Original Grey's Anatomy cast member Justin Chambers is leaving after 16 seasons

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https://deadline.com/2020/01/justin-...bc-1202826876/

The Dr. Karev actor announced he's departing the ABC medical drama. Chambers is one of four Grey's Anatomy stars from the pilot who's never left the show, along with Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. “There’s no good time to say goodbye to a show and character that’s defined so much of my life for the past 15 years,” Chambers said in a statement to Deadline. “For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices. And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is that time.” Chambers' statement also thanked Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes. "As I move on from Grey’s Anatomy, I want to thank the ABC family, Shonda Rimes, original cast members Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens, and the rest of the amazing cast and crew, both past and present, and, of course, the fans for an extraordinary ride,” he said. It's unclear when Chambers, who was absent from the November fall finale, will say goodbye to Grey's Anatomy. UPDATE: Chambers' final episode already aired on Nov. 14 -- there will be no big sendoff for Dr. Alex Karev, suggesting his departure came abruptly and without much notice.

Grey's Anatomy fans react to Justin Chambers exit, fear that Dr. Alex Karev will be killed off

Fans of the long-running ABC medical drama rallied to urge Shonda Rhimes not to kill off Karev, even though Chambers reportedly already exited the show with the Nov. 14 episode. “If Shonda kills off Alex, I’ll be no good. Just let him move away, like Christiana,” wrote one fan, with another adding, “I already know Shonda Rhimes about to slaughter his a– and have us more depressed than we was for (Derek).” ALSO: Ranking Dr. Alex Karev's most memorable moments.

Ellen Pompeo reacts to Justin Chambers' exit from Grey's Anatomy

Pompeo responded to a Vanity Fair tweet calling the original cast member Chambers' exit from Grey's Anatomy "one of its biggest losses yet. "Truer words have never been spoken," Pompeo tweeted with a broken heart emoji.

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First of all, I hope he saved his money. He's not that good looking nor dynamic enough to play a leading man. I can't imagine what he thinks the future holds.

2ndly, he was not convincing as a doctor, much less the head of anything medical. He played a good part, coming from the streets, but it began and ended there IMO.

Anyone else not enamored with him?

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Justin Chambers said he's "very excited" for his post-Grey's Anatomy life

Page Six ran into Chambers outside the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood on Monday. When asked if he had addressed some mental issues at the Privé-Swiss mental health facility in Connecticut, Chambers said "maybe," before quickly changing topics. "Anyways, Grey’s has been very supportive of me and I’m very grateful and it’s been a great ride," he said.

ALSO:

• Here are five dream farewells for Dr. Karev -- and five dark ones
• Here are five more ways Grey's could've said goodbye to Karev
• Grey's actor Omar Leyva says Chambers seemed ready to leave the show

Justin Chambers' exit is the latest blow for Grey's Anatomy and its reputation for messy goodbyes

"As it stands, Chambers’s exit serves as a reminder: Attachments to characters can get awfully tricky when they’re intrinsically tied to opaque, behind-the-scenes drama," says Alanna Bennett. "And for Grey’s, which has never been a show without mess, onscreen or off, it’s one more blow for a show that’s become known for its sloppy good-byes. It can be hard to emotionally invest in a show when it has the same turnover rate as the average media company. Viewers mourn every loss — most involving viscerally realized characters who were in their lives more continually than most art ever is. Most series with similar longevity to Grey’s are procedurals or daytime soaps, but while Grey’s has heaping elements of both, it is at its core a character drama. And when you’re watching for the characters, what happens to them at the end of the day really matters."

Grey's Anatomy should kill off Alex Karev even though Justin Chambers has already left the show

"The only way for Alex to leave the show while still remaining true to his character is for him to meet an untimely demise off screen," says Lauren Thoman. "Similar to how Patrick Dempsey's decision to depart meant that Derek Shepherd had to die, since the only way Derek would permanently leave his wife and kids was in a body bag, Alex is now in a similar situation. Grey's Anatomy has simply done too good a job of growing Alex into a reliable, loyal, stand-up guy for it to be plausible that he'd simply disappear now. As devastating as it would be, both for the characters and the audience, to have to deal with Alex's death, killing him is the only way to write him off the show without getting Chambers back, while still remaining faithful to his character."

Grey's Anatomy to officially bid farewell to Alex Karev in next week's episode

Even though Justin Chambers already taped his final episode last fall, an ABC promo promises to reveal Karev's fate in a March 5 episode that looks like it's going to be emotional.

Grey's Anatomy fans went through five stages of grief before tonight's farewell to Alex Karev

It's been nearly two months since the announcement that original Grey's cast member had already filmed his final scene. In that span, Grey's fans have gone through denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. ALSO: Here are eight ways Grey's could write out Karev.