 The six original actors ' contracts expired after season eight , but in May 2012 , Pompeo , Oh , Dempsey , Chambers , Wilson , and Pickens renewed their contracts with the show for another two years . At the conclusion of the eighth season , Leigh 's character departed from the show at Leigh 's request , and with Rhimes ' agreement . Raver 's character was also written out of the show during the season eight finale , and Rhimes stated that Raver was offered a contract renewal , but declined . In July 2012 , Dane confirmed that he was departing the show to pursue other projects ; he made his final appearances in the first two episodes of the ninth season . With the start of season 10 , Camilla Luddington , Jerrika Hinton , Gaius Charles & Tessa Ferrer were introduced to the show as series regulars . They were first introduced to the show in season 9 as new interns . On August 13 , 2013 , Oh announced that the show 's tenth season would be her final season . In March 2014 it was announced that Isaiah Washington , who portrayed Preston Burke in the first three seasons of the show , would make a guest appearance to coincide with the departure of series regular Sandra Oh , his former on @-@ screen love interest . As of March 25 , 2014 , both Charles and Ferrer 's contracts were not renewed for season 11 . On May 2 , 2014 it was announced that , in addition to Pompeo and Dempsey , all original remaining cast members — aside from Sandra Oh — signed two years deals , extending their contracts through seasons 11 and 12 . Despite joining the series in its second season , Sara Ramirez is on the same negotiation schedule as the first season cast and has also inked a new two @-@ year deal . 
