When Hollywood superstar Denzel Washington agreed to direct an episode of the hit TV series Grey’s Anatomy in 2016, the production crew and cast alike noticed a distinct change on the Grey Sloan Memorial set. Jason George, who has played Dr. Ben Warren since season 6, revealed many interesting stories surrounding that day of filming, in an exclusive chat at the 2025 Emmys Pickleball Slam charity event. “Everyone was already very professional, but when Denzel took the lead, everyone paid attention to every little detail,” Jason George recalled. The 53-year-old actor also humorously said that many of his female colleagues arrived on set in extremely formal attire as early as 5 a.m. – something he had never seen on a normal filming day before. “I even said, ‘You’re not dressing like this for us, are you?’ But that day, it seemed like everyone was trying to score points with Denzel,” he said.
While Jason George would love to see Denzel Washington in an acting role on Grey’s Anatomy, and even as a brilliant doctor at Grey Sloan, he admits that this is unlikely to happen. However, he never stopped hoping: “I always thought it would be great if Denzel played a super doctor, someone who everyone else on the show looked up to and respected.”
However, working with Denzel wasn’t all smooth sailing. Ellen Pompeo – the lead actress who plays Meredith Grey, the series’ central character – once revealed a rather tense story with Denzel during the filming of an episode he directed. During one scene, Pompeo gave her co-star some advice, which Denzel didn’t like. “My co-star chose to speak very softly in that scene, and I was angry that I had to listen to the unnecessary apology,” she recalled on her podcast, Tell Me with Ellen Pompeo. “I even had to tell Denzel, ‘Look at me when you apologize!’ even though it wasn’t in the script.”
Denzel’s reaction caused a tense atmosphere: “He yelled at me, ‘I’m the director! You don’t tell other people what to do!’ And I said, ‘This is my movie! This is my set! Who should listen?’” Pompeo, however, has the utmost respect for Denzel’s talent, and she even shared the story with his wife, Pauletta Washington.
Aside from those dramatic moments, Jason George also had a memorable experience when he left Grey’s Anatomy to lead the firefighter spinoff series Station 19, before returning to Grey Sloan Memorial in 2024 after Station 19 ended its seventh season. He described returning to the original series as “going back to my parents’ house,” the sense of closeness and familiarity made him feel like he was continuing a long-lost journey.
George also described himself as an adrenaline junkie since he was a child, always challenging himself with risky activities. “I wanted to do Tom Cruise-style action scenes, like hanging from planes or tall buildings,” he shared. “I have a lot of friends who are stuntmen, and if I had the right support, I would do anything.” However, his main role on Grey’s Anatomy is still Dr. Ben Warren, a beloved character with many meaningful stories.
One of Jason George’s most memorable moments on Grey’s Anatomy was the episode “Silent All These Years,” which dealt with the sensitive topic of sexual violence. In the episode, Ben Warren had an important conversation with his stepson about how a real man should treat women and the meaning of consent. “I feel honored to represent a positive male role model,” George said, “especially as a man of color delivering that message to a younger generation.”
Meanwhile, Ellen Pompeo has been candid about why she has no plans to leave Grey’s Anatomy despite her recent reduced appearances. She emphasized the importance both emotionally and financially: “The show will be watched over a billion times in 2024. If I were to leave completely, companies would still be making money off of my image and voice, and I wouldn’t be.” Pompeo said she wants to continue to maintain deep gratitude for the film she has been attached to for 20 years, as well as for millions of viewers around the world.
