Grey’s Anatomy has never been shy about killing off a main character for story purposes or to fulfill an actor’s wish to leave the series. However, the death that still resonates in everyone’s mind is that of Derek Shepherd (played by Patrick Dempsey). His loss marked a milestone for the medical drama, reminding audiences that no one is safe in the eyes of creator Shonda Rhimes.
Derek’s death began what some consider the downfall of Grey’s Anatomy. The series initially focused heavily on the relationship between Meredith and Derek, and the latter left an empty hole that the remaining characters fight to fill. That hole only got wider when Meredith briefly moved to Boston in Season 19, temporarily saying goodbye to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Many people have wondered for years who could be to blame for Dempsey’s departure from Grey’s Anatomy, but sources differ on the reasoning. Here’s what episode Derek Shepherd dies in on Grey’s Anatomy and why Dempsey left.
Grey’s Anatomy has been renewed for a twenty-second season, promising to give viewers even more drama with Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital staff. While different cast members have come and gone over the years, fans will always have a special place in their hearts for the original stars of the medical procedural series, including Patrick Dempsey’s Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd. This article is updated to include more information about Dempsey’s exit from Grey’s Anatomy and reflect CBR’s current style guide.
What Episode Does Derek Die on Grey’s Anatomy?
Derek Shepherd’s death episode came in Season 11, Episode 21 of the long-running medical drama, entitled “How to Save a Life.” In the episode, he was involved in a devastating car crash, but the impact wasn’t what killed him. Instead, it was a small mistake made by the doctors who operated on him. At Dillard Medical Center, which notably had no trauma center, Derek subconsciously began to report his injuries, which included loss of verbal skills. His resident, Dr. Penelope Blake, took the reins of his treatment, and Derek even complimented her intelligence, but it wasn’t enough to save him.
Penelope suggested to her attending that Derek get a CT scan, but the attending believed that the bleeding in his belly was of more importance and skipped the CT scan. Derek, in his mind, fought the attending and backed up Penelope, but she eventually gave up. In surgery, the doctors found Derek’s right pupil blown, and Derek knew he was going to die. After the neurosurgeon arrived late, he was declared brain dead, resulting in one of Grey’s Anatomy’s saddest deaths. However, his spirit lived on in Grey’s Anatomy through multiple characters, including Meredith, their children, his sister Amelia Shepherd, and Derek’s ex-wife, Addison Montgomery. Moreover, in Season 19, Grey’s Anatomy intern Lucas Adams honored Derek when the show revealed the two characters were connected.
Why Patrick Dempsey Wanted to Leave Grey’s Anatomy
This episode is still widely talked about because of the handling of Derek’s death. Grey’s Anatomy fans believed that his death was done for pure shock value, but once Dempsey spoke out, his character’s sudden departure made more sense. Lynette Rice’s unauthorized book, How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy, dedicated an entire chapter to Dempsey that detailed varying reasons for his exit. Some cast and crew claimed he was merely ready to move on, while others said that the actor’s behavior grew increasingly difficult, causing tension with Grey’s star, Ellen Pompeo. Writer Jeannine Renshaw explained:
There were times where Ellen was frustrated with Patrick and she would get angry that he wasn’t working as much. She was very big on having things be fair. When I brought it up to Patrick, I would say, ‘Look around you. These people have been here since 6:30 AM.” He would go, ‘Oh, yeah.’ He would get it… He’s so high energy and would go, ‘What’s happening next?’ He literally goes out of his skin, sitting and waiting… Nobody wanted him to leave, because he was the show. Him and Ellen. Patrick is a sweetheart.
But executive producer James D. Parriott described Dempsey in Lynette Rice’s book The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy as “sort of terrorizing” on the Grey’s Anatomy set and said multiple outcomes for the car accident were scripted before the studio decided that bringing Dempsey back “was going to be too hard on the other actors.” And an unnamed crew member told Rice that Dempsey was the subject of frequent complaints from co-stars. “All the rogue actresses would go running to Shonda [Rimes] and say, ‘Hey, Patrick’s doing this. Patrick’s late for work. He’s a nightmare.’… His behavior wasn’t the greatest, but he had nowhere to go.” For his part, Dempsey cited the strain his TV schedule put on the rest of his life as the reason for his exit and returned to Grey’s Anatomy in Season 17 when Derek and Meredith were reunited as part of Meredith’s beach dreams
How Was Derek’s Death Received by Fans and Critics?
The reactions to Derek’s death on both the fan and critics’ sides were mixed upon the initial episode’s airing. Ariana Bacle wrote in Entertainment Weekly’s recap of “How to Save a Life” that it was “not particularly” a good episode because of the lackluster way Derek went out, comparing it to other characters’ exits, such as that of Sandra Oh’s Cristina Yang. However, Bacle commended Rhimes for creating such well-developed characters that make viewers feel they’re actually mourning real people. In a similarly mixed review, Martha Sorren of Bustle wrote that Derek’s death was unnecessary but was a “gut-wrenching episode.” In a more positive review, Ashley Bissette Sumerel of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 5/5, noting that although Derek’s exit opens a door of possibilities, they were “beyond heartbroken.” And for USA Today, the standout of “How to Save a Life” was actually not Derek’s death, but Pompeo’s performance as Meredith.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that fans were much harsher about Derek’s death. Several fans in post-mortem discussions of the episode on Reddit expressed their frustration with the circumstances of his death, with some calling it cheap and lazy. Others were so sad that they vowed never to rewatch the series or even continue the series. Videos of fans’ heartbroken reactions to Derek’s death in real time became a trend on YouTube. Considering everything, fans and critics were generally upset by Derek’s death, but not as much as how he died due to incompetent doctors and a quick sendoff. Every Title Shonda Rhimes Had Before Landing on “Grey’s Anatomy” (& What the Real Title Actually Means)
Does Derek Shepherd Ever Return to Grey’s Anatomy?
After his death in Season 11, Patrick Dempsey officially left Grey’s Anatomy. His death was a monumental move in Grey’s Anatomy history since most of Meredith’s arc was wrapped up in the love story between her and Derek. After his death, Meredith had to adjust to a life where Derek didn’t exist anymore. The tone certainly became more somber after he died, but it didn’t lead to Grey’s Anatomy’s downfall. Meredith grew into her own as a woman, raising her three children and rising in her career. The adjustment also helped Meredith understand her mother a little better. Meredith and Ellis were defined by the men in their lives and the losses they had to fill when the men left. While Meredith sympathized with Ellis, she didn’t become Ellis. She learned from Ellis’ mistakes that left Meredith broken and unloved and decided to be a better mother than she was.
Eventually, Derek’s death was no longer a burden on the show, but he didn’t become a distant memory that Meredith eventually forgot. Derek makes surprise appearances in several episodes of the show’s 17th season, several years after his last episode. When Meredith Grey contracts COVID-19, she begins to drift in and out of consciousness and veers dangerously close to death. As she passes out, Meredith sees visions of Derek on a beach. She desperately tries to get closer and closer to him, eventually reaching him. The two swap stories about their lives, only for Derek to admit that none of what Meredith is seeing is real. He encourages her to wake up because it isn’t yet her time to die. Meredith wakes up and continues living, thanks in part to her visions of her lost love.
Derek Shepherd’s Legacy Lives on in Grey’s Anatomy
Unlike some other character exits, Derek Shepherd’s death isn’t the end of his story. While some situations call for a series to completely ignore a character after their departure, Grey’s Anatomy chooses to keep Derek’s legacy alive long after his tragic death. Aside from his surprise appearances in later seasons, Derek continues to be a central part of Grey’s Anatomy in spirit, if not body. Most notably, Derek’s memory lives on through the family he started with Meredith.
After Derek’s death, Meredith continues to cope with the death of her husband, learning to live with his loss. His true legacy lies with his and Meredith’s children, Zola Grey, Derek Bailey, and Ellis. These three children are what Derek leaves behind, natural reflections of their father. Fans have also continued to discuss Derek Shepherd’s legacy in the decade since his death. As sensibilities have changed over the years, some viewers have suggested that Shepherd wasn’t as “McDreamy” as he seemed in the show’s early seasons.
Some naysayers have pointed out that some of Derek’s actions toward Meredith in their early interactions are borderline toxic. However, others are quick to point out that the toxicity goes both ways. Regardless of one’s opinion of Derek Shepherd, it is impossible to deny his impact on Grey’s Anatomy fans. The fact that he continues to be a central talking point of the series ten years after his departure proves that he had a lasting impact that won’t soon fade away.
What Has Patrick Dempsey Done Since Leaving Grey’s Anatomy?
Patrick Dempsey has continued to have a successful career since leaving Grey’s Anatomy in 2015. He has continued to appear in television roles since leaving the medical drama, including the ten-episode miniseries The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, in which he portrayed the titular writer. However, Dempsey has largely left the world of television behind in favor of starring in films.
Dempsey has appeared in several under-the-radar films since leaving Grey’s Anatomy, including Ways & Means and Devils. However, Dempsey has also starred in multiple more notable projects, including Bridget Jones’s Baby and Disenchanted, the sequel to the hit 2007 Disney film, Enchanted. More recently, Dempsey starred in the well-received horror film Thanksgiving, in which he played Sheriff Eric Newton. He also has a supporting role in the Adam Driver-led biopic, Ferrari, wherein he portrays racer Piero Taruffi. His most recent big role is in the Dexter spinoff, Dexter: Original Sin, as Captain Aaron Spencer of the Miami Metro Police Department.
While many fans of Grey’s Anatomy may have been heartbroken by Patrick Dempsey’s decision to leave the series, the actor has continued to enjoy a fruitful career in the years since. Branching out into romantic comedies, fantasy films, and even horror, Dempsey has proven to be a very versatile actor with a broad range of characters under his belt.
