Ellen Pompeo, best known for starring as Dr. Meredith Grey in “Grey’s Anatomy,” turns 56 on Monday. Pompeo appeared in more than 400 episodes of the long-running medical drama and continues to serve as an executive producer. She recently starred in the Hulu limited series “Good American Family,” inspired by the Natalia Grace case. Here’s a look back at her career through the years.
Pompeo arrives at the at the Toronto International Film Festival gala screening of “Moonlight Mile” in Toronto on September 9, 2002. The following year she co-starred with Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell in “Old School.” Photo by Christine Chew/UPI
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Pompeo arrives for the ABC Up-Front presentation for “Grey’s Anatomy” in New York City on May 16, 2006. Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI
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Pompeo arrives for the Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on August 27, 2006. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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Pompeo arrives for the “Grey’s Anatomy” Season 2 DVD launch event in Los Angeles on September 5, 2006. Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI
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Pompeo (L) and her husband, Chris Ivery, arrive for the Millenium Ball fundraiser to benefit the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles on October 5, 2006. Pompeo and Ivery got married in 2007 after four years of dating. Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI
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Pompeo arrives at the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on January 15, 2007. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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Pompeo arrives for the Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on January 28, 2007. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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Left to right, “Grey’s Anatomy” cast members Pompeo, Kate Walsh, Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl and Sara Ramirez, pose backstage at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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Pompeo attends the premiere of the film “27 Dresses,” starring Heigl, in Los Angeles on January 7, 2008. Pompeo became pregnant with her first child with Ivery the following year. Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI
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Pompeo arrives at the Gucci/RocNation pre-Grammy Brunch in West Hollywood, Calif., on February 12, 2011. Photo by Jonathan Alcorn/UPI
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Pompeo (R) and “Grey’s Anatomy” co-star Jesse Williams attend the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles on January 9, 2013. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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Pompeo and Ivery watch a basketball game together in Los Angeles on April 14, 2013. Photo by Lori Shepler/UPI
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Left to right, James Pickens Jr., Kelly McCreary, Pompeo, Williams, Sarah Drew, and Camilla Luddington, of “Grey’s Anatomy,” appear backstage with the award for Favorite Network TV Drama at the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles on January 7, 2015. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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Pompeo poses with the award for Favorite Network TV Drama at the People’s Choice Awards. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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Pompeo appears backstage during the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles on January 6, 2016. Pompeo and Ivery welcomed their third child in 2016. The pair are parents to daughters Sienna May and Stella Luna and son Eli Christopher. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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Pompeo (L) and her daughter, Stella Ivery, attend the premiere of “A Wrinkle in Time” in Los Angeles on February 26, 2018. Pompeo said the previous year that “Grey’s Anatomy” will end when she is ready to stop. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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Pompeo attends the Women In Film 2018 Crystal + Lucy Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on June 13, 2018. In April 2025, Pompeo said she will “always pop in and out” of “Grey’s Anatomy.” Photo by Chris Chew/UPI
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