The Real Reason Sara Ramirez Walked Away from Grey’s Anatomy After 10 Seasons

The seemingly-infinite roster of Grey’s Anatomy keeps getting bigger and bigger with each passing season. Being already renewed for Season 22, the show is reaching almost 40 cast members that have been billed as part of the main cast. Many of them have departed the show, some on amicable terms, while others not so much. And, as we remember and mourn those who left the show by dying, it’s important not to forget those who have left Grey Sloan Memorial — but are still alive in the vast Grey’s Anatomy universe.

This is the case of Sara Ramirez’s Callie Torres. Her inclusion as a guest star during Season 2 seemed to be just another antagonist for the original five, but, after being upped to the regular cast and as the show progressed, Callie was fleshed out both personally and professionally. Now, so many years later, it’s time to reminisce about Callie’s time on the show and Ramirez’s departure.

Callie’s Early Days on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Weren’t Easy

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Callie’s addition to the Grey Sloan staff was a challenge to the staff and the storyline. Introduced as a capable orthopedic surgeon, the focus of her story went mainly into shoehorning her into a romance with T.R. Knight’s George O’Malley. This relationship only added to her insecurity, thus bringing out all of her worst qualities. During her time with George — and their eventual impulsive marriage — Callie was cocky, arrogant, and resentful. The worst part? She let it show at her work.

The lack of chemistry between George and Callie was amplified by the fact that George was using her as a rebound. Having spent most of Grey’s Anatomy’s first seasons infatuated with Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith, he moved onto Callie without any regard for what he really felt for her, and the consequences it would bring for both. At one point, Callie’s anger leads her to have revenge sex with Mark Sloan (Eric Dane). Plus, after their marriage, George’s dissatisfaction led him to start a relationship with Izzie (Katherine Heigl). Thankfully, this doomed marriage didn’t last long, and Callie was allowed to move on and have more meaningful storylines.

Callie Torres Became One of the Greatest Bisexual Representations on TV

Shortly after breaking up with George, Callie meets Erica Hahn (Brooke Smith), shifting her world completely, and starting a journey of exploration and introspection into who she was. Although their relationship was short-lived, it allowed Callie to accept her true self and come out as bisexual. She then finds a friend and ally in the most unlikely of places: Mark. Though their friendship sporadically turned into a sexual one, he always remained at her side. One of their hookups ends with Callie getting pregnant, but by that time, she was already in her on-again-off-again-but-meant-to-be relationship with Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw).

When Callie meets Arizona, immediate sparks fly across the OR. Their chemistry is palpable and the way they complement each other makes them one of the best couples Grey’s Anatomy has had. Still, chemistry isn’t everything you need to make a relationship work. Thus, the couple goes through countless tough spots throughout the show. Callie always pushed her desire to have children, but Arizona would rather just have them as patients. The latter then takes a job in Malawi, leaving Callie after she sees her lack of enthusiasm for moving there. When they reconcile, Callie is already pregnant with Sofia (Eva Ariel Binder), thus forcing them to form an unorthodox family with Mark. Finally, they face two life-threatening accidents. Once in a car crash that doubled as a musical episode — from which they decide to get married — and twice when Arizona is part of the plane crash that shook the entire staff of Grey Sloan Memorial.

Deadly run-of-the-mill Grey’s catastrophes aside, Callie’s toughest battle was with her own family. Callie’s dad, Carlos (Héctor Elizondo), disowns her when she comes out to him. Carlos deepens the damage when he cuts her off from the entire family, then when he tries to force conversion on her. Callie and Arizona’s wedding becomes a defining moment for the family. Carlos is finally able to shift his view, but it’s Callie’s mother, Lucia (Gina Gallego), who isn’t able to overcome her prejudices to fully and truly love their daughter. Lucia leaves before the wedding, while Carlos ends up coming back to support Callie.

Callie’s ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Story Ends in Season 12

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Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. The consequences of the plane crash take a toll on Callie and Arizona’s relationship. After the former takes the decision to amputate the latter’s leg, the relationship turns bitter. For a while, Arizona blamed Callie for making that decision. Their last reconciliation sees them looking for a house while trying to get pregnant with a second child. Realizing they are trying too hard to keep themselves together, they finally call everything off.

Callie starts dating Penny Blake (Samantha Sloyan), one of the doctors that were present when Derek (Patrick Dempsey) died. Thus, Callie’s last days at Grey Sloan see her relationship with all the doctors put to the test. Piling on the difficulties, when she decides to leave with Penny to New York, she engages in a battle with Arizona over Sofia’s custody. Callie loses, but her heartbreak makes Arizona agree to work out a shared custody agreement, thus allowing Callie to explore her new East coast life with Penny.

What Has Sara Ramirez Said About Their Time on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?

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Grey’s Anatomy’s loss of Callie was one of the toughest blows to the show. But, according to Ramirez herself, it was the right and necessary time for them to leave. In an interview with Variety, Ramirez detailed how they truly believed they had already given everything — physically and emotionally — to the character, saying, “I had reached a physical, emotional, mental capacity for playing the character — and had sort of lost myself with it.” It makes sense because, in Callie, Ramirez was able to build a three-dimensional character whose complex woes made her an all-time fan-favorite.

Ramirez gave 10 years of their life to Callie, so it was time to explore other horizons. Since then, they’ve appeared in Madam Secretary and, more recently, they starred as Che in Seasons 1 and 2 of And Just Like That…. Still, the doors of Grey Sloan are open for them. Almost 10 years later, Ramirez has yet to reprise their role. But it was implied during Arizona’s departure in Season 14 that their relationship had been rekindled. It’s nice to know that, even if it’s off-camera, Callie is living the life she deserved.