Jessie Williams Says Farewell to “Grey’s Anatomy” After 12 Seasons

Jesse Williams with Camilla Luddington in
Jesse Williams with Camilla Luddington in "Grey's Anatom." Photo by Gilles Mingasson/ABC/Kobal/Shutterstock (10831957aq)

Jessie Williams has been one of Grey’s Anatomy’s MVPs for an entire decade, but all good things must come to an end. The beloved actor, who spent 12 seasons playing the role of Jackson Avery, decided it’s finally time to wave goodbye to this character.

The recent Grey’s Anatomy episode “Look Up Child” served as Williams’ farewell to the cast, the crew, and the fans. He’ll once again return in the upcoming episode “Tradition” on May 20th, which will serve as his final appearance on the show.

Grey’s Anatomy executive producer and showrunner Krista Vernoff said it’s been a true gift to watch Williams’ evolution over the course of the past decade, both on and off-screen. She praised him for being an extraordinary artist and activist and said they’re going to miss him terribly.

In an official statement regarding his departure, Williams thanked the creative team behind this show for “for the boundless opportunities” they gave him. The actor added that he’s “immensely proud of [their] work, [their] impact and to be moving forward with so many tools, opportunities, allies, and dear friends.”

Jessie Williams became a crucial member of Grey’s Anatomy cast in 2009 and even reprised his role on the spin-off Station 19. In addition to starring in other movies and TV shows during this time, he also served as a producer for the Oscar-winning short Two Distant Strangers.