Why did Patrick Dempsey leave Grey's Anatomy?

Patrick Dempsey left Grey's Anatomy to focus on new opportunities and spend time with his family.

Grey’s Anatomy is an American medical drama series created by Shonda Rhimes for the ABC network. It was released on March 27, 2005, and currently has 21 seasons. The 21st season aired recently in September 2024. The show is set in a fictional hospital called the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, previously known as the Seattle Grace Hospital. The story follows the personal and professional lives of interns, residents, and attending doctors in the hospital. The original cast of Grey’s Anatomy included Patrick Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Justin Chambers, Katherine Heigl, T. R. Knight, Isaiah Washington, Chandra Wilson, and James Pickens Jr.

Patrick Dempsey played the role of Dr. Derek Shepherd in Grey’s Anatomy. He was one of the original cast members of the show. His character was a fan favorite, and it shocked everyone when he left the show in the 11th season. Here’s a look at the reasons why Patrick Dempsey left Grey’s Anatomy.

Why did Patrick Dempsey stop acting in Grey’s Anatomy?

Patrick Dempsey joined the cast of Grey’s Anatomy in 2005 as Derek Shepherd and became one of the most beloved characters of the show. He was referred to as “Dr. McDreamy” by the fans of Grey’s Anatomy. When he left the show in 2015, many speculations about his exit began circulating. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Patrick signed a 2-year contract to appear in Grey’s Anatomy’s 11th and 12th seasons, but his character was written off in the 11th season. The report suggests that he and the creator of the show Shonda Rhimes had creative differences and conflicts on the set.

In 2021, author Lynette Rice's book How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy came out. The book explored the behind-the-scenes of Grey’s Anatomy. In the book, former executive producers James D. Parriott and Jeannine Renshaw accused Patrick of “terrorizing the set.” His attitude towards the cast and crew became the reason for his character's writing out.

On the other hand, in an interview with People magazine, Patrick Dempsey shared that he is grateful for Grey’s Anatomy and he discussed it with the creator Shonda Rhimes. According to him, it had been long enough and it was time for him to move on. He admitted that the tight shooting schedule and long working hours didn’t leave him time to spend with his family.

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How did Derek Shepherd die on Grey’s Anatomy?

Derek Shepherd died in season 11, episode 21, titled "How to Save a Life". His death was one of the most emotional moments of the show. His character died in a tragic car accident when he stopped to help the victims of a crash. He successfully helped the victims but was later pronounced brain dead because he didn’t receive a CT scan from the doctor treating him.

His wife, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), was forced to make the difficult decision to take her husband off life support. Before saying her goodbyes, she forgives the doctor for his mistake that caused Derek’s death. His death left Meredith devastated and she gave an emotional farewell to him. Fans were shocked and devastated by the death of Derek Shepherd, as he was one of the main characters, and his relationship with Meredith was loved by the fans.