True love! It’s been more than a decade since Katherine Heigl appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, but her character, Izzie Stevens, was a major part of Justin Chambers’ departure from the series in March 2020.
Chambers, who played Alex Karev for 16 seasons on the ABC medical drama, announced his departure from the show in November 2019. While he last appeared on the series that month, he returned for a voiceover to close the character’s story arc. During the March 5, 2020, episode, viewers learned that Alex left his wife, Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington), to be with Izzie and their twins, whom she secretly welcomed without Alex knowing. Alex and Izzie, who dated on and off during the first six seasons, reconnected when he reached out for help to save Meredith (Ellen Pompeo)’s medical license.
“I love Jo deeply, still. I think I always will and if it was just about two women I love, I’d choose my wife. You know I would, but it’s not just her. Izzie made our kids,” Alex wrote in a letter Meredith. “She had our embryos.”
In his letter to Jo, Alex admitted she deserves more.
“This right here, this cowardness, it’s officially the worst thing I’ve ever done,” he wrote. “It’s about me, it’s not about you. You deserve so much better than this. I love you, Jo. I love that you are brilliant and brave and no matter what you go through you never let it hold you back. It makes you stronger, kinder. You made me kinder. You love me for exactly for who I was and I loved you. I love you. Maybe it’s not fair to say that but it’s true. But this is also true. I’m in love with Izzie.”
While fans were torn by the decision, which showrunner Krista Vernoff called “nearly impossible,” Pompeo was a fan.
“For me personally for Karev to go back to the beginning…. was the best possible story line,” the actress wrote on Instagram at the time. “It pays homage to those incredible first years and the incredible cast …that created a foundation so strong that the show is still standing. So let’s not be sad. As our fearless leader DA always says let’s PULL UP and celebrate the actors the writers and the fantastic crew who make this show come to life every week. No matter what the challenge or how tired we all are in the end… you keep us going…..That is worth dancing it out over!”
Grey’s Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.
Scroll through to revisit Alex and Izzie’s love story:
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More Than Friends
Izzie was the first one to befriend Alex during season 1 of Grey’s Anatomy. While she was upset that he didn’t kiss her goodnight during their first date in season 2, Alex made up for it when he showed up at Joe’s bar and laid on one Izzie.
Alex Cheats With Olivia
Alex cheated on Izzie during season 2 with a nurse, whom he briefly hooked up with during season 1.
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Izzie Falls for Denny
While Alex wanted Izzie back after his indiscretion (and they hooked up after surviving the bomb in the hospital), she only had eyes for her patient when she met Denny Duquette (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). After Denny died, Alex was there to help Izzie recover from her heartbreak.
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Back With Alex
While Alex was mad at Izzie hooking up with George (T.R. Knight) as her first post-Denny romance, he was also focused on his former patient Rebecca (Elizabeth Reaser), who returns to season 4 to pursue a relationship with him. When Rebecca turned out to be emotionally unstable, Izzie was there to help Alex pick up the pieces.
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Izzie’s Cancer
Alex and Izzie got back together during season 5, but their relationship was rocky because Izzie was secretly battling cancer (and having sex with a ghost version of Denny.)
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Getting Married
As Izzie continued to battle cancer, Meredith and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) decided to give her and Alex their wedding so they can tie the knot before Izzie got even worse.
“Today’s the day my life begins. All my life I’ve been just me,” Alex said in their vows. “Just a smart mouth kid. Today I become a man. Today I become a husband. Today I become accountable to someone other than myself. Today I become accountable to you. To our future. To all the possibilities that a marriage has to offer. Together, no matter what happens, I’ll be ready. For anything. For everything. To take on life, to take on love. To take on possibility and responsibility. Today Izzie Stevens, our life together begins. And I for one can’t wait.”
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Izzie Leaves
After Izzie (barely) survived cancer, she was fired from Seattle Grace for administering the incorrect dosage of medicine to her patient during season 6. She subsequently left Seattle, but returned to get a final PET scan for her cancer. While Alex and Izzie celebrated when her scan came back clean, they went their separate ways because he wanted someone who would stay for him. (The episode marked Heigl’s last appearance on the show.)
Offscreen Reunion
While Alex mentioned Izzie on several occasions on the show after her exit, fans were shocked when they reunited offscreen during a season 16 episode. Viewers learned through a series of letters that Izzie used the embryos they froze when she had cancer during season 5 to have two kids. As a result, Alex left Jo for Izzie. (The episode served as a tribute to Chambers, who left the series in November 2019.)