It's Official: T.R. Knight Leaving Grey's Anatomy

The actor finally confirms that he will not be returning to Seattle Grace for a sixth season

By Marc Malkin Jun 19, 2009 3:37 PMTags
Katherine Heigl, T.R. Knight, Grey's AnatomyABC/Vivian Zink

T.R. Knight is saying goodbye to Grey's Anatomy.

After weeks of speculation, the actor broke his silence this morning to announce he's hanging up his doctor scrubs.

"Leaving Grey's Anatomy was not an easy decision for me to make," he said in statement released by his rep. "I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to play this character and will miss my fellow cast and crew very much. I continue to wish them the very best, and wholeheartedly thank all of the fans who have supported me and the show with such passion and enthusiasm."

So what does show creator Shonda Rhimes have to say about all this?

"I think I speak for the entire Grey's Anatomy family when I say we wish T.R. Knight the best in his future endeavors," Rhimes said in a statement released at the same time as Knight's. "He is an incredibly talented actor and a person whose strength of character is admired by all of us."

As I was the first to tell ya last month, Knight was leaving the show after asking Rhimes to be let go because he was unhappy with the dwindling presence and storyline of his character, Dr. George O'Malley.

Sources now tell me that Knight is pursuing theater gigs in New York City.

As for Katherine Heigl's future on the show, she's said to be coming back. Izzie Stevens spent season five battling life-threatening cancer.

It's still unclear whether Rhimes will kill off George. Last we saw him, he was holding on for dear life after surviving a horrific bus accident.

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