What role did Tanner Buchanan play in Grey's Anatomy? Character's arc explored

Grey's Anatomy has multiple cast appearances that you must have missed and one is that of Tanner Buchanan. Before becoming a Cobra Kai icon, Tanner appeared on the hit medical drama series Grey's Anatomy.

In Grey's Anatomy Season 9 Episode 18 titled 'Idle Hands' Buchanan played the role of a student, Lucas, of Madeleine Skurski, a patient of Meredith Grey who had terminal gallbladder cancer.

In the episode, Lucas is a part of the group that comes to visit their maths and science teacher Ms. Skurski in the hospital. He is accompanied by his classmates Emma and Adam who skipped their after-school study lessons to give a visit to their favourite teacher. Ms. Skurshi told her students that she would be returning soon and asked them to listen to the substitute teacher Mr. Arnold.

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Lucas' Emotional Role in Grey's Anatomy Season 9 Episode 18

Even though Lucas' role in the episode was quite small, he left an impact on the viewers. Tanner Buchanan not only played the role of a young student but also a person dealing with the emotional depth of their teacher's diagnosis. The episode highlights his care and concern for his teacher. Tanner Buchanan's portrayal of Lucas showed how beautifully he can convey emotions and traits.

The episode showed Meredith performing an ultrasound on Madeleine Skurshi when she complained about stomach flu and recurring pain. As she discusses her professional life with Meredith, we come to realize that she is a teacher, and hence hygiene is a top priority. Meredith finds gallstones during the ultrasound and suggests laparoscopic surgery.

When Meredith is operating on Madeleine, Bailey comes up with a report stating it's not gallstones but cancer that has spread to the liver. Madeleine asks Meredith whether she is going to die; Meredith suggests chemo might fetch her some time, but it is not curable.

Madeleine is greeted by three surprise visitors, her students Lucas, Emma, and Adam. They skipped their after-school lessons as they did not like their substitute teacher, Mr. Arnold. Madeleine lied to her students, assuring them that she would return to teaching soon. Meredith also backed up Madeleine's lies to not break the hearts of the little ones.

Later, when Madeleine is watching American Bake Off in her hospital bed, Meredith brings a card from her class. Madeleine and the children spent some time together when Madeleine asked the students if they could manage without her. Lucas, Adam, Emma, and other students share a heartwarming moment with their teacher.

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Tanner Buchanan: Career and Biography

Born on December 8, 1998, in Lima, Ohio Tanner Buchanan began his acting career at a young age. He began his acting career in 2010 as a child actor for the Modern Family series.

Apart from Grey's Anatomy, he also appeared in shows such as Major Crimes, The Goldbergs, Mixology, and Deputy to name a few. He was cast in a comedy television film called Untitled Jeff and Jackie Filgo where he played the lead role of Jimmy.

Other notable projects in the following years include Fuller House, Jake Squared, Girls Meets World, Game Shakers. Buchanan bagged his first major television series role in 2016 where he played Leo Kirkman in ABC's political drama Designated Survivor.

He also appeared in The Fosters, Anything, Max Winslow and the House of Secrets, Chance, The Hyperions, and How to Date Billy Walsh.

His breakthrough role that made him popular globally was when he landed a role in Netflix's Cobra Kai. In 2018 he was cast for the role of Johnny Lawrence's estranged son Robby Keene.

Tanner Buchanan is currently engaged to Mary Mouser, who plays Sam LaRusso in Cobra Kai. The Cobra Kai actor took to Instagram to announce their engagement at the series finale event on February 12, 2025.

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