Jessie Williams spent over a decade on the set of Grey’s Anatomy, but it’s finally time for him to hang up his scrubs. He announced his decision to leave the beloved medical drama after playing the role of Jackson Avery for 12 seasons.
The latest Grey’s Anatomy episode “Look Up Child”, fully focused on Avery’s arc, allowing him to tie some loose ends and give this beloved character the send-off he deserves. Williams will return in the upcoming episode “Tradition” on May 20th, which will also be his last.
Williams released an official statement announcing his departure, where he thanked the team behind this show “for the boundless opportunities” and said he’s immensely proud of their work. “As an actor, director and person, I have been obscenely lucky to learn so much from so many and I thank our beautiful fans, who breathe so much energy and appreciation into our shared worlds. The experience and endurance born of creating nearly 300 hours of leading global television is a gift I’ll carry always.”
Since joining Grey’s Anatomy in 2009, Williams also appeared in its spin-off Station 19, in addition to several other movies and TV shows—including The Cabin in the Woods, The Butler, and Little Fires Everywhere. He also breached out to production and recently produced the Oscar-winning short film Two Distant Strangers.
