Another "Grey's Anatomy" star has been discharged.
Jesse Williams surprised his fans after announcing he is leaving his role as Jackson Avery on the long-running series after 12 seasons.
The 39-year-old actor’s departure from the hit ABC medical drama was revealed on Thursday night's episode, Deadline reported. Williams’ final episode, titled “Tradition,” will air on May 20.
“Jesse Williams is an extraordinary artist and activist. Watching his evolution these past 11 years both on screen and off has been a true gift,” Grey’s Anatomy executive producer/showrunner Krista Vernoff told the outlet in a statement. “Jesse brings so much heart, such depth of care, and so much intelligence to his work. We will miss Jesse terribly and we will miss Jackson Avery — played to perfection for so many years.”
Williams, who plays a plastic surgeon, joined the show during Season 6 in 2009. He stared alongside the popular show's cast including Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, and Sandra Oh.
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"I will forever be grateful for the boundless opportunities provided me by Shonda, the network, studio, fellow cast mates, our incredible crew, Krista, Ellen and Debbie," Williams, 39, said in a statement obtained by People, referring to creator Shonda Rhimes, and co-star Debbie Allen.
"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 star continued.
"The experience and endurance born of creating nearly 300 hours of leading global television is a gift I'll carry always. I am immensely proud of our work, our impact and to be moving forward with so many tools, opportunities, allies and dear friends."
Following his start on “Grey’s Anatomy,” Williams produced “Two Distant Strangers” in 2020, which won an Oscar for live-action short last month.
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