For nearly twenty years, Grey's Anatomy has made viewers feel joy, heartbreak and everything in between — sometimes all within the same episode! And as their storylines evolve on screen, the actors who make the characters come to life have created bonds with each other off screen as well.
As season 20 gets rolling, here's a look at some of the moments shared between the cast that didn't make it on TV.
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New Kids
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When it was time to celebrate the premiere of season 19, Camilla Luddington opened her home to the cast so they could watch it all together. Grey Sloan’s newest additions Harry Shum Jr., Adelaide Kane, Midori Francis, Niko Terho and Alexis Floyd all posed together in front of the big screen in matching blue sweatshirts.
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Triple Threat
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Three of Grey Sloan’s finest were all smiles on the set of the show in their matching scrubs and white coats. Luddington shared the photo of herself posing with Kelly McCreary and Caterina Scorsone while explaining that the moment was special because “we neverrrr get to work together 😭” and called the day one of her favorites of the season.
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All Together Now
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During the months-long strike SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes that began last summer, the Grey’s Anatomy cast hit the picket line together to show support for the ongoing negotiations. “Solidarity with the family #SAGAFTRA #Strike #WGA,” Jake Borelli wrote alongside a photo featuring Adelaide Kane, Midori Francis, Ant Hill, Chris Carmack, Jaicy Elliot and Jason George.
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Dynamic Duo
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Season 19 welcomed back a familiar face in Kate Walsh's Dr. Addison Montgomery. Walsh's character worked closely alongside Luddington's Dr. Jo Wilson in the obstetrics wing. The two stood proud in their black scrubs — a departure from the typical pink scrubs worn in the department.
In an episode, Wilson's character explains the change of attire by saying, "the female body has become a war zone in this country, and pink is a peacetime color," per Screen Rant.
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Take a Breather
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Chris Carmack and Luddington — aka everyone's favorite "will they or won't they" couple —enjoyed some time laying low on set back in 2022 while Carmack appeared to ice his knee.
"The Halloween ep. wiped us out! 2 more days to find out why…," Luddington teased on Instagram.
Oh, and spoiler alert — they finally decided that they will.
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Old Friends
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Season 17 saw lots of reunions for the cast of Grey's Anatomy. As Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey spent most of the season in the hospital being treated for COVID-19, her character would drift into dreams of a beach where she'd be visited by loved ones who died. One of those old friends was Dr. Mark Sloan played by Eric Dane.
"Old friends are the best friends... wait wait....but I don’t mean WE are old... I meant that we’ve known each other a LONG time... yes that’s what I mean we are like two spring chicks well one spring chick and one SILVER FOX @realericdane love and appreciate you!!!😘," Pompeo wrote of the reunion on Instagram.
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Power Couple
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And of course, the from-beyond-the-grave reunion everyone was waiting for: Meredith Grey and her late husband Derek Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey, who left the show in 2015.
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Emotional Reunion
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Meredith was also reunited with Dr. George O'Malley (played by T.R. Knight) on the beach. He's pictured alongside Pompeo in this behind-the-scenes shot with fellow castmates Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr.
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Flipping the Script
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Before both Dr. Meredith Grey and Dr. Jackson Avery took a step back from their time at Grey Sloan — and in turn Pompeo and Jesse Williams appeared less on the show — Pompeo gave a shoutout to her longtime costar turned director in a post she captioned “@ijessewilliams gets to boss me around for nine days... oh lord.”
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New Chapter
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When it was time for Sarah Drew to hang up her white coat as Dr. April Kepner after nine seasons in the role, she took a minute to pay tribute to her time on the show with her beloved castmates. In the sweet photo shared on Instagram, Drew is seen cuddled up next to her onscreen beau Jesse Williams, Jessica Capshaw, Kelly McCreary, Caterina Scorsone and Kevin McKidd.
“Here are some of my favorite people on the planet,” she wrote as part of the heartfelt caption. ”While shooting this scene my heart was so full of joy and sadness at the same time that it was almost unbearable. As I was looking up at all of these beautiful faces, smiling down at me with so much love, happy to see April alive and well, I was overcome with sadness about the reality of not being with all of these people in the same place in the same way ever again.”
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Getting Into Character
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In April 2021, Borelli and McCreary hit their best poses in their protective gear on set. “PAPR: but make it fashion…,” Borelli wrote, referencing their powered air-purifying respirators.
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Suited Up
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While fans have since had to say goodbye to Dr. Jackson Avery being a mainstay on their screens each week, just before his May 2021 departure Borelli paid tribute to the impending farewell by sharing a photo of the pair and warning that the upcoming episode would be “a big one.”
Williams has since returned to the show both as a director and guest star telling PEOPLE, "I love the family that I have on that show. So that's always going to be a form of home base for me. And I'll always answer their call."
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Off Set Adventure
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Castmates who celebrate together, stay together! In honor of Niko Terho, who plays Dr. Lucas Adams’, birthday, several members of the cast took a trip to DisneyLand including fellow onscreen interns Harry Shum Jr., Adelaide Kane, Alexis Floyd, Midori Francis and other Grey Sloan staffers like Jake Borelli and Ant Hill.
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Costar Cuddle
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Luddington and Borelli. onscreen roomies and offscreen pals, took some time between takes to snap this adorable shot that Borelli captioned: “We have way too much fun.”
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Making Memories
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Though none of these stars are mainstays on Thursday nights anymore, this powerful foursome has been responsible for some epic TV moments over the years.
Pompeo gave a shoutout to her costars Giacomo Gianniotti, Justin Chambers and Jesse Williams in a post shared to Instagram back in 2019 of the four smiling behind the scenes writing, "I’m a Pretty lucky girl...these guys hold me up and when necessary hold me down! #brosbefore...... @greysabc @officialjustinchambers @giacomo_gianniotti @ijessewilliams love and appreciate you guys ❤️💋"
