When does Callie leave Grey's Anatomy?

Dr. Callie Torres was portrayed by Sara Ramirez, who left the American medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy in the season 12 finale after 10 years in the show. Television critics gave Ramirez's portrayal of Torres excellent reviews and as the series continued, the character's reputation increased dramatically.

For their performance, Ramirez was nominated for multiple honors, including the ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Television Series and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Torres was placed #7 on the list of "Top 50 Favorite Female TV Characters" by AfterEllen.com in 2013. Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama that centers on the personal and professional lives of attendings, residents, and surgical interns at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, which was subsequently renamed the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

How does Callie leave Grey’s Anatomy?

Dr. Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) left the American drama series Grey’s Anatomy in the season 12 finale episode titled “Family Affair”. The focal point of the episode is the dramatic wedding of Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) and Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone). Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) tells Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) a long-kept secret, while Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) and Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) deal with the emotional repercussions of their custody dispute. At Meredith's residence, Ben Warren (Jason George) gives birth to April Kepner's baby via emergency c-section.

Ramirez, who had been a regular cast member since Season 2, bid their farewell appearance in the episode. As their character relocated to New York with her daughter, Ramirez declared that they were "taking some welcome time off" before leaving.

Why did Callie Torres leave Grey’s Anatomy?

After ten years, Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) left the show at the end of Season 12, stating she wanted to take a break and look for new career opportunities. Following their Broadway triumph, Ramírez became a regular cast member of Grey's Anatomy portraying Dr. Calliope 'Callie' Torres. The character's popularity soared as the series progressed, and Ramírez received both critical and popular praise for their representation of a complex character on television.

Ramírez left the series at the end of the 12th season in May 2016. They issued a statement stating, "I'm deeply grateful to have spent the last 10 years with my family at Grey's Anatomy and ABC, but for now I'm taking some welcome time off."

"Dr. Callie Torres came into our lives dancing it out in her underwear almost a decade ago, and I could not be happier or more proud of her journey. Sara Ramírez's performance inspired me as well as millions of fans each week," Rhimes wrote about Ramírez's work on the show.

Related: When does Arizona Robbins leave Grey's Anatomy

Callie Torres’s storyline in Grey’s Anatomy

Torres was deliberately meant to be somewhat despised by her coworkers to serve as O'Malley's romantic interest and eventual bride. Deeper stories emerged for her character over time, including her relationships with cardiothoracic surgeon Erica Hahn (Brooke Smith), plastic surgeon Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), and pediatric surgeon Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw), whom she eventually marries. Critics praised the portrayal of her bisexual relationships with O'Malley, Hahn, and Robbins, as well as how her character evolved over the course of the series. With 11 seasons and 239 episodes, Torres became one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ characters in television history.