Grey’s Anatomy is set to welcome a new gay character in its upcoming 21st season, as reported by TVLine. The character will be the chaplain at Grey Sloan Memorial and will be openly gay. This addition comes following the departure of Jake Borelli, who played Dr. Levi Schmitt for seven seasons.
The new character's role will be recurring, and details about casting have not been disclosed yet. Borelli's exit was confirmed in May, with the actor set to appear in several episodes of the new season to wrap up his storyline.
Borelli's character, Levi Schmitt, started as an intern and rose to become a senior resident, known for his LGBTQIA+ storyline involving a romance with Dr. Nico Kim. Borelli expressed gratitude for the opportunity to bring queer representation to a global audience through his role on the show.
In addition to Borelli's departure, Midori Francis is also leaving the series after two seasons. However, fans can look forward to the return of Jason George as a series regular, reprising his role as Ben Warren from both Grey’s Anatomy and the spinoff series Station 19.
Ellen Pompeo, who portrays Dr. Meredith Grey, will be increasing her screentime in season 21, despite no longer being a series regular. Pompeo, who has been with the show since its premiere in 2005, serves as an executive producer and narrates each episode.
Grey’s Anatomy season 21 is scheduled to premiere on ABC on Thursday, September 26 at 10 p.m. ET. The show continues to evolve with new characters and storylines, maintaining its status as a beloved and enduring medical drama.