The Real Reason Sara Ramirez Walked Away From Grey’s Anatomy After Season 12

Sara Ramirez’s Callie left after Grey’s Anatomy season 12 — here’s why. The medical drama series has seen many, many characters leave for different reasons that range from behind-the-scenes troubles to simply wanting to try other projects. Among those is Callie Torres, played by Sara Ramirez, who left the series after season 12 in 2016. Created by Shonda Rhimes, Grey’s Anatomy debuted on ABC in 2005 as a mid-season replacement, but it was so well-received that it has lived on for over ten seasons with many cast changes.

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Grey’s Anatomy follows the basic premise of medical dramas, focusing on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attending physicians as they juggle their personal and professional lives. The series is led by Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), through whom the audience has met a variety of people. Among them is Callie Torres, an orthopedic surgeon who first appeared in Grey’s Anatomy season 2. Callie went on to become part of the main cast and a favorite among fans, which is why her departure in season 12 left viewers shocked and wondering why she left in the first place.

Why Sara Ramirez Left Grey’s Anatomy

More often than not, especially in Grey’s Anatomy’s case, actors end up leaving due to behind-the-scenes issues, but that wasn’t the case with Sara Ramirez. Callie Torres was on Grey’s Anatomy for ten years, so Ramirez felt it was time to leave the show after having been on it for that long, sharing on Twitter that she was “deeply grateful” to have been a part of Grey’s Anatomy for a decade, but was going to take “some welcome time off.”

Typically, Rhimes and the writing staff for Grey’s Anatomy have made the departures of long-time cast members event episodes. That might mean a tragedy with a big death, or it might mean an entire episode centered on saying goodbye before they make a big move. That didn’t happen with Dr. Torres because Rhimes didn’t know Ramirez was leaving. Rhimes later shared (via US Magazine) that she had a different plan for Callie when Ramirez told her she needed to take a break, but Ramirez left the door open to return someday, though that hasn’t happened yet.

This one was different because it wasn’t a big planned thing. I had a different plan going and when Sara came in and said, ‘I really need to take this break,’ I was lucky that we’d shot the end of the season with her going to New York.

Callie’s departure seemed abrupt to some, but compared to the fates of other characters in Grey’s Anatomy, it wasn’t a bad ending. It’s unknown if there are plans to bring Callie back, even if briefly, in future seasons, but it’s good to know Ramirez isn’t opposed to the idea – after all, Callie became one of the most important characters in Grey’s Anatomy, as well as the longest-running LGBT character in TV history. Callie’s coming out story is a favorite by many.

What Sara Ramirez Has Done Since Leaving Grey’s Anatomy

Sara Ramirez left their role on Grey’s Anatomy in 2016. Since then, they have continued to appear in television projects, though very different ones from Grey’s Anatomy. Ramirez has dabbled in voiceover work, which is probably an interesting method of acting for them after getting their professional start in theater and transitioning to live-action television. Ramirez’s voice can be heard as characters in Elena of Avalor, Sofia the First, and Vampirina, all children’s programs created for Disney.

Ramirez also appeared in 36 episodes of Madam Secretary’s six-season run. More famously, however, Ramirez also starred in the Sex And The City revival And Just Like That… The series featured Ramirez as Che, in a role surprising for Ramirez fans because the audience didn’t find the character particularly likable. Ramirez even had to remind fans that they were not the same person as Che, that Che was simply a role they were playing (via RollingStone).

While Ramirez was expected to return for more of the series, reports have surfaced that Che will not be returning for season three of And Just Like That... in 2025 (via NY Daily News).

Will Sara Ramirez’s Callie Return To Grey’s Anatomy?

While Grey’s Anatomy fans shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for Callie to return, never say never. In May 2021, Sarah Drew, who played April Kepner, returned in Grey’s Anatomy season 17, episode 14. April and Jackson reunited onscreen and many fans hoped the same thing would happen eventually for Callie. If nothing else, Callie’s return could include a storyline between her and Arizona, who moved to New York to be closer to her.

While it’s hard to imagine Grey’s Anatomy will bring Callie back unless she returns to Seattle for a while, there have been several alums revisiting the medical drama as of late — including Patrick Dempsey’s Derek Shepherd, who appeared to Meredith in a dream — and the opportunity for Sara Ramirez to come back as Callie at some point before Grey’s Anatomy is over is always a possibility.