As a long-time viewer of Grey’s Anatomy, I can’t help but appreciate the way Dr. Callie Torres was written off the show. Unlike some of the other characters who left under tragic circumstances, Callie’s departure felt more organic and less heartbreaking. The fact that Sara Ramírez, who plays Callie, is a queer nonbinary person made their character’s journey all the more meaningful and representative.
Characters on the series “Grey’s Anatomy” frequently join and depart, sometimes quite unexpectedly. For instance, Patrick Dempsey’s character, Derek Shepherd, left the program to pursue a professional racing career, only for showrunner Shonda Rhimes to tragically write him off in a devastating car accident. Isaiah Washington seemingly vanished following some tumultuous behind-the-scenes events. T.R. Knight, portraying original surgical intern George O’Malley, met an untimely end when he was struck by a bus and succumbed to injuries so severe that his colleagues barely recognized him. In essence, “Grey’s Anatomy” is no stranger to hardships and dramatic exits. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, has also faced her fair share of adversity: a plane crash, a shooting, serious personal injuries, and a near-fatal bout with COVID-19, before departing the series (at least as a regular cast member) in the Season 19 premiere.
In simpler terms, Dr. Callie Torres, portrayed by Sara Ramirez who uses they/them pronouns, didn’t have a harsh departure from the show “Grey’s Anatomy” when Ramirez left in 2016. Fans were relieved to see that Callie, a beloved character and one of the most significant queer characters on TV at the time, wasn’t given an unpleasant exit. After Ramirez announced via an Instagram post (later deleted) that they wouldn’t return to the series, there was a sense of relief among fans. However, we didn’t get to see how Callie left Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital or what Ramirez has been up to since their time on “Grey’s Anatomy,” and why they chose to end their association with the popular TV show.
How did Callie Torres leave Grey’s Anatomy?
In the second season of the series, Callie Torres was initially portrayed as a love interest for George O’Malley, played by T.R. Knight. However, after their on-screen relationship and brief marriage ended dramatically, and Knight departed the show, Callie found herself free to develop new aspects of her character. Throughout the show, Callie had occasional relationships with men, such as her friend-with-benefits Dr. Mark Sloan. In Season 4, she developed a strong affection for Erica Hahn, a cardiothoracic surgeon portrayed by Brooke Davis. This marked a point where the show made it clear that Callie is bisexual. Sara Ramírez, who played Callie, has stated that they were the inspiration behind Shonda Rhimes exploring this storyline and suggested that Callie should be openly bisexual in the series.
In Season 5, following a challenging breakup with Erica, Callie encounters Dr. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw), a vibrant and intelligent pediatric surgeon. They quickly form a relationship, get married, and have a child together. However, during a time apart, Callie has an affair with Mark and becomes pregnant, which she raises along with Arizona and Mark until his demise in Season 9. In the season’s finale, Arizona strays from their marriage after a tough patch. (In the Season 8 finale, Arizona is involved in a plane crash with other doctors, leading Callie to amputate her leg due to the gravity of her injuries. The incident leaves a deep scar on their relationship, and Arizona never fully forgives Callie.) Despite attempts to reconcile, Arizona and Callie eventually divorce, with Callie later dating surgical resident Penny Blake (Samantha Sloyan). After a contentious custody battle over their daughter Sofia, Arizona retains custody, leading to Callie’s separation from both Arizona and Penny. Eventually, Callie moves to New York, though it is later revealed that Arizona and Sofia move to New York to be near Callie after Capshaw departed the show in Season 14.
What did Sara Ramirez and Shonda Rhimes say about the actor leaving Grey’s Anatomy?
Back in May 2016, on the day that “Grey’s Anatomy” aired its Season 12 finale, Sara Ramírez announced through a statement that they were departing from the series that Shonda Rhimes first created in 2005. The statement expressed gratitude for the past ten years spent with the Grey’s Anatomy and ABC family, but also mentioned taking some time off. The statement continued by expressing appreciation for working with Shonda Rhimes, hinting at future conversations between them.
As stated by Rhimes herself, this turn of events was quite unexpected, as she received very little prior notice about Ramírez’s decision. The move to New York wasn’t originally intended to write Callie off the series, but rather came about when Sara expressed a need for a break. Rhimes shared this information at New York Magazine’s Vulture Festival just a few days after Ramírez announced her decision, stating that she found out about it only three days before the public became aware of it. Furthermore, the plan wasn’t premeditated; instead, Rhimes had another plan in mind, and Sara’s request for a break led to Callie’s departure to New York.
After departing from “Grey’s Anatomy”, Ramírez has consistently introduced diverse queer characters into mainstream media, frequently playing non-binary roles. This can be seen in their portrayal of Kat Sandoval in the drama series “Madam Secretary” starring Téa Leoni, and also in the sequel to “Sex and the City”, titled “And Just Like That”, where they played Che Diaz, a sharp-tongued queer stand-up comedian and podcaster. For those who miss their iconic role as Callie Torres, one of television’s most prominent gay women and a long-standing queer character in media history, “Grey’s Anatomy” is currently available for streaming on Netflix and Hulu.
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2024-11-15 22:30