The long-running medical series Grey’s Anatomy revolves around the dramatic lives of the doctors and patients at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Since its inception in 2005, the show has introduced countless characters. As each goes through their ups and downs, they are shaped by their decisions, experiences, and relationships with others.
As a result, their character arcs are constantly evolving, leaving room to grow. From Alex Karev (Justin Chambers), who went from a pompous, inconsiderate doctor to a compassionate, fan-favorite pediatric surgeon, to Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), a Lothario who grew to be an amazing dad, these stellar surgeons had some of the best character developments on Grey’s Anatomy.
Richard Webber
Played by James Pickens Jr.
Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) was first introduced as the Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital in Season 1 of Grey’s Anatomy. Early seasons of Grey’s reveal Richard’s past infidelity with Meredith’s (Ellen Pompeo) mother, Ellis Grey (Kate Burton), as well as his battle with alcoholism, professional insecurities, and other personal problems.
Despite his repeated mistakes and disloyalty, Richard grows as he eventually owns his mistakes. He accepts he has alcohol issues and seeks treatment, and apologizes to Meredith for his role in her discontented childhood. He also becomes a better husband to his wife, Adele (Loretta Devine), acting as a devoted and caring partner until her devastating death in Season 9. All of his mistakes and what he learned from them play a big role in making Richard Grey’s Anatomy’s wise and determined leader.
Owen Hunt
Played by Kevin McKidd
While his somewhat turbulent relationship with Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) led to him becoming one of the more disliked characters on the show, the storyline about Owen’s trauma from his experiences in Iraq is among Grey’s Anatomy’s most impactful.
ackson Avery
Played by Jesse Williams
Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) is introduced as one of the doctors from Mercy West after the merger hospital in Season 6 of Grey’s Anatomy. Despite being the grandson of prestigious surgeon Harper Avery, Jackson didn’t boast his name, instead wanting to earn one for himself.
Jackson is rather impulsive and obnoxious in his earlier appearances. Similarly, he is quite stubborn regarding his beliefs, often dismissing others and their opinions. His differing beliefs with his love interest April Kepner (Sarah Drew), are a huge reason their relationship doesn’t work out. Jackson’s character development is rather subtle as he evolves from a cocky young surgeon into a fine doctor who is neither arrogant nor condescending to others’ beliefs.
Jo Wilson
Played by Camilla Luddington
Jo soon enters a relationship with Alex Karev and the two eventually marry, becoming one of the show’s favorite couples. Alex’s abrupt exit is one of Grey’s Anatomy’s game-changing moments, with many fans arguing it was inconsistent with his character arc. However, it demonstrated Jo’s growth was independent of Alex’s support, and she kept her strength even in the face of adversity.
Jo Wilson
Played by Camilla Luddington
Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) arrives in Season 9 of Grey’s Anatomy as a surgical intern. Not only did she have a rough upbringing, but Paul Stadler (Matthew Morrison), her first husband, was extremely abusive. Jo was able to leave and start a new life with a new name, working incredibly hard to become an independent and successful surgeon.
Jo soon enters a relationship with Alex Karev and the two eventually marry, becoming one of the show’s favorite couples. Alex’s abrupt exit is one of Grey’s Anatomy’s game-changing moments, with many fans arguing it was inconsistent with his character arc. However, it demonstrated Jo’s growth was independent of Alex’s support, and she kept her strength even in the face of adversity.
Amelia Shepherd
Played by Caterina Scorsone
Amelia is shown to be among the show’s most flawed characters, making her character development more dynamic. Amelia overcomes many obstacles throughout her appearances on both Grey’s Anatomy and its spin-off, Private Practice, including her battles with grief after losing loved ones (including her father, brother, and infant son), and her battle with addiction, making her progress even more remarkable as she continues to prove herself as an accomplished and successful neurosurgeon.
April Kepner
Played by Sarah Drew
Upon her introduction in Season 6, April Kepner (Sarah Drew) is shown to be perky and overly eager, making it difficult for her coworkers to take her seriously or view her as anything but annoying. Similarly, April is extremely insecure. However, as she makes a place for herself, she becomes increasingly confident in her skills as a trauma surgeon.
She embraces her faith, and while she is initially shown as a pushover, April’s persistent determination demonstrates that she is a compassionate doctor willing to fight for her patients. She becomes close friends with many of her colleagues and proves herself to be a valuable and beloved member of the Grey Sloan team. Additionally, her relationship with Jackson is one of the most compelling on Grey’s Anatomy, as they navigate marriage, divorce, and the loss of a child, eventually learning how to co-parent their daughter, Harriet, and going their separate ways when April departs at the end of Season 14. Jackson and April are shown to have gotten back together in the Season 18 episode, “You Are the Blood.”
Meredith Grey
Played by Ellen Pompeo
Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) was the star of Grey’s Anatomy for nineteen seasons. When she begins her surgical internship in the pilot episode, it is evident that she is hard-working and intelligent despite often being overshadowed by her mother’s legacy. Meredith endures considerable trauma throughout the seasons, especially during the earlier seasons.
Her strained relationship with her family and the associated abandonment issues initially make it difficult for her to maintain a romantic relationship with Derek Shepherd, though the two eventually marry and have three children, leaving her devastated when Derek dies in Season 11 of Grey’s Anatomy. Meredith has many interesting storylines throughout the show, with some of her most interesting being her therapy sessions with Dr. Wyatt and her fight to cure Alzheimer’s disease. As the show’s main character, Meredith experiences considerable growth, and fans love watching every minute of it.
Alex Karev
Played by Justin Chambers
Alex Karev is introduced in Season 1 as one of Grey’s Anatomy’s original interns. Despite being introduced as a pompous and rude character, Karev brings his share of magic to the show. Initially, Alex has a callous, insensitive attitude towards patients, demonstrating his poor bedside manner. Similarly, he treats his colleagues with disrespect before befriending the other interns, becoming particularly close with Meredith.
Throughout the seasons, Alex overcomes his arrogance and anger and goes on to be a gifted pediatric surgeon. Eventually, Karev becomes a good man and the kind of doctor who fights for his patient’s recovery, even when they are unwilling to do so themselves. While his unexpected exit from Grey’s Anatomy nearly undid 15 years of character development, fans will always have what came before, and Alex Karev remains one of the show’s most beloved characters.
Cristina Yang
Played by Sandra Oh
The hyper-competitive intern of the show’s original five, Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), is one of Grey’s Anatomy’s best characters. Ambitious and driven, Cristina owns her talents. While her confidence is initially interpreted as arrogance, it is soon demonstrated to be a ferocious passion for surgery.
Although her competitive drive never dwindles, Cristina’s priorities evolve, and her compassionate nature extends to her patients, coworkers, and students. Initially dismissive of her fellow interns and unwilling to delegate, Cristina forms an unbreakable bond with Meredith and learns to take the time to teach her students. Cristina eventually goes on to become the head of a prestigious hospital in Zurich, departing Grey’s for good at the end of Season 10.
Played by Eric Dane
Fans initially meet Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) as a narcissistic, insensitive man and a deplorable friend to Derek, having slept with Derek’s wife, Addison (Kate Walsh), before the start of the series. In his first on-screen appearance, Mark describes himself as “self-destructive and self-loathing to an almost pathological degree.” His storyline eventually reveals that his charming, rugged exterior masks the inner anguish surrounding his estranged relationship with his parents and Derek.
While Mark tends to be callous about relationships, he eventually falls for Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), becoming one-half of the show’s best (but ultimately doomed) couple. When his friend Callie (Sara Ramirez) gets pregnant with his baby, he steps up to become a father, something his past self would’ve never considered. Similarly, Mark was first introduced as unwilling to teach or delegate, but he soon takes on an active teaching role, even mentoring Jackson and forming the “Plastics Posse.” At the beginning of Season 9, Mark, who is consumed by grief following Lexie’s passing, ultimately also dies following Grey’s Anatomy‘s unforgettable plane crash episode, and is honored alongside Lexie when the hospital is renamed Grey Sloan Memorial.
