Why Justin Chambers Left Grey’s Anatomy
Justin Chambers portrayed Alex Karev on Grey’s Anatomy for 15 years, but fans were forced to say goodbye to the character after 16 seasons.
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 to be controversial. While the series is still considered one of the best romantic dramas on network television, digging back 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 on September 20, 2023 by Katie Doll: Alex Karev had one of the best character arcs on Grey’s Anatomy, showing real growth and maturity in the later seasons that he lacked when he was first introduced. This article has been updated to reflect his career as a pediatric surgeon and expands on his long-lasting love for Izzie Stevens.
Who Was Alex Karev on Grey’s Anatomy?
Justin Chambers played Alex Karev, who was initially an infamous reputation among the ladies — not everyone could be as enduring as BokHee. His snarky attitude and superiority complex 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.
Alex was born to a father who was dependent on heroin, and a mother who had a mental illness. 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 regrettable bedside manner and was low in grace and perkiness compared to Arizona Robbins. His paternal side definitely showed as he worked under Arizona, while Dr. Addison Montgomery laid the groundwork by showing Alex 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 was Meredith’s “person” after Cristina left.
Alex’s Romantic Past Led to a Rocky Ending
Alex’s original romantic partner was Izzie (played by Katherine Heigl). They initially didn’t get on when he taunted her about her side work as a lingerie model, which helped fund medical school for her. After realizing the way he treated her though, he told her about how his father was a heroin addict, and he went to school on a wrestling scholarship. Opening up to Izzie meant a lot to them, and they 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 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. 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 (and a sign it may have overstayed its welcome). 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. He left Jo and moved to Kansas to start a life with his newly discovered family.
Why Did Justin Chambers Leave Grey’s Anatomy?
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. “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 all the way up to a pediatric surgical fellow, so it’s possible Chambers felt he had taken the character as far as he could.
Although Alex moved to another state to reunite with Izzie, 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 Grey’s Anatomy in Season 19. However, should Alex Karev make a guest appearance, it’ll be interesting to see if the writers make him face his ex-wife Jo and the aftereffects of his decision to suddenly divorce her.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 19 is available to stream on Netflix and Hulu. The series has been renewed for Season 20.