Grey's Anatomy is widely celebrated throughout the world and is often regarded as one of the best medical dramas ever created. Since premiering in 2005, the show has presented a ton of interesting characters, all of whom have their own alluring backstories and secrets. As such, it's apparent that Grey's Anatomy is more about people rather than complex medical cases.
But, with so many seasons under its belt, some characters fade into obscurity. Whether they were fired for malpractice or were just written out of the next storyline, the show does have a tendency to sweep certain figures under the rug. Thus, even the most devoted fans sometimes struggle to remember the characters of the past.
10 Meredith’s Love Interest Eventually Fizzled Out
William Thorpe
First Apperance | Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
Season 12, Episode 13, "All Eyez on Me" | Austin Guzman | Charlotte Brandstrom | March 10, 2016 |
First Apperance | Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
Season 2, Episode 22, "The Name of the Game" | Blythe Robe | Seith Mann | April 2, 2006 |
First Apperance | Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
Season 2, Episode 1, "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" | Stacy McKee | Peter Horton | September 25, 2005 |
First Apperance | Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
Season 4, Episode 3, "Let the Truth Sting" | Mark Wilding | Dan Minahan | October 11, 2007 |
First Apperance | Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
Season 7, Episode 8, "Something's Gotta Give" | William Harper | Jeannot Szwarc | November 11, 2010 |
Despite only really working on one patient, William Thorpe certainly made a good impression, especially with Meredith Grey. As a Surgical Oncologist with the Bauer Army Medical Center, Thorpe first appeared in "All Eyez on Me." Here, he was working on Brian Carson, a gentleman suffering from cancer in his pelvis and spine. Thorpe became exceptionally angry when the Grey Sloan team was called into operate on Carson because he wanted to treat him with traditional chemotherapy.
Yet, Thorpe put his pride aside and saved Carson. The rest of his arc was pretty dull as he spent the rest of his time on screen chasing Meredith. After they sleep together in "When It Hurts So Bad," Meredith asks him to back off a little because Derek's death is still so fresh in her mind. Although he said he would wait for her and call her later, he was never seen again. So, it seems Thorpe was simply used as a way to expose the nuances of Grey's grief.
9 This Vet Was in Major Competition With Derek Shepherd
Finn Dandridge
Though the vast majority of characters in Grey's Anatomy work in the surgical field, Finn Dandridge is a vet. At first, he was tasked with treating Doc's bone cancer but quickly got the hots for Meredith. Yet, once he saw that she was with Derek, he began avoiding him at all costs.
Dandridge popped up a few times throughout Seasons 2 and 3 and was mainly rejected by Meredith. Overall, it could be argued that the vet's role was just to be a source of competition for Derek. In Season 3, Episode 3, "Sometimes a Fantasy," the men bicker for a short while before Meredith admits that she wants to be wooed by them. Eventually, Dandridge got bored with Meredith's mind games and told her that he wouldn't keep running back every time Derek broke her heart.
8 A Faithful Character Who Never Got a Real Farewell
Joe
As the owner of the famous Emerald City Bar, Joe would serve the surgeons after a busy day. Though he may not be working at Grey Sloan himself, he knew of all the surgeon's troubles and would try to ease their worries with good food and cheap drinks. It also seems that the doctors had a very personal relationship with Joe, seen as he went to Meredith's house for Thanksgiving in "Thanks for the Memories" and even joined in on the boys' camping trip in "Where the Boys Are."
Yet, after seven seasons on the show, the doctors randomly stopped going to the bar, and Joe wasn't seen again. It's assumed that the bar is still in operation as Joe has made a handful of cameos in Private Practice. Yet, it's clear that Joe was a victim of Grey's Anatomy's revolving door of cast members.
7 The World’s Oldest Intern Quickly Gave Up
Norman Shales
The interns at Grey Sloan are typically immature, inexperienced, and hungry to learn as quickly as possible. Norman Shales defied this stereotype when he transferred to the hospital from UCLA. Originally a respected pharmacist, Shales joined the residency program to try his hand at surgery. However, his age and lack of social skills meant that he struggled to learn the trade as quickly as his peers.
To make matters worse, in Season 4, Episode 5, "Haunt You Every Day," he suffered a stroke, which put him out of action for a while. After his shocking diagnosis, he transferred over to the psychiatry department because when he woke up from his stroke, he kept hearing voices telling him to change programs. Overall, it seems that Shales made the right decision and didn't burn any bridges because he believes that every surgeon deserves a good shrink.
6 This Doctor Was Arizona Robbins’ Short-Lived Replacement
Robert Stark
When Arizona Robbins left Seattle for greener pastures in Malawi, Dr. Robert Stark was appointed the new Head of Pediatric Surgery. Often regarded as the complete opposite of Robbins, Dr. Stark was widely criticized for his lazy attitude and complacent response to emergencies. For example, in "Slow Night, So Long," Meredith Grey paged Robert after she had concerns about Drew McNeil. Stark quickly brushed them off and refused to answer any more of her messages. Yet, in his typical fashion, he got extremely angry at Meredith when she decided to take McNeil into surgery without his approval.
Dr. Stark disappeared toward the end of Season 7, and many fans speculate that his actor, Peter MacNicol, had only signed a short-term contract with the show. But fans were quite pleased to finally get rid of this terrible doctor, especially since they missed Dr. Robbins so much. Therefore, it seems that Dr. Stark was included in Season 7 so that he could add a touch of conflict and tension to this season.
5 This Doctor Aided Callie During Her Pregnancy
Lucy Fields
First Apperance | Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
Season 7, Episode 13, "Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go)" | Mark Wilding | Kevin McKidd | February 3, 2011 |
First Apperance | Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
Season 1, Episode 4, "No Man's Land" | James Parriott | Adam Davidson | April 17, 2005 |
First Apperance | Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
Season 7, Episode 10, "Adrift and at Peace" | Tony Phelan & Joan Rater | Allison Liddi-Brown | December 2, 2010 |
First Apperance | Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
Season 6, Episode 10, "Holidaze" | Krista Vernoff | Robert Berlinger | November 19, 2009 |
Even though she only starred in 7 episodes, Dr. Lucy Fields certainly made an impression on certain characters. Initially, she was tasked with helping Callie Torres during her pregnancy. But, after a build-up of sexual tension, she eventually begins a brief dalliance with the notorious Alex Karev.
Yet, it was evident that she always placed her career before anything else. In Season 7, Episode 21, "I Will Survive," she mentions that she was offered a job in Texas but was hesitant to take it because she was keen to continue her relationship with Karev. Later in the episode, Dr. Fields overhears Arizona telling Alex about a job in Namboze, but Karev also declines the position due to his love for Lucy. But, Dr. Fields decided that her job would always come first and left Seattle for the role in Malawi. As such, Dr. Fields went off to pursue her dreams, and Karev went back to his usual job at Grey Sloan.
4 Fans Were Hesitant to Say Goodbye to This Beloved Scrub Nurse
Elizabeth Fallon
Before becoming a patient at Seattle Grace, Elizabeth Fallon was Ellis Grey's scrub nurse for nearly 20 years. As such, the nurse got to know the Grey family very well and even appeared to Meredith as a vision while she was drowning in Elliot Bay in "Some Kind of Miracle." Yet, in "No Man's Land," it's revealed that Fallon has pancreatic cancer and will have to move into Palliative Care.
When she returned to Seattle Grace as a patient, many surgeons, including Richard Webber, were happy to see her. But, after discussing her case, it was clear that she was admitted to the hospital to pass away. After her death, a handful of characters entered her room to pay their respects, making this an incredibly touching moment.
3 Teddy’s Fake Husband Received a Crushing Diagnosis
Henry Burton
Despite having a pretty intense storyline, many fans tend to forget just how significant Henry Burton actually is to the Grey's Anatomy canon. After being diagnosed with Von-Hippel-Lindau syndrome, Burton admits that he doesn't have medical insurance, so he will struggle to pay for his life-saving treatment. As such, Teddy Altman offers to marry him so that he can join her insurance plan.
While being married to Altman, Burton suffered a ton of serious health complaints, including a heart mass and diabetes. Although he managed to overcome these hurdles, he unfortunately suffered a tumor in his heart in Season 8 and died after complications from surgery. Though many fans adored his heartbreaking storyline, it suggests that Burton's relationship with Teddy was overshadowed by her later bond with Owen Hunt.
2 Mark Sloan’s Daughter Experienced a Wealth of Fertility Issues
Sloan Riley
Sloan Riley first joined Grey's Anatomy in Season 6 after trying to find her biological father, Mark Sloan. Riley fell pregnant at just 18 years old and unfortunately suffered problems with her child's legs. The team decided that it was best for her to fly to LA so that Addison Montgomery could complete the surgery. Once her baby was deemed healthy, she decided to give the baby up for adoption.
Overall, Riley was a very divisive character and quickly angered fans with her rude attitude. Yet, it's evident that her character was brought into the show as a way to join Grey's Anatomy with its main spin-off, Private Practice. In turn, she may not have been the most memorable character in the show's history, but she helped to make the Grey's Anatomy universe more cohesive and exciting.
1 Cristina’s Mentor Suffered a Grave Fate
Craig Thomas
First Apperance | Written By | Directed By | Original Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
Season 8, Episode 22, "Let the Bad Times Roll" | Matt Byrne | Kevin McKidd | May 3, 2012 |
Though at first Cristina Yang grew very frustrated with Craig Thomas' old-fashioned approach to medicine, the pair developed a tremendously strong bond throughout his short time on the show. During her time at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Thomas was very impressed by Cristina's skills and encouraged her to think for herself and develop her own signature style. After a few drinks, the duo became good friends and learned to put their professional differences aside and enjoy each other's unique presence.
In "Beautiful Doom", Cristina and Craig were working on a patient who had suffered an aneurysm. Once that surgery had finished, Dr. Thomas was placed on probation and was forbidden to work on the patient's heart defect. However, he defied these orders and ended up having a heart attack in the OR. Despite the team's best efforts, he passed away quickly after.