‘Grey’s Anatomy‘ is one of the longest-running television series on American television. And whether you are into the medical field or not this series is something you should not miss out on. The series talks about the lives of some brilliant interns, doctors and patients of the Seattle Grace Hospital. It started airing in 2005 and the viewership for ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ has not altered a bit.
If you have watched ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ then you know already that one of the hardest parts of the show is watching your favorite characters die. Since this is a medical show, it does deal with a lot of deaths but the writers of the show have made sure that you will shed tears when it comes to these shocking deaths. This list talks about some of the most gruesome and saddest deaths on the show throughout the years.
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The Most Heart-Breaking ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Deaths
10. Doc The Dog
This death left all of us heartbroken and hugging our pets a little bit tighter. Season 2 Episode 27 – ‘Losing My Religion’ saw the death of the cutest menace – Doc. Although his death was overshadowed by Danny’s death, this one left all of us equally shaken. The lovely little Doc contracted bone cancer and Meredith and Derek decided to put him down. Doc has always left a warm spot in everyone’s hearts.
9. Henry Burton
Henry Burton was a charismatic and cheerful person and his personality stood out in the show. He was doomed from the very beginning with his Von-Hippel-Lindau syndrome. And one thing that stood out even more for the viewers was the unusual way Teddy and his relationship started. Although at first, Teddy agreed to marry him so that he would get health insurance but later on she fell in love with him. And even though Henry’s death was imminent, the saddest part was that Teddy never got to say her final goodbye as she was busy saving someone else’s life. Henry’s death is one such death that focuses on how doctors put their duty before anything else.
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8. Ellis Grey
Undoubtedly one of the most important characters in the ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘ series, Ellis Grey was a living legend. Meredith Grey’s mother was an unbelievable surgeon but not so much of a mother when it came to her daughter. So they never shared a good relationship. The brilliant surgeon wasted away in her final days to Alzheimer’s. Meredith took care of her but their relationship never got the chance to heal. What makes her death even more sad is that she never got to tell her daughter how proud she was of her.
7. Andrew DeLuca
We have all adored Andrew DeLuca. The charming, brilliant young man whom we all saw growing up into a brilliant doctor as an intern finally met his end in season 17, episode 7. Always wanting to do more for his patients and wanting to save as many lives as he could, Andrew figured out a case of human trafficking. However, the others would not believe him and when they jumped in it was too late. DeLuca was stabbed by one of the traffickers and succumbed to his wounds. In the final moments of his life where he was in a dream-like state. His final goodbye was heart-touching as he walked off with his mother.
6. Samuel Norbert Avery
April and Jackson’s newborn son died in a very tragic way. The baby struggled to live even as he spent his few precious moments on earth and in his mother’s arms. Although Samuel made a small appearance, the impact of his death remains huge on the show. Along with April and Jackson, we were also heartbroken.
5. Mark Sloan
Another extremely shocking and sad death has to be of Mark Sloan‘s or McSteamy’s. Every ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘ fan has drooled over the extremely charming and hot plastic surgeon. And his death in season 9 episode 2 was one of the most difficult and saddest deaths. His death was one of the cruelest on the shows given that we almost hoped that he would survive the crash. And even though he managed to make it to the hospital, he succumbed to his wounds in the final emotional moments of his life.
4. George O’Malley
O’Malley’s death was undoubtedly one of the most shocking deaths on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. George O’Malley was the series’ best comfort character and his death left all of us shaken. One of the OGs on the show, his death meant the end of the five interns’ friendship. No one recovered properly from O’Malley’s death. However, George’s will to help others is what landed him in the situation and sadly no one identified him as John Doe fighting for his life until Meredith.
3. Lexie Grey
One of the favorite characters of any ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘ fan of all time has to be Lexie Grey. And her death not only made the viewers sad but also angry to some point. Just as Meredith and Lexie started bonding as sisters and everything was going great, the disastrous plane crash happened. Another death that left us all shocked and many of us even cried our eyes out. Lexie had the worst of the plane crash- being stuck under the rubble and the others were unable to rescue her. The part where Lexie and Mark hold hands and say their goodbyes specially brought tears to everyone’s eyes.
2. Denny Duquette
There are some characters in every series that just stand out to the viewers and you always remember them even after the series has ended. Denny Duquette is one such character. Denny and Izzie’s love story made every viewer long for them to succeed at all costs. But Denny’s fate was sealed as he waited on the transplant list for a new heart. Even as Izzie risked everything to save him we all hoped that Denny would make it. But unfortunately, in season 2 episode 27, Denny met his end. Denny’s character made every viewer invested in him from the very beginning and his death made every viewer cry along with Izzie. His death undoubtedly is one of the saddest and cruelest deaths on the show.
1. Derek Shepherd
Killing off Derek Shepherd was one of the hardest things Shonda Rhimes has done on the show. Every viewer of ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘ had always been invested in Derek or McDreamy from the very beginning. Derek’s death hit the hardest and was the most painful of all the deaths in the series. Not only did his death leave a big heartache it also left a big message. A doctor’s mistake can cost a lot to the patient and their family and it was ironic to use Derek to give that message. On a stormy night after Derek Shepherd rescued a family from the middle of the road, he is hit by a truck when he gets distracted. However, as he is sent to a nearby hospital, the doctor in charge makes a wrong diagnosis that costs him his life. Derek’s death is even more sad given the situation it left Meredith and their children in.
When it comes to deaths and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ we can make a big list of characters that left the viewers with a heavy heart. However, these are some of the saddest and most shocking deaths on the show that have left everyone heartbroken.
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