and, of course, the fans for an extraordinary ride.”

Reports do not specify when Chambers’ final episode will air and whether he will appear in more episodes. Chambers' character Karev was absent from the ‘Grey’s Anatomy fall finale’ in November 2019.

Karev was last seen in the show’s 350th episode, which aired November 14, 2019. In the episode, Karev left the hospital to take care of his ailing mother. Karev’s character has been as crucial a part of the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ coterie as has been Ellen Pompeo’s Merideth Grey.

He was introduced in the very first episode as a surgical intern at the Seattle Grace Hospital. As the show progressed, Karev rose to the position of a resident and later still, a pediatric surgical fellow.

Often viewed as a mean-spirited casanova on the show, Karev’s initial character of being a somewhat sexist jerk soon found depth as a more compassionate side was introduced. On the show, Karev went through two marriages, first to Katharine Heigl’s Izzie Stevens, and later, to Camilla Luddington’s Jo Wilson.

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ is the longest-running medical drama on television. The show will return on ABC on January 23, 2020.