'Grey’s Anatomy' cast members exit temporarily as Caterina Scorsone takes hiatus until 2026

'Grey’s Anatomy' star Caterina Scorsone will take a temporary break from the show amid broader cast reductions

Grey’s Anatomy is set for a temporary cast reduction, with Caterina Scorsone becoming the latest actor to step back from the long-running ABC medical drama.

Scorsone, who plays neurosurgeon Dr. Amelia Shepherd, will take a hiatus from the series before returning in 2026.

The change follows the October 16 episode, in which Amelia announced her decision to take a sabbatical after the hospital explosion that ended season 21 and claimed the life of Dr. Monica Beltran, played by Natalie Morales.

Her character’s emotional recovery from the trauma provides the on-screen explanation for Scorsone’s temporary departure.

According to Deadline, Scorsone will appear in 10 of the current season’s 18 episodes, marking a planned reduction in screen time as part of ABC’s cost-cutting strategy.

This approach, which began during the 2024–25 season, lowers the minimum guaranteed episode counts for long-serving cast members.

The decision aligns with a broader trend among long-running television shows, aiming to manage production costs while maintaining ensemble casts.

Grey’s Anatomy previously reduced its series regular guarantees from 18 to 14 episodes per season, with select exceptions for major story arcs.

Scorsone first joined the show in season seven, reprising her role as Amelia from Private Practice.

Her character, sister to the late Derek Shepherd and sister-in-law to Meredith Grey, has been a fixture on the series for over a decade, known for her resilience and complex personal history.

Despite the temporary exit, Amelia is expected to return to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in 2026.

Grey’s Anatomy continues to air on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC, with episodes available for streaming afterwards.