Shonda Rhimes is one of the biggest names in modern television history, with an expansive media empire called Shondaland dominating the industry. Since 2005, she’s cranked out several bangers, including How to Get Away With Murder, Scandal, Bridgerton, and, of course, her gem Grey’s Anatomy.
Grey’s Anatomy has been on the air for nearly two decades, with its 21st season cementing the show as the longest-running medical drama show in primetime TV history. It’s a highly beloved series that shines in Shondaland, even spawning two spinoff shows in Private Practice and Station 19. That said, Grey’s Anatomy seems to be the hub for special appearances, with some pretty big names popping up across the seasons as patients and staff, including several stars featured in other Shondaland productions and many Station 19 cast members.
Miguel Sandoval played a significant role at the beginning of Station 19’s run as Pruitt Herrera. His character started strong as the captain of the firehouse, but the show’s pilot immediately pelted him with health problems. In the episode, he collapses on the scene of an apartment fire and later discovers he has stage two cancer, forcing him to step down from his position. Despite the unfortunate circumstances immediately into the series, Herrera remains a pivotal character as a mentor and a guiding source of wisdom for the team. His cancer battle is a major storyline throughout the first couple of seasons, which keeps him connected to the medical side of the Grey’s Anatomy universe. But his death in Season 3 wasn’t health-related, as he sacrificed himself to save his team during a storage facility fire. Even though he died early on in the show, it’s clear that Pruitt Herrera’s legacy lasted until the finale.
Miguel Sandoval Played Two Characters in Grey’s As mentioned above, Herrera’s health was on the decline throughout the series, which naturally landed him in a patient bed at Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital several times. One of his most notable episodes in Grey’s is a crossover event that finds him on Dr. Miranda Bailey’s service, lining up his six-month prognosis with her miscarriage, leading Herrera and Ben Warren to drink at Joe’s bar in time for a car to crash through the building. That said, though, Captain Herrera wasn’t Miguel Sandoval’s first appearance in Grey’s Anatomy, as he also appeared in a Season 9 episode as Hank, whose husband was a longtime patient of Bailey’s.
Carlos Miranda’s Character Almost Died at Grey SloanCarlos Miranda first appeared in Station 19’s fourth season as Theo Ruiz. At first, Theo is just a masked man who passes Vic Hughes on her morning runs during the Covid era, but his introduction comes when they stop to talk, taking off their masks to meet, only for Vic to realize that he’s a fellow firefighter at Station 23. His introduction sparked a new romance opportunity for Vic, but various things work against them as he becomes a more significant character. Theo’s time throughout the series spotlights his past trauma in leadership positions, as his close friend died due to a decision he made while captain at another station. He’s a strong leader and overall character until the show’s conclusion.Theo’s entry into Grey’s Anatomy is pretty simple, as he just appears to sit by Vic’s bedside at the hospital in Season 18. His most notable episode in Grey’s Anatomy is likely in the Season 20 finale, “Burn it Down,” as Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital responds to an injury he suffered on the scene during a wildfire. His injuries are extensive as a large tree branch fell on him, leading to abdominal crush injuries, pelvis fracture, open femur fracture, and requiring intubation, which, as all Grey’s fans know, is a horrendous combination. Luckily, he pulls through by the episode’s end and could return to Grey’s Anatomy at some point, though probably not as a firefighter, as he gave up his helmet to become Seattle’s fire inspector shortly after his accident.
Boris Kodjoe Was Barely in Grey’s Anatomy Theo’s entry into Grey’s Anatomy is pretty simple, as he just appears to sit by Vic’s bedside at the hospital in Season 18. His most notable episode in Grey’s Anatomy is likely in the Season 20 finale, “Burn it Down,” as Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital responds to an injury he suffered on the scene during a wildfire. His injuries are extensive as a large tree branch fell on him, leading to abdominal crush injuries, pelvis fracture, open femur fracture, and requiring intubation, which, as all Grey’s fans know, is a horrendous combination. Luckily, he pulls through by the episode’s end and could return to Grey’s Anatomy at some point, though probably not as a firefighter, as he gave up his helmet to become Seattle’s fire inspector shortly after his accident.
Boris Kodjoe Was Barely in Grey’s Anatomy
Sullivan is one of the Station 19 crew members who has technically shown up in Grey’s Anatomy but doesn’t make much of an impact on any of the plots. His first appearance was in a Season 15 episode, where he shows up alongside a couple of coworkers to check on their fire chief, Lucas Ripley, after collapsing outside a flower shop. His most recent appearance in Season 19 played a small part in the plot, as he was among the firefighters fighting to save Meredith’s house as it burnt down, which acted as the final straw for Meredith, who moved to Boston shortly after.
Jay Hayden’s Crossover into Grey’s Anatomy Featured Queer InjusticesJay Hayden first appeared in Station 19’s premiere episode as Travis Montgomery, a firefighter in the titular firehouse. He was the show’s first openly gay main character, and his time throughout the series spotlights his troubles as a young widower like Sullivan. Unfortunately, his loss connects to Ruiz, as his husband, Michael, was Ruiz’s aforementioned friend killed in the line of duty. Travis is sort of an activist, especially near the show’s end, as he notably runs for Seattle mayor to challenge a corrupt politician aiming to dismantle the station’s beloved Crisis One program. A significant part of his character centers around his sexuality and struggles with his father, which is a common theme in the Grey’s Anatomy universe.Travis Montgomery first pops up at the beginning of Grey’s Season 17, featuring Grey Sloan amid the pandemic’s toughest period. It opens with the Station 19 crew and Grey Sloan team doing their morning clapout to celebrate their fellow essential personnel. His appearance in the episode is brief, as he simply transports a patient to the hospital despite the ER not accepting trauma patients. His most recent appearance is in Season 18, with his main scene in the episode highlighting the extreme blood shortage and how, as a gay man, he’s not allowed to help. The issue also comes up with Jake Borelli’s Dr. Levi Schmitt later in the episode, reflecting on the injustice faced when queer individuals aren’t allowed to save lives as they’ve dedicated their lives to do.
Grey Damon’s Jack Could Return to Grey’s
Grey Damon’s Jack Gibson also appeared in the pilot, appearing immediately as a love interest for Andy Herrera, with their romance adding a sprinkle of tension when they’re both appointed to joint leadership positions in the station. Overall, the biggest part of his character centers around his traumatic childhood, as he grew up in foster care, lost his foster family, and later experienced issues reuniting with his biological relatives. Unfortunately, Gibson can’t catch a break as by the show’s end, he suffered a traumatic brain injury and had to be removed from duty because of his high likelihood of developing a serious neurodegenerative disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Gibson’s tragic send-off shows a station dinner where he writes his name under the table alongside other fallen firefighters.
His first big appearance in Grey’s Anatomy is the same Season 16 episode that introduced Pruitt Herrera to the medical side. He appears in the first part of the crossover event as Dr. Jo Wilson picks up a baby surrendered through the safe haven program, and then Station 19 responds when a car crashes into the Emerald City Bar. While it could’ve been a great opportunity to feature Gibson in Grey’s, Amelia Shepherd operated on his brain bleed in a strictly Station 19 episode. His final episode in Grey’s is heartbreaking, but he doesn’t play a big role, as he simply rides in an ambulance. Even though he got taken out of the game, his traumatic brain injury could bring him back to Grey Sloan eventually.
Okieriete Onaodowan Will Cary on in Spirit
Okieriete Onaodowan plays Dean Miller in Station 19, introduced in the first episode. His background isn’t as dramatic as other characters, as he switched from a corporate job to firefighting after saving a coworker’s life after an overdose. Later on in the show, the biggest part of his character is being a single father to a tiny human named Pru. Dean also created Crisis One, a program designed to send different first responders to emergencies, like mental health professionals, to mental health crises. Crisis One was a perfect opportunity for Station 19 to reflect on the real-life dangers of police confrontations, especially given how the characters have had encounters with corrupt and violent cops. Tragically, Dean Miller is likely now best known for his sudden death in Season 5, as he died during a gas line explosion, with the episode of Station 19 ending with him flatlining. Even though he died, Miller was part of Station 19 until its end and will stay intertwined in Grey’s universe through little Pru.
Dean’s introduction to Grey’s Anatomy starts simply as he brings a patient into Grey Sloan. He has to stick around for a while to get medically cleared, though he doesn’t complain much once his eyes land on Dr. Maggie Pierce. While things don’t work out between them, he often pops up in Grey’s as a lovable guy with a crush on Maggie. However, his final and most notable appearance features several ambulances pulling into Grey Sloan following the pipeline explosion, including a silent rig. There was nothing the hospital staff could do for Dean, as he had been down for around forty minutes and was long gone. His daughter quickly became part of the Bailey-Warren family and will carry the Miller name into the future.
Barrett Doss’ Vic Met Jackson Avery
Barrett Doss first appears in the pilot as Victoria Hughes or Vic. She’s the youngest member of the Station 19 team, and her personality reflects that well as an energetic and empathetic woman who works a little bit harder to prove herself in the field. Her background is among the most interesting in the show, as she grew up caring for her grandmother while her parents were busy running their restaurant. She was on the musical path, with lead roles in musical theater productions, until a fire broke out backstage during a show, and she watched her director burn alive. A large part of Vic’s character is her relationships, as she lost her grandmother, fiancé Lucas Ripley, and her best friend, Dean, who she shared a will-they-won’t-they vibe with near his death. She’s an undeniably strong character, especially concerning emotional intelligence.Vic’s first episode of Grey’s Anatomy features her saving the day in the Season 16 premiere after Jackson Avery disappears into the fog. Vic pulls up in her ambulance, finds Avery, and helps him save two people injured while climbing. The episode features a few time jumps, and after Avery and Maggie’s controversial relationship ends, he and Vic start casually seeing each other, which progresses further into the season. Vic’s final appearance on the show isn’t as important, but it shows she’s part of the Grey Sloan family, as she calls people in support of Dr. Bailey during the reproductive freedom fiasco of Season 19.
Danielle Savre’s Character is Intense
Danielle Savre plays Maya DeLuca-Bishop in Station 19, first appearing as Andy Herrera’s closest confidant in the pilot episode. Her background is intense through and through; her personality reflects it with an innate competitiveness, struggles with personal relationships, and an over-achieving nature. She grew up in a dysfunctional household with an abusive father who spent all of his energy shoving her further and further into his definition of greatness. The pressure arguably destroyed her childhood, but it earned her a gold medal in the 10,000-meter sprint during the 2012 Olympics, which she earned on a sprained ankle. It certainly helped build her career and family life, even if, throughout Station 19, she had some lasting issues in both areas.
Maya’s first appearance in Grey’s Anatomy is pretty simple, as she arrives at the Grey Sloan Memorial ER in a Season 16 episode. She just shows up to deliver a severed nose for Jackson to reattach to his patient’s face. Her final episode is slightly more substantial, as she joins Vic in supporting Bailey. Maya primarily shows up to the hospital for patients, though she also shows up to support her wife often.
Stefania Spampinato Started in Grey’s
Stefania Spampinato’s introduction as Carina DeLuca-Bishop happens in a Season 3 episode of Station 19. The episode features the team embarking on a team-building wilderness trip, and it highlights much of Maya’s past and how her abuse impacts her leadership position within the team. Carina doesn’t show up until the episode’s end, when she sits down next to Maya at the bar, orders a drink, introduces herself, and offers to buy Maya a drink. The simple interaction blossomed into a serious relationship, with Carina and Maya getting married and starting a family by the end of Station 19’s run.
Carina enters Grey’s Anatomy in a Season 14 episode with a bang, as she first shows up as a gorgeous Italian woman for Dr. Arizona Robbins to have a simple one-night-stand with, though as Arizona’s roommate returns home, it’s quickly revealed that Carina is Andrew DeLuca or Andrea’s older sister. She’s an interesting character for Grey Sloan, as when she first shows up, she’s conducting research into the female brain, hoping to understand more about how sexual stimulation could be used in pain management. Immediately, she’s a lovable character, and even after the controversy fades, she sticks around Grey Sloan as an OB/GYN.
Jaina Lee Ortiz Introduced Station 19 to the Grey’s Universe
Andy Herrera stands in front of a firetruck in the fire station in Station 19.
Jaina Lee Ortiz plays Andy Herrera throughout Station 19’s entire run, and the spotlight shines heavily on her as the main character. Like Grey’s Anatomy focuses on Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey, Station 19 centers around Andy in her professional and personal endeavors more than the other characters. In the show, Andy works hard to live up to her father’s reputation as a firefighter, and she also struggles to balance saving lives and building her own
While Andy’s first appearance in Grey’s Anatomy didn’t stir up the Grey Sloan staff as much as Carina’s, she entered the show memorably by sticking her hand into a patient’s open chest wound. During her first episode, she gets along well with Meredith and the other surgeons and generally seems in awe of the medical side of saving lives. Her final appearance is unsurprisingly the same as many of her Station 19 peers, as she’s on-scene directing the chaos while Meredith’s house burns down in Season 19. By the end of Station 19, Andy still works in the Seattle Fire Department, so she could keep popping up in Grey’s.
Jason George is a Grey’s Anatomy Veteran
Jason George first appeared in Station 19 as his character, Ben Warren, joins the team as their newest firefighter recruit. While Andy gets the title as the show’s main character, one could argue that Station 19 only exists because of Ben Warren, who sparked the spinoff opportunity. The show features Ben, a trained surgeon, during his third career adventure as he balances being a firefighter and a family man to three kids and his iconic surgeon wife.
Believe it or not, as lovable as Ben Warren and Miranda Bailey are now, they had a bit of an enemies-to-lovers arc in Grey’s Anatomy. He first appeared in Season 6, shortly after the Seattle Grace and Mercy West merger. His premiere episode was intense, as he operated as the anesthesiologist during one of Bailey’s surgeries, and the patient woke up on the table. Even though Ben did nothing wrong to cause that, Bailey immediately didn’t like him, and it took a hot minute for the tension to build, but it bubbled over into a loving marriage. Ben wasn’t happy with his job, so he entered the surgical residency program and became a surgeon. Unfortunately, he was a rule-breaker as an intern and a resident, making impulsive and often risky decisions to save patients, which led to disciplinary action and marital woes. He found his calling in the Season 13 finale, as Grey Sloan Memorial caught fire, and he ran inside to help rescue people stuck inside. Shonda Rhimes created Station 19 shortly afterward to give Ben his space to shine. While Station 19 ended, Ben Warren is one of the few characters guaranteed a return to the Grey’s Anatomy universe, as he simply switched back to his show of origin.
