- Grey's Anatomy has been on the air for 19 seasons.
- In that time, TV and film icons like Geena Davis, Rita Moreno, and Faye Dunaway have guest-starred.
- "The Walking Dead" star Jeffrey Dean Morgan played the unforgettable Denny Duquette.
"The Handmaid's Tale" star Elisabeth Moss appeared on an early episode as the daughter of a patient.
Moss played a character named Nina Rogerson in episode 19 of season three. Nina's mother is a hospital patient in need of a risky surgery.
Before "Stranger Things," Millie Bobby Brown had a guest spot on an episode on season 11.
She played Ruby, a young girl who saves her mother's life. After her mom gets injured, she calls the hospital, and the doctors walk her through a life-saving procedure. She then spends time applying CPR until a helicopter arrives and rescues them both.
Mandy Moore already had an established music and acting career when she appeared on four episodes of the show over two seasons.
Moore played Mary Portman. She's first introduced in the two-part season six finale. She's in the hospital for a colostomy bag reversal surgery when the hospital is shut down because of an active shooter. She and her husband decide to travel and return to the hospital for the surgery six months later. She ends up in a coma after her surgery and her husband takes her off of life support.
"Harold & Kumar" star John Cho was Marshall Stone, an intern who fell asleep while driving on an episode of season two.
A surgical intern at the other hospital in Seattle, Marshall caused a car accident involving three cars. He didn't suffer any critical injuries, but one victim died.
Demi Lovato played a girl incorrectly diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia on season six.
Lovato played a girl named Hayley May in episode 22. May is incorrectly diagnosed and almost placed in a psychiatric ward, but is later correctly diagnosed and undergoes a successful surgery.
Emmy Award-winner Sarah Paulson turned up in a flashback on season six.
Paulson played a young Ellis Grey. The flashback shows her and a young Richard Webber caring for their first patient diagnosed with GRID, later known as AIDS.
Singer and actress Keke Palmer made her guest appearance on season 10.
Palmer played a young girl named Sheryll Jeffries. She arrives at the hospital pregnant, hoping to take part in Christina Yang's trial since she needs a heart transplant. Christina denies giving her a spot in the trial because of her age. She gives birth prematurely.
"The Gifted" actress Jamie Chung played part of an injured married couple on an episode of season seven.
Chung played Trina Paiz, a newlywed who falls 100 feet into a ravine during her honeymoon. Both she and her critically injured husband survive.
"UnReal" star Constance Zimmer appeared on five episodes during season nine as Alana Cahill, an advisor brought in to help the hospital avoid bankruptcy.
Ultimately, neither Alana nor the doctors could save the hospital. Catherine Avery stepped in and had the Harper Avery foundation invest in the hospital.
Christina Ricci played a paramedic during the two-part finale of season two.
She sticks her hand inside a patient's wound to prevent bleeding, but learns that she may be keeping bomb ammunition in place. So she has to leave her hand in it or risk it exploding.
"Friday Night Lights" star Kyle Chandler was Dylan Young, a member of the Seattle Police Department bomb squad on the same season two episodes.
As Dylan carries the bomb to a safe location, it explodes and kills him. Chandler returns for season three during Meredith Grey's "afterlife" visions during her near-death experience.
She may be Valkyrie on "Avengers" now, but Tessa Thompson was also briefly Camille Travis, Richard Webber's niece, on season two.
The night of her prom, Camille passes out during sex. And while at the hospital, she learns her ovarian cancer has returned. She was replaced by Camille Winbush on season four.
Abigail Breslin played Megan, a young girl insensitive to pain, on an episode of season three.
Because Megan can't feel pain, she doesn't know when her injuries are bad. She had a kid hit her in the stomach with a baseball bat 25 times, so she was suffering from internal injuries. When the doctors discover this, they take her into surgery.
"The '70s Show" alum Wilmer Valderrama had a short stint as Kyle Diaz on season 12.
Kyle is a musician diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He starts a relationship with resident Stephanie Edwards. He later succumbs to an infection.
Neve Campbell played Liz, one of Derek Shepard's sisters, during season nine.
Liz flies to Seattle to donate a nerve to help fix her brother's hand.
Currently playing Negan on "The Walking Dead," Jeffrey Dean Morgan crushed hearts as Denny Duquette on the medical drama.
Morgan first shows up on season two as a patient in need of a heart transplant. He eventually becomes Izzie's love interest and the two form a relationship. She cuts his LVAD wire, so he can get a heart transplant. And though the surgery is successful, he dies from a stroke later that night. He returns posthumously on seasons three and five during Meredith's near-death experience and during Izzie's hallucinations brought on by her brain tumor.
"One Tree Hill" actress Hilarie Burton showed up as a plastic surgeon consulting on a case for a couple of episodes on season nine.
She arrives to help with a pediatric surgery case. While in Seattle, she has a one-night stand with Arizona Robbins.
"Underground" actress Jurnee Smollett played a hospital patient on two episodes of season four.
Smollett played Beth Monroe, a young girl suffering from an inoperable tumor. She arrives with her boyfriend, suffering from the same tumor, to participate in Meredith Grey and Derek Shepard's trial. She survives, but her boyfriend doesn't.
"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" star Nia Vardalos portrayed a patient in need of a liver transplant on season eight.
Her character, Karen, needs to receive the transplant from her sister Marcy, but the two constantly bicker before and after the surgery.
Chris O'Donnell played Finn Dandridge, a vet and brief love interest for Meredith Grey on seasons two and three.
Meredith dates both Finn and Derek Shepard to see who she cares for more. But while she likes Finn, she loves Derek.
Before becoming a Tony Award-winning actor for "Hamilton," Leslie Odom Jr. made a guest appearance on season five.
Odom appeared on episode five. His character, P.J. Walling, becomes part of a domino kidney transplant after his dad, who needs a kidney, offers him $10,000 to do it.
Receiving his kidney was a patient named Stan, played by "Scandal" actor George Newbern.
His wife finds out he is having an affair prior to the surgery.
Before she was starring on "Scandal," Katie Lowes was an unnamed character on an episode of "Grey's."
Lowes played a blood donor on episode 22 of season seven.
It's hard to forget "Scandal" star Scott Foley's turn as Henry on seasons eight and nine.
Henry is first introduced as a patient denied surgery at the hospital because he doesn't have insurance. One doctor, Teddy Altman, proposes marriage to save his life. The two form a relationship, but the end is ultimately heartbreaking.
Before she was Mellie on "Scandal," Bellamy Young appeared as a patient for two episodes on season three.
Young portrayed Kathy, a woman who returns multiple times to the hospital with various injuries. She reveals that she turns to exercise to avoid cheating on her husband because they haven't had sex in more than a year. After tests, they discover that he has a tumor.
"Scandal's" Jeff Perry played Tatcher Grey, Meredith's father on multiple episodes from season two through season seven.
He has a complicated relationship with Meredith after divorcing her mother, Ellis. The two eventually bond, but it's not easy after the death of his second wife at the hospital and his alcoholism.
Liza Weil may be known for "Gilmore Girls" and "How to Get Away With Murder," but she played a cancer patient on "Grey's."
As Alison Clark, she befriends Izzie during rounds of chemotherapy. She never wakes up after her surgery and dies.
Now starring on "Scandal," Joshua Malina showed up on a season five episode of "Grey's."
He played Seth Hammer, the husband of a hypochondriac patient.
"Parenthood" actress Mae Whitman appeared on two episodes of season three as Heather Douglas, a patient who needed to receive a risky spinal surgery.
She initially came in for a kidney stone removal, but Derek Shepard says he can fix her spine. She is able to receive the surgery after an anonymous donor steps in to cover the cost since her insurance won't.
Before he was on "13 Reasons Why," Dylan Minnette was on season four.
He played Ryan, a young boy born with no external ears, but he still has the ability to hear.
Heather Matarazzo, from "The Princess Diaries," guest starred on season 11.
She played a pregnant woman who is trapped and injured with her fiancé when a tunnel collapses as they go to the hospital. They both survive and she gives birth to a son.
Also from "The Princess Diaries" was Hector Elizondo. He played Carlos Torres, Callie Torres' dad, on seasons three, five, six, seven, and 10.
A very affluent man, Carlos tries to exert his influence over his daughter and briefly cuts her off from the family after arguing over her life. He eventually accepts her again and is present for her wedding to Arizona.
"Scrubs" actress Sarah Chalke was a guest star as Casey Hedges, a mom whose son was ill but no doctor would or could diagnose.
Casey doesn't give up on her son and he is finally diagnosed.
William Daniels, aka Mr. Feeny from "Boy Meets World," was on a couple of episodes as a cardiothoracic surgeon during seasons eight and nine.
After a testy initial relationship, he becomes Christina Yang's mentor and the two work together on surgeries.
"Transparent" actress Alexandra Billings was a patient on season three.
She played Donna, a transgender patient diagnosed with breast cancer while transitioning from male to female.
Seth Green had a very bloody two-episode stint during season four.
Green's character, named Nick Hanscom, is a patient who has an exposed carotid artery after a tumor resection. It eventually bursts, but he dies as the doctors try to repair the artery.
"Gilmore Girls" actress Rose Abdoo popped onto "Grey's" as a marriage counselor.
Her character, Kim Dawson, is introduced as a marriage counselor for Arizona Robbins and Callie Torres. The couple ultimately splits after their therapy.
Broadway veteran Bernadette Peters played Sarabeth Breyers on two episodes of season five.
Sarabeth is with a group of her girlfriends on the way to a ball when their limo gets in a car wreck. She drives the limo to the hospital after the driver is injured.
"Gilmore Girls" actor Edward Herrmann appeared on a few episodes of season four as a surgical intern.
As an older intern, he is mistaken for a resident. He eventually switches from surgical to psychiatry.
Geena Davis is briefly the head of fetal surgery during season 11.
She trains Arizona Robbins, but must have surgery for brain tumor. The surgery results in her going blind.
"Luke Cage" actor Theo Rossi had an emotional arc as ambulance driver Stan Giamatti on season four.
Stan and his ambulance partner are about to leave the hospital when another ambulance crashes into them, flips their truck, and traps them. Stan's legs are trapped so that when they go to rescue his partner, he will bleed out and die. His wife works in the hospital, so the doctors get her for an emotional goodbye.
The iconic Rita Moreno made a guest appearance on a season 12 episode.
Her character, Gayle McColl, is the estranged wife of a patient at the hospital on episode 14. She arrives at her estranged husband's bedside and reveals the other woman as his girlfriend. When he husband wakes up from his surgery with memory loss, the two reconnect, and she remembers how much she loves him. Unfortunately, he dies in a second surgery.
James Avery was well-known as Uncle Phil on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," but he had an emotional appearance on season eight of "Grey's."
He played a man whose husband dies from injuries sustained in a car accident. He doesn't want to pull the life support, but he does.
"Glee" actor Matthew Morrison played Jo's abusive estranged husband Paul Stadler on seasons 13 and 14.
He finds out about Jo's fake name and surprises her at Grey Sloan. He introduced her to his fiancée, Jenny, and asks Jo to sign divorce papers. Jo tries to help Jenny, but she initially denies any assistance. Paul is later the victim of a hit-and-run.
Bethany Joy Lenz played Paul's fiancée on two episodes during season 14.
She initially denies Paul's abusive behavior, but she later decides to go to the police with information.
"How I Met Your Mother" actor Josh Radnor briefly appeared on season 15 as John, a potential love interest for Meredith.
He wasn't the person Meredith was supposed to be meeting on her blind date, but the two hit it off until he said he didn't like kids. Meredith ended it.
"Timeless" actress Abigail Spencer had a multi-episode arc as Owen's sister Megan Hunt during season 14.
She was in the Army and presumed dead after missing for 10 years but was found and rescued. She wanted to return to her adopted son overseas but needed to recover in the states. Megan was previously engaged to Nathan, and the two reunited when she we recovered. They moved to California with her adopted son.
"Felicity" and "Animal Kingdom" actor Scott Speedman played Dr. Nick Marsh, a surgeon who went to Grey Sloan to retrieve a liver for one of his patients.
The doctor himself had recently had a kidney transplant and collapsed in the hospital. He flirted with Meredith while they waited for his lab reports.
Alyssa Milano played one half of a pair of sisters trying to decide whether to remove their other sister from life support on season 16.
Milano reunited with her "Charmed" costar Holly Marie Combs for an episode of the medical drama, which saw Milano and Combs play sisters facing a difficult decision.
"Charmed" actress Holly Marie Combs played Milano's healthy sister on the same episode.
"Grey's Anatomy" showrunner Krista Vernoff, who also worked on seasons 3-6 of "Charmed," told People that Combs' and Milano's roles on the medical drama were supposed to reference their previous characters, the Halliwells.
"Our goal was to wink at 'Charmed' while still making an episode of 'Grey's Anatomy,'" Vernoff said.
Jesse Plemons played a patient who died quickly.
A young Jesse Plemons is nearly unrecognizable on season two, episode 18. The "Fargo" and "Friday Night Lights" star played Jake Burton, a patient who had a condition that caused bony tumors to grow on and disfigure his face. The tumors also began encroaching on his brain — he died during surgery.
"Dirty Dancing" star Jennifer Grey played a concerned mother on season 15.
"Dirty Dancing" star Jennifer Grey played Betty's (Peyton Kennedy) mother Carol Dickinson in three episodes of season 15. Betty, whose real name was Brittany, was the troubled teenager who Owen (Kevin McKidd) adopted his son Leo from. Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) was attempting to help Betty get clean.
"Zola" star Taylour Paige played a patient with a rare illness.
Grey Sloan doctors thought Zola star Taylour Paige's character Emma was a drug addict who visited the clinic to sober up on her season 13 episode. They eventually discovered she had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which is a group of disorders that's very hard to diagnose.
Skylar Astin's character Todd Eames fell for Dr. Jo Wilson.
"Pitch Perfect" star Skylar Astin played Todd Eames on four episodes of "Grey's Anatomy." He originally went to Grey Sloan because his sister was having surgery. He became interested in her doctor, Jo Wilson. The pair dated for a short time, but it didn't work out.
Faye Dunaway played a surgeon who was set in her ways on season five.
"Bonnie & Clyde" star Faye Dunaway played Dr. Margaret Campbell on the 16th episode of season five. Dr. Campbell was an older woman who was set in her antiquated surgical ways. Dr. Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) thought she should retire.
Justina Machado played a mom with breast cancer on season three.
On season three episode five, "One Day at A Time" star Justina Machado played Anna Nyles.
Anna was a mother with breast cancer who is so exhausted and depressed she's hesitant to treat the cancer until a talk with Dr. Bailey (Chandra Wilson).
"The Conners" star Sara Gilbert played a patient determined to die.
On a season six episode, "Roseanne" and "The Conners" star Sara Gilbert played a terminally ill patient named Kim Allen. Kim was at the hospital to die via physician-assisted suicide.
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