Over the years, Grey’s Anatomy has had some incredibly sad and unexpected deaths, with season 21 airing now on the 2025 TV schedule. The demise of George O’Malley, particularly his “007” revelation, remains a poignant memory, as does that of Derek Shepherd (or McDreamy). However, another character whose passing still resonates deeply with fans is Denny Duquette. Interestingly, it was reported that Katherine Heigl and Jeffrey Dean Morgan attempted to keep his character alive.
In a manner that left Grey’s Anatomy fans in awe, I believe it’s fair to say that Jeffrey Dean Morgan delivered one of his finest performances as Denny Duquette. The impact he made was so profound that even the creator, Shonda Rhimes, couldn’t have foreseen the lasting upset from the Season 2 plotline, and this sentiment isn’t confined to us. Morgan recently reconnected with Katherine Heigl to reminisce about their time on Grey’s Anatomy, and they disclosed a surprising fact: they had actually petitioned Rhimes to allow Denny to survive. Here’s an excerpt from their viral TikTok conversation with EW.
@entertainment_weekly
♬ original sound – Entertainment Weekly
On the set of Grey’s Anatomy, it was often reported that there were disagreements between Katherine Heigl and Shonda Rhimes. So strongly did Heigl feel about these differences that she, along with Jeffrey Dean Morgan, attempted to discuss the Denny storyline with the showrunner in an effort to make changes. Heigl expressed this herself by saying:
Inside, we shared our thoughts with her, saying something along the lines of, ‘This is what we’re contemplating.’ Despite our efforts to find an alternative, she empathically responded, ‘I understand your sentiments, and it saddens me as well, but he must perish.’
It seems that one doesn’t achieve the level of success Shonda Rhimes has if one constantly accommodates every actor’s demands, such as Katherine Heigl negotiating for Denny’s character to remain near-death. Jeffrey Dean Morgan noted that Rhimes was firm in her decisions, even when he attempted to extend his character’s season.
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On the day they were scheduled to shoot a poignant scene in “Losing My Religion,” one of the most impactful episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan opted not to attend the filming. He later reminisced about this decision.
On the fateful day when it was my time to depart, I chose to remain in the sanctuary of my trailer. I refused to step out. It felt as if they had finally summoned Katie, and she responded with a poignant exclamation, “Jesus Christ, Jeff, I’m going to have to cry all day because you’re just lying there.” She stood before me in her beautiful prom dress, and I simply replied, “Alright.
It’s hard to fathom how challenging that day must have been for Katherine Heigl, given her deep dive into portraying Izzie’s grief over Denny. Both actors and fans alike seem to be still affected by it, as evidenced by fan comments:
“Fans commented, ‘That day was undoubtedly tough on Katherine Heigl, considering the depth she went to depict Izzie’s sorrow for Denny. Not just the actors, but the fans are still feeling the impact of that scene.’
- Denny and Izzie was the end game sorry – sunflower_2046
- Them going to Shonda and asking for Denny to not die is so Izzie and Denny coded though. – jacketpotato24601
- TBH Denny dying hurt worse than Derek 😭 – brittanychapman153
- No one wanted Denny to die… but Owen Hunt is still around!! – nic.marq
- No one will get over Denny Duquette’s death 😭😭😭 – klshhhhhhhhhh
- Denny was the worst death. I’ll die on this hill – _arianaharrington
Jeffrey Dean Morgan has expressed that taking on the character of Denny significantly impacted his career, since it brought him attention and paved the way for larger roles. It’s intriguing to see that the actor who is currently widely recognized from his performances in shows like Supernatural, The Walking Dead, or The Boys, appears to cherish his time on Grey’s Anatomy.
The Denny and Izzie romance story is undoubtedly an excellent starting point for revisiting the world of Grey’s Anatomy. In fact, the first 20 seasons of this medical drama are currently some of the best series to stream on Netflix. Interestingly, all 21 seasons can be watched with a Hulu subscription too. And if you’re wondering when to catch new episodes, they air every Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.
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2025-03-30 19:37