Grey’s Anatomy has lost another familiar and beloved face.
On Friday, Kelly McCreary – who portrayed Maggie Pierce, Meredith Grey’s half-sister and the hospital’s head of cardiothoracic surgery since the end of season 10 – left the ABC drama after nine years.
Her final episode as a series regular will air on April 13th, though it looks like we’ll see the character again at some point.
Last month, Ellen Pompeo also said goodbye to Grey’s Anatomy.
After nine seasons, I’m saying goodbye to Maggie Pierce and the Gray Sloan family,” the actress said yesterday.
“It has been a great honor to be a part of a legendary television institution like Grey’s Anatomy. I will always be grateful to Shonda Rhimes, Krista Vernoff, and ABC for the opportunity, and to the incredible fans for their passionate support.
“To spend nine years exploring a character inside and out, while reaching a global audience with an impactful story, is a rare gift.”
He then concluded as follows:
“It gives me the opportunity to collaborate, learn, and be inspired by amazing artists in front of and behind the camera.
“Playing Maggie Pierce has been one of the true joys of my life and I leave feeling very grateful for every step of this journey.
“I’m excited for this next chapter, and what the future holds.”
It is currently unclear how Maggie will be written.
However, at the end of last week’s episode, a tearful Maggie asked Richard how he and Catherine knew what they had done was “just a rough patch and nothing more… vicious.”
Something clearly seems amiss in Maggie’s marriage to Winston.
Deadline, meanwhile, broke this casting news.
Showrunner Krista Vernoff said in a statement on Friday:
“Kelly McCreary is a writer’s dream come true; brilliant, nuanced, wise, and kind. We will miss her and the wonderful Dr. Maggie Pierce she created.
And Pompeo sounded the following:
“Congratulations Kelly.
“Thank you so much for your hard work and important contribution to the Grey’s legacy. Looking forward to the next chapter.”