Shonda Rhimes, Creator and screenwriter of Grey’s Anatomy, has consistently killed off fans’ favourite characters. Throughout various seasons, Dr. Derrick Shepherd, Dr. Mark Sloan, Adele Webber, and Dr George O’Malley, among others, died on the show.
These characters’ deaths were unanticipated, but to keep the show running, they were necessary for the plot. The series boasts 438 episodes since its 2005 debut and is currently in season 21.
Unfortunately, Grey’s Anatomy has lost some of its cast members in real life. Here is a list of the cast members who have died, the causes of their deaths, ages and episodes:
1. Jack Axelrod
Jack started his acting career in the 1970s and appeared on several shows. He played Charlie Yost, the “Really Old Guy,” in seasons three and four of Grey’s Anatomy.
He appeared in season three of Private Practice as Oscar Schmitt in the episode Eyes Wide Open and Mr. Paige in the episode Invisible to Me in season one of Station 19.
Axelrod passed away at age 93. His representative, Jennifer Garland, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly, saying that he died of natural causes in Los Angeles on November 28, 2023.
2. George Gerdes
In addition to being a phenomenal actor, George was a well-known songwriter and founding member of the Alumicron Fab Tabs. He formed the band with his friend Loudon Wainwright III before graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in 1969.
He became an actor in the 1980s and appeared in numerous films until his demise in 2021.
His most notable appearances on shows include Miami Vice (1987), L.A. Law (1992), Seinfeld (1992), The X-Files (1994), Walker, Texas Ranger (1998), 7th Heaven (1999), Alias (2004), ER (2007), Lost (2009), True Blood (2009), Criminal Minds (2011), NCIS (2015), Bosch (2017-19) and Grey’s Anatomy (2020).
(Image: People)
While on Grey’s Anatomy, he played Norman Sholman in episode 13, season 16. The actor died on New Year’s Day 2021 in a Glendale, California hospital after suffering a brain aneurysm on Dec. 31.
He was 72. His longtime partner, Judy Johns, confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter.
Several colleagues eulogised him as a kind man and a wonderful actor.
3. Stephanie Leifer
The season 21 premiere of Grey’s Anatomy was dedicated to Stephanie Leifer, who passed away at age 56 in June 2024 due to cancer.
Stephanie was unknown to most fans as her work was mainly behind the cameras. She was the head of current programming at ABC Signature, the company producing Grey’s Anatomy.
She spent 28 years at ABC, beginning in 1994 as an assistant in the network’s TV movie department.
Meg Marinis, executive producer and showrunner of the Season 21 premiere of Grey’s Anatomy, explained the episode’s dedication to Leifer.
“Stephanie Leifer was an amazing individual and a loyal supporter of Grey’s.” From the beginning to the end, she genuinely supported our creative vision and had faith in us,” Marinis told Deadline.
4. Lou Cutell
Cutell began his acting career on Broadway in “The Young Abe Lincoln.” He is best known for his iconic roles, notably as Dr. Howard Cooperman in the 1995 Seinfeld episode “The Fusilli Jerry” and Big Larry in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.
His most recent credit was for an episode of Grey’s Anatomy in 2015 as Abe in S12, E4.
Mark Furman, Lou’s longtime friend, announced his death in a Facebook post on November 21, 2021, although he didn’t disclose the cause.