Kelly McCreary Exiting ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ as Maggie Pierce After Nine Seasons
Grey Sloan Memorial will be saying goodbye to Dr. Maggie Pierce this season, too.
Deadline exclusively reported that Kelly McCreary is leaving Grey’s Anatomy after nine seasons. Her final episode will air in Season 19 on Thursday, April 13, on ABC.
McCreary joined the medical drama’s ensemble as the biological child of Ellis Grey and Richard Webber in Season 10’s penultimate episode in 2014. Maggie Pierce has gone on to become the hospital’s Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
After a smaller ceremony, Maggie married Dr. Winston Ndugu got married on the beach on Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 Episode 17, “Someone Saved Me Tonight.”
Recent episodes have seen Maggie and Winston struggle with marital issues. Per Deadline’s report, that storyline is part of Maggie Pierce’s “carefully planned” exit.
The outlet shares that McCreary “approached the producers ahead of time about her desire to leave and pursue other opportunities, which led to Maggie’s Season 19 arc being crafted as the character’s final chapter at Grey Sloan, building toward her upcoming exit.”
“Kelly McCreary is a writer’s dream come true; brilliant, nuanced, thoughtful, and kind. We will deeply miss her and her beautifully crafted Dr. Maggie Pierce,” Grey’s Anatomy‘s executive producer and showrunner Krista Vernoff told Deadline.
The actress’s statement to Deadline is as follows:
After nine seasons, I am saying goodbye to Maggie Pierce and her Grey Sloan family. It has been a tremendous honor to be a part of such a legendary television institution as 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 impactful stories, is a rare gift. It has afforded me an opportunity to collaborate with, learn from, and be inspired by countless brilliant artists both in front of and behind the camera. Playing Maggie Pierce has been one of the true joys of my life and I leave with profound gratitude for every step of this journey. I am excited for this next chapter, and what the future holds.
McCreary’s departure comes on the heels of Ellen Pompeo’s farewell as Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy Season 19 Episode 7, “I’ll Follow the Sun.”
The Hollywood Reporter adds that, like Pompeo who is returning for Season 19’s finale, McCreary will return at some point during the season.
Pompeo shared a statement about McCreary’s exit on her Instagram, writing, in part, “Thanks so much for your super hard work and the valuable contributions you’ve made to the Grey’s legacy. Looking forward to your next chapter.”
Kelly McCreary also shared a personal message to Grey’s Anatomy fans on her Instagram:
9 seasons, 200 episodes, scores of heroic surgeries, countless brave patients, dozens of delightful sister house scenes, 1 episode with my real-life sister, some loss and some grief, a few ghostly visitations from mothers, a handful of boyfriends, 2 gorgeous weddings, a bunch of drunken emotional breakdowns, 1 high-speed chase, several awkward dinner parties, 1 punch taken (1 punch thrown), at least 1 pratfall, buckets of tears, innumerable fits of laughter, all the medical jargon mastered, a slew of friends for life, myriad collaborators who grew me as an artist, 1 grateful heart and 1 massive THANK YOU. What a ride!
There are only a few more weeks to see how Maggie Pierce’s ride at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital will end. Until then, Grey’s Anatomy fans can soak up every second they have left with Kelly McCreary in the role.
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Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.
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Shelby Elpers
Shelby is a TV enthusiast and pop culture writer. She's an avid podcast listener, green tea drinker, and soccer fan. Her brand can be summarized in rom-coms, superheroes, teen dramas, and workplace comedies.