Grey's Anatomy lost one of its original cast members in Season 16 when Justin Chambers left the series. While he was only one of several original stars to have departed the ABC medical drama (the most notable still being Patrick Dempsey, whose Dr. Derek Shepherd was killed off), Chambers had put in more than a decade of work as Dr. Alex Karev. That meant his exit was shocking to fans, especially when they were told why the actor — and Alex Karev — were leaving.
Not only was it surprising that Justin Chambers would no longer be part of the Grey's Anatomy ensemble, but the storyline chosen for Alex Karev's departure also proved controversial. While the series is still considered one of the best romantic dramas on network television, digging into Alex's past with fellow doctor Izzie Stevens was not the sendoff many viewers were expecting. So why, exactly, did Justin Chambers leave Grey's Anatomy?
Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on November 21, 2024: Justin Chambers's exit from Grey's Anatomy remains one of the most surprising in the long-running medical drama. As Season 21 continues, we dive into the background of Alex Karev's departure from the series. This article has been updated to include additional information and to adhere to CBR's current formatting guidelines.
Who Was Alex Karev on Grey's Anatomy?
Alex Karev Began as an Arrogrant Intern and Became a Fan-Favorite Doctor
Justin Chambers played Alex Karev, who initially had an infamous reputation among the ladies — after all, not everyone could be as enduring as BokHee. Alex's snarky attitude and sense of superiority made it hard to root for him in the early days, especially when it came to his subpar treatment of fellow intern Izzie Stevens. But as he opened up more about his upbringing to his co-workers, a softer side of Alex started to unveil itself. Alex was born to a father who was dependent on heroin and a mother who had mental health problems. Alex went through 17 foster families in his youth, being separated from his younger siblings. When they were a little older, his brother, Aaron, was diagnosed with schizophrenia and tried to kill their sister. As the oldest of the bunch, Alex was left to take care of them and his mother while neglecting himself.
It was surprising when Alex started showing interest in pediatrics since he showed poor bedside manners and lacked grace and perkiness compared to Arizona Robbins. His paternal side showed as he worked with Dr. Arizona, however. Moreover, Dr. Addison Montgomery helped lay the groundwork for Alex's change by showing him the importance of investing in patients. Both women turned a taunting, careless resident into the Head of Pediatrics who respected his colleagues, and he became one of the best characters for it. When the rest of the interns slowly departed from the show, it eventually was just Meredith and Alex. The two became best friends, and Alex became Meredith's "person" after Cristina left.
Alex's Romantic Past Led to a Rocky Ending
Alex Left the Hospital to Be With Izzy
Alex's original romantic partner was Izzie (played by Katherine Heigl). They initially didn't get along, especially after he taunted her about her side work as a lingerie model, which helped fund her medical school tuition. After realizing that the way he treated her was wrong, however, Justin told her about how his father was a heroin addict and he went to school on a wrestling scholarship. After opening up to each other, Alex and Izzie slowly began developing feelings — even if their relationship involved pursuing other people. The two married after Izzie was diagnosed with a brain tumor and didn't believe she would live very long.
She survived, but the contentious relationship between the two fizzled out in Season 6. He also slept with Kate Walsh's character, Addison Montgomery (who recently returned to Grey's Anatomy in Seasons 18 and 19). Alex began his next serious relationship with intern Jo Wilson in Season 10, and things looked up for the character after that. He slowly began to prove himself to be one of the best characters in Grey's Anatomy. However, his former flame, Izzie, ultimately changed his life.
Viewers believed Alex was happy in his married life with Jo, but he shocked them when he decided to reunite with Izzie during Season 16's "Leave a Light On," the series' 350th episode. Alex called Izzie to see if she would attend Meredith's trial for the reinstatement of her medical license and heard two young voices in the background. It was revealed that Izzie used frozen embryos created during her cancer treatment to become pregnant, and the two children were biologically Alex's. Alex left Jo and moved to Kansas to start a life with his newly discovered family. His exit remains one of the most disappointing storylines in Grey's Anatomy.
Why Did Justin Chambers Leave Grey's Anatomy?
Chambers Left to Explore Different Acting Roles
Alex Karev's sudden departure angered fans, who disliked how Grey's Anatomy dealt with his story to accommodate Justin Chambers' request to leave the series. They couldn't be angry with the actor, because he was devoted to the role for 15 years. He wanted to leave for different kinds of roles and grow in his career. "For some time now, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices," Chambers said in a 2020 interview with Deadline. Alex had started as a mere intern and moved up to a pediatric surgical fellow, so it's possible Chambers felt he had taken the character as far as he could.
Ultimately, Chambers decided that 16 seasons and over 300 episodes were plenty of time to get to know his Grey's Anatomy character. As is the case with many actors on long-running television series, Chambers was more than ready to move on to new characters and different projects that would challenge him. Alex Karev had undergone a transformation on Grey's Anatomy that made him one of the show's best characters, but his storylines were wearing thin by the time he left the series. It was likely a good decision for Chambers to leave the medical procedural when he did, deciding that it was better to leave the character than wait for fans to get tired of him.
Could Alex Karev Ever Return to Grey's Anatomy?
Characters Have Been Returning In Recent Seasons of Grey's Anatomy
Although Alex moved to another state to reunite with Izzie in Season 16, it's possible he could still return to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. It likely wouldn't be with Izzie, however, because actor Katherine Heigl has yet to reprise her role on Grey's Anatomy and hasn't seemed interested in doing so. It also seems extremely unlikely now that Alex's best friend, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) left the show as a main character in Season 19. But anything is possible in the world of Grey's Anatomy. After all, Pompeo still frequently appears in the series, just not as much as she previously did in Seasons 1-19, when she was a main cast member.
Ellen Pompeo hasn't been the only cast member to return in recent seasons after leaving the series. Jessica Capshaw also makes a surprise return as Dr. Arizona Robbins, who was previously assumed to be completely done with Grey's Anatomy. This is a positive sign for audiences hoping to see more of Justin Chambers's Dr. Alex Karev. Should Karev make a guest appearance in future seasons, it will be interesting to see if the writers make him face his ex-wife Jo and the aftereffects of his decision to suddenly divorce her.
Jo has moved on with her life since her divorce from Alex, having adopted a daughter named Luna and officially starting a romantic relationship with her best friend Link. If Alex were to return, there's little chance Jo would crawl back to him. However, it would certainly be compelling to see how the two characters interact after their gut-wrenching divorce. Karev's return would give the series a chance to redeem him for his controversial exit—or double down on the choices he made in his final episode.
What Else Has Justin Chambers Been In?
He Has Been a Part of Multiple Movies and Series Since Then
Since leaving Grey's Anatomy, Justin Chambers has appeared in several other projects that show he no longer needs to return to the series to have a viable acting career. Most notably, he appeared in the 2022 miniseries The Offer, which depicted the making of the classic mobster film The Godfather. Chambers portrays legendary actor Marlon Brando in the series, which shows how he was cast in the iconic role of Vito Corleone. Therefore, although audiences would love to see Chambers return to Grey's Anatomy, he may be more interested in pursuing other projects for the time being.
Justin Chambers also recently appeared in the second season of the anthology series Accused, playing the character of Tyler in the episode "April's Story." The show follows ordinary people thrust into unexpected situations that force them to make difficult decisions that could lead them further down the rabbit hole. Chambers plays a supporting role in the aptly titled "April's Story," sharing the screen with Taylor Schilling, who leads the episode as a nurse who is tried for a deadly road rage incident.
