Is Jesse Williams Checking Out of Grey’s Anatomy?

Doctors check in to Grey Sloan Memorial on Grey’s Anatomy both as doctors and as patients — as we saw in last week’s back-to-back episodes of the hit ABC series and its sister show Station 19. But they also check out, too. Is that what is happening now that one of the show’s actors is headed for Broadway?

Jesse Williams Tackles New Role

Jesse Williams, who plays Dr. Jackson Avery, is making his Broadway debut in April in a revival of Richard Greenberg’s Tony-winning play, Take Me Out. Does this mean he’ll have to temporarily hang up his stethoscope? Fortunately, no!

“I’ve known since the beginning of the season [about Williams’ play] and I’ve been able to plan [Jackson]’s storyline [accordingly],” Grey’s executive producer Krista Vernoff recently told TV Line. “Jesse is able to fly back one day a week; we’re just making it work [because] this was important to him.”

The actors” fans were thrilled when they learned he signed a new two-year deal with the ABC medical drama that will keep him on the show through Season 17. He joined the cast of Grey’s Anatomy in Season 6.

Many doctors have come and gone from Grey’s over the years. Last November, original cast member Justin Chambers suddenly exited as Dr. Alex Karev. Alex’s absence has been explained as saying he left town to visit his mother.

Revolving Door

There have been no announced plans for any specific returns but just because a doctor checks out of Grey’s doesn’t mean they’re never coming back. Kim Raver, who originated the role of Dr. Teddy Altman in Season 6, left Grey’s in Season 8, popped up for a few episodes in Season 14, and then returned as a regular in Season 15.

Vernoff is both executive producer and head writer of Grey’s Anatomy. She also serves as the showrunner for Station 19, which airs Thursdays at 8 p.m on ABC. Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.