As the season nine premiere of 'Grey's Anatomy' nears, fans are anxious to find out which character has survived the fatal plane crash that left Dr. Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) dead under the wreckage. To honor Little Grey's memorable departure, Latinos Post takes a look back at the show's most unforgettable deaths and departures.
Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl)
A dead finance, skin cancer and a failed marriage eventually drove Dr. Izzie Stevens to leave Seattle Grace for good. After criticising her characters development in the fourth season, Heigl was slowly faded out of the show. In her last romantic relationship on the show, Izzie finds love, marriage but not happiness with Dr. Alex Karev (Justin Chambers). The two split in Izzie's final appearance in the show.
Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington)
Dr. Preston Burke's departure was perhaps one of the most dramatic and memorable of the early seasons. Burke, who was engaged and set to marry Dr. Christina Yang (Sandra Oh), leaves his bride to be at the alter never to be seen again. Washington stirred up controversy on set when he allegedly insulted fellow cast mate T.R. Knight by calling him a homophobic slur. His insult prompted executives to not renew his contract for the upcoming season causing his character's abrupt disappearance.
George O'Malley (T.R. Knight)
Many fans shed tears for Dr. George O'Malley's unbelievably sad death. After learning he had skills as a trauma surgeon, George enlisted in the Army only to be hit by a bus and left severely disfigured. As his fellow doctors try to save who they believe to be a John Doe, they soon realize it is George and rush him to surgery. Despite their efforts, George dies under the knife and eventually becomes an organ donor. Knight's departure from the show occurred due to a combination of factors including a "breakdown of communication" with show creator Shonda Rhimes and his decision to be openly gay.
Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh)
While most character departures from the show have been tinged with drama, Dr. Addison Montgomery's farewell was anything but. Having officially ended her marriage to Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), Addison decides to embark on a new path in her life and flies to Los Angeles to practice medicine with her med school friends. Upon leaving 'Grey's,' Walsh was given her own spin-off series called 'Private Practice,' which is entering its sixth season.
Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh)
The latest 'Grey's' actor to leave the show broke fans' hearts as they witnessed her pass away under plane wreckage just moments after "soul mate" Dr. Mark Sloan (Erik Dane) confirmed his undying love for her. Unlike the departures of some previous cast mates, Leigh announced that she had worked with creator Rhimes to work out her on-screen death. With the upcoming season and the fate of the remaining plane victims in the air, it is unclear how many characters will be added to this list.
WATCH LOSING LEXIE