Dead Or Alive: Grey's Anatomy Edition
- by Jamie Gerber
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Recently beginning its 14th season, Grey's Anatomy has seen a lot of doctors – and plenty of beloved patients – come and go. Whether it's Seattle Grace, Seattle Grace Mercy West, or Grey Sloan Memorial, the hospital at the show's center has an undeniably high mortality rate. The medical drama has become known for throwing its doctors together romantically, often seemingly at random. However, the series is also famous for killing off characters in spectacular fashion. Between fires, plane crashes and botched surgeries, it would seem that anyone seeking a job or treatment, should be looking into any other hospital in Seattle.
Thirteen years is a long time. We've watched as interns became residents and those residents become attendings. Of the show's original lineup, only four actors remain. However, not all of the doctors to leave Grey Sloan have also left the mortal coil. Creator Shonda Rhimes may be known for capriciously killing off fan favorites, but plenty of the doctors no longer on the show have simply left the hospital. Change is good, right?
Have you been watching closely for the past thirteen years? Do you know who made it out alive? The following questions will focus mostly on doctors, but there are a few famous patients thrown in there as well. Do you know which of these characters managed to survive? Welcome to Dead Or Alive: Grey's Anatomy Edition!
Meredith Grey
Let's start things off with an easy one. There would be no Grey's Anatomy without Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo). She has been at the heart of the series for thirteen years and counting. Whether you love or hate her, there is no denying how much she has grown over the years. No longer the "dark and twisty" Meredith of seasons past, she has become an excellent doctor, a loving mother and a loyal friend. Is Meredith Grey dead or alive?
Alex Karev
Speaking of characters who have evolved over the years, Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) is virtually unrecognizable from the intern that we met in season 1. He was a bully, a mean spirited, thoughtless jerk and it definitely took a while for him to become anything else. However, little by little, Alex Karev found his way into our hearts. The character became a fan favorite, a loving partner, dependable friend, and a talented doctor as well. Is Alex Karev dead or alive?
George O'Malley
Another one of the original interns, George O'Malley (T.R. Knight) was beloved from the start. He was kind of the runt of the litter, the little guy who got picked on the most. George also had it bad for Meredith, and kind of followed her around like a lost puppy. Luckily, that didn't last too long and he found a way to move forward with his own life - although that didn't work out so well anyway. Is George O'Malley dead or alive?
April Kepner
April Kepner (Sarah Drew) has always been a divisive character. Some fans appreciate her, but others feel that she is the absolute worst. She made her first appearance in season 6, joining the staff of Seattle Grace after the merger with Mercy West. April might not deserve all the hate, but she can be single minded, annoying and indecisive. Love April or hate her, she lasted longer than most of the transfers from Mercy West. Is April Kepner dead or alive?
Derek Shepherd
The original "McDreamy", Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), made every woman watching Grey's Anatomy want him to pick her, choose her, love her. Impossibly charming and incredibly handsome, Derek not only won Meredith's heart, but also the hearts of viewers. There have been countless romances on the series, which is known for throwing its characters together in any combination, sometimes seemingly for no reason. However, there is no denying that Deredith is truly a love for the ages. Is Derek Shepherd dead or alive?
Jackson Avery
Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) was another doctor who came to Seattle Grace as a result of the merger. Because he's the grandson of Harper Avery, he's lived a rather charmed life. However, putting his piles of money aside, Jackson could never win the esteemed award due to his relation to its creator. Although it took a while to prove he was more than just a pretty face, Jackson eventually became beloved both by Seattle Grace doctors and fans. Is Jackson Avery dead or alive?
Callie Torres
Initially acting as a love interest for George, Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) eventually realized that she deserved better - and that she actually preferred girls. Callie developed a rather sweet relationship with former Lothario, Mark Sloan, and the two had a child together. This proved to be a bit complicated since Callie was with Arizona at the time. Eventually, the three came to an arrangement and Sofia had three parents, for a while at least. Is Callie Torres dead or alive?
Izzie Stevens
Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) was one of the original five interns. Although she had her shining moments, many fans didn't feel that they outweighed the times that she was the worst. Between guilting Denny into a bad medical decision, cheating with George, bailing on Alex and oh yeah, that ghost sex, there are plenty of reasons to dislike Izzie. Let's not forget though that she also vehemently defended her friends and used Denny's money to open a free clinic. Is Izzie Stevens dead or alive?
Jo Wilson
Jo Wilson, aka Brooke Stadler (Camilla Luddington), made her first appearance in season 9. From the start, she and Alex were able to bond over their troubled pasts. Slowly, that blossomed into more than friendship, but hit a snag when it turned out Jo wasn't who she said she was. She was on the run from an abusive monster of a husband. Still, Jo and Alex became one of the most beloved couples on Grey's Anatomy. Is Jo Wilson dead or alive?
Charles Percy
Charles Percy (Robert Baker) also arrived in season 6 as a result of the Mercy West merger. He was never the most interesting character. Charles was super into Reed, but terrified to tell her how he felt. He bonded with Bailey under very dire circumstances, but never really seemed to put down roots or get too close to anyone. Do you remember what happened to him? Did he leave the hospital or the mortal coil? Is Charles Percy dead or alive?
Stephanie Edwards
Let's be honest, Stephanie Edwards (Jerrika Hinton) was kind of the best of season 9's new crop of interns. Obviously, we all love Jo, but Steph was definitely the real MVP. She was brilliant, funny and didn't take crap from anyone. At first, Steph was little more than another love interest for Jackson, but once that was over, she evolved into one of Grey's best characters. Do you remember the circumstances of her departure? Is Stephanie Edwards dead or alive?
Addison Montgomery
When Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) made her grand entrance at the end of season 1, she was not well liked. In fact, she was instantly despised. Addison was the obstacle standing between the show's central couple, Meredith and Derek. This makes it all the more impressive that she became a fan favorite, starring in the Grey's Anatomy spinoff, Private Practice for six seasons. Her popularity is a true testament to both the writing and Kate Walsh as an actress. Is Addison Montgomery dead or alive?
Amelia Shepherd
Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone), Derek's youngest sister debuted on Private Practice, and became a series regular. She appeared on both shows, eventually finding a new home on Grey's Anatomy after the spinoff ended. Amelia was an incredibly talented neurosurgeon, just like her brother. She was also a recovering addict. Like everyone who suffers from the disease of addiction, it was an ongoing struggle for Amelia. How did she do? Did she succumb or survive? Is Amelia Shepherd dead or alive?
Mark Sloan
Mark "McSteamy" Sloan (Eric Dane) is another character who developed many more layers over the years. Mark was Derek's best friend, until Derek caught him in bed with his then wife, Addison. This kind of threw a wrench into their friendship for a while. However, eventually Derek realized that it was all for the best and the two men reconciled. After starting out as a rather shallow character, Mark grew into a fan favorite. Is Mark Sloan dead or alive?
Reed Adamson
Reed Adamson (Nora Zehetner) is another doctor who found herself at Seattle Grace following the Mercy West merger. She wasn't the warmest person, but she seemed to have a soft spot for Alex. This wasn't great news for Charles Percy, who had a huge crush on her. Poor guy never had a chance though, as he was basically like a brother to her. Reed was also very competitive and no nonsense. What happened to her? Is Reed Adamson dead or alive?
Arizona Robbins
Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) joined Grey's in season 5, initially as a love interest for Callie. However, the pediatric surgeon has since moved far beyond that. She and Callie were one of the show's central couples for several seasons, until Arizona broke our hearts and Callie's when she cheated on her. We're over it now though, because Arizona turned out to be a great character, and hey, everyone makes mistakes! Plus, her friendship with former Chief Webber was adorable. Is Arizona Robbins dead or alive?
Cristina Yang
Cristina Yang (Sandrah Oh) was one of the five original interns. She was single minded and could be abrasive at times, but she was Meredith's person. Despite the fact that Cristina's career trumped most everything in her life, she was always there for Meredith. She may have been selfish, but she was also a brilliant surgeon. Cristina almost married Preston Burke, and later married Owen Hunt, which also didn't work out. She's no longer at Grey Sloan Memorial. Is Cristina Yang dead or alive?
Owen Hunt
Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) joined the cast during season 5. He was a vet who was haunted by his military past and it almost got the best of him. Owen didn't get help right away and almost killed Cristina as a result. Still, she was there for him regardless. Owen had a long history at Seattle Grace, even becoming Chief at one point. When it came down to it though, he belonged in the OR, not mired in bureaucracy. Is Owen Hunt dead or alive?
Denny Duquette
Denny Duquette (Jefferey Dean Morgan) made his first appearance way back in season 2. No patient in the history of Grey's Anatomy has ever been more beloved. We all knew it was bad news when Izzie fell for him and worse news still when she cut his LVAD wire. Still, we all loved Denny too and hoped that Izzie's desperate gamble to save his life would pay off. Do you remember if it did? Is Denny Duquette dead or alive?
Henry Burton
Henry Burton (Scott Foley) made his first appearance in season 7. He was a heart patient whose insurance didn't cover the medical care that he so desperately needed. Luckily, Teddy Altman was a huge marshmallow and decided to marry him, thus granting him her assumedly fantastic medical coverage. Their relationship unfolded quite slowly, especially considering this is Grey's Anatomy we're talking about, but eventually their marriage became a real one. Did they live happily ever after? Is Henry Burton dead or alive?
Richard Webber
Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr) was the Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace at the start of Grey's Anatomy - and he'll always be Chief in our hearts. He had an uphill battle with his alcoholism, but eventually managed to remain sober. Richard had an affair with Meredith's mother, Ellis, which yielded a child that he didn't meet until she was an adult. It was a rough start, but he and Maggie were able to develop a good relationship. Is Richard Webber dead or alive?
Heather Brooks
Heather Brooks (Tina Majorino) was one of the five new interns who appeared in season 9. Even the fact that she was played by an awesome actress - seriously, watch Veronica Mars, if you haven't already - wasn't enough to make "mousey" particularly memorable. Heather was okay enough, but on a show with so many layered and interesting characters, she just didn't make the cut. Not that anyone would really mourn her, unfortunately, but did she survive? Is Heather Brooks dead or alive?
Shane Ross
Like Heather, Shane Ross (Gaius Charles) was one of the new interns who appeared in season 9. He was passionate and a very hard worker. However, he learned the lesson that hard work doesn't trump natural talent, when Derek - his idol - replaced him on his service with Heather Brooks. Sometimes Shane let his emotions get the best of him, and that didn't always end well. Do you remember what happened to him? Is Shane Ross dead or alive?
Adele Webber
Poor Richard Webber. Sure, he cheated on her, but he truly did love Adele. Once the affair was over, he was incredibly faithful to her. Having to see Adele suffer the same fate as Ellis, the other important woman in his life was heartbreaking. Both of the women closest to him wound up battling Alzheimers. In the end, it's a fight that no one wins, but has Adele Webber (Loretta Devine) succumbed to her fate yet? Is she dead or alive?
Preston Burke
Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) was around from the very beginning. He was the head of cardiothoracic surgery at Seattle Grace. Preston was a brilliant surgeon, but kind of a control freak. He was obsessed with keeping everything neat and tidy, from his apartment to his relationships. Preston nearly married Cristina Yang, but changed his mind at the last minute, leaving her - and the rest of us - brokenhearted. Perhaps she was a bit too messy for him. Is Preston Burke dead or alive?
Teddy Altman
When Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) arrived in Seattle during season 6, she brought a whole bunch of baggage with her. One of Owen's military pals - who still had feelings for him - Teddy's arrival adversely affected his romantic relationship with Cristina. Complicating matters even further, Teddy became the head of cardiothoracics, meaning she was Cristina's new teacher. Eventually, it all worked out, or at least as well as it can on Grey's Anatomy. Is Teddy Altman dead or alive?
Miranda Bailey
Originally dubbed "the Nazi", Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) has really softened over the years. Still, she never stopped telling it like it is. Miranda will give you advice, whether you ask for it or not, but you'd be wise to listen to her, because she usually knows what she's talking about. She could be harsh, but she was also incredibly kindhearted. As one of the original characters, the writers put Miranda through quite a lot. Did she survive it? Is Miranda Bailey dead or alive?
Nicole Herman
Nicole Herman (Geena Davis) was the head of fetal surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial, beginning in season 11. She acted as both friend and mentor to Arizona, who was shocked and saddened to learn that Nicole was dying from a brain tumor. It had been deemed inoperable, but Amelia was positive that she could tackle it. The surgery was incredibly stressful for everyone involved. Do you remember how it played out? Was Amelia successful? Is Nicole Herman dead or alive?
Nathan Riggs
Nathan Riggs is another character who entered the scene with a fair amount of baggage. He and Owen were once best friends and he was engaged to Owen's sister - until he cheated on her and she disappeared. Owen harbored resentments over this for a long time, and initially Meredith mirrored his feelings, because she was "Team Owen". However, that only lasted until she gave into her feelings for Nathan. He was the first man she really cared about since Derek. Is Nathan Riggs dead or alive?
Maggie Pierce
Somehow, Meredith - who was thought she was an only child - had more than one sibling out there. Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary) entered the scene in season 10. She was the daughter of Richard and Ellis, and she was given up for adoption, unbeknownst to Richard. At first, her relationship with Meredith went over about as well as you'd expect. However, slowly, but surely, the two became real sisters. They even wound up living together. Is Maggie Pierce dead or alive?
Lexie Grey
Speaking of Meredith's multiple sisters, Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) was one of the daughters that Thatcher had with his second wife. We know Meredith can be prickly and in this case, Lexie grew up with the family that she had always wanted. Meanwhile, Meredith was raised by Ellis, who was kind of a terrible mother. Eventually, Meredith and Lexie grew close, like proper sisters. Lexie wound up falling in love with Mark Sloan, which completely changed him. Is Lexie Grey dead or alive?
Ben Warren
It took Miranda Bailey quite a while to find happiness. Her first marriage did not end amicably and she spent a long time alone before Ben Warren (Jason George) was able to win her heart. Theirs was a long, difficult road, but their relationship managed to survive even under the strain of long distance. Ben has gone through quite a few career changes, never fully satisfied. He treated Miranda like a queen, but does he still? Is Ben Warren dead or alive?
Ellis Grey
Ellis Grey (Kate Burton) was never going to win Mother of the Year. She never would've come close. Unfortunately, Meredith had to become a better woman all on her own, without much of a female role model to look up to. Still, Ellis was a truly gifted surgeon - which is good, since that's all that mattered to her. Ellis developed Alzheimers and Meredith was the only one to care for her. Luckily, she showed her that kindness. Is Ellis Grey dead or alive?
Andrew Deluca
Andrew Deluca (Giacomo Gianniotti) made his first appearance in season 11. He was off to a a bit of a rocky start when he lied about being a doctor - when he was only an intern. It wasn't all his fault though and he did manage to redeem himself. Andrew was a super friendly, confident guy, with a good bedside manner. Like most of the doctors at Seattle Grace, he's easy on the eyes. Is Andrew Deluca dead or alive?
Catherine Avery
Catherine Avery (Debbie Allen) is not someone you'd ever want as an enemy. She is one tough lady! A brilliant urologist, Catherine is the Chairman of the Board for the Harper Avery Foundation. She also happens to be Jackson's doting mother. Catherine was there for Richard when it counted, helping him to grieve his dying wife, but also giving him the chance to move on. All in all, their marriage was a happy one. Is Catherine Avery dead or alive?