Why Jessica Capshaw Left Grey's Anatomy - CBR

Summary

• Jessica Capshaw became an unforgettable cast member of Grey's Anatomy after being introduced as Dr. Arizona Robbins in Season 5.
• The chief of pediatric surgery was an optimistic addition to the team and formed a relationship with Dr. Callie Torres.
• Capshaw left the series in Season 14 for creative reasons on the writing team's part.

The ABC series Grey's Anatomy is one of television's longest-running medical drama series. The show is in its nineteenth season, leaving some viewers thinking it may have overstayed its welcome. Part of the reason that opinion exists is that plenty of key cast members have disappeared over the years, including Dr. Arizona Robbins.

Dr. Arizona Robbins, played by Jessica Capshaw, left Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital after a decade on Grey's Anatomy. Capshaw played Arizona for 10 seasons and was part of a fan-favorite relationship with Dr. Callie Torres, portrayed by Sara Ramirez (who would go on to portray the not-so-fan-favorite character of Che Diaz in And Just Like That...). When did Arizona leave Grey's Anatomy, and why did Capshaw want to leave in the first place?

Updated on April 11, 2024 by Katie Doll: No matter how long Grey's Anatomy will live on, Jessica Capshaw will always be remembered as a core cast member who was hard to let go. This article has been updated to reflect on Arizona Robbins' impact on the show as a member of the LGTBQ+ community, and the roles Capshaw has taken up since leaving the medical drama.

Who Was Dr. Arizona Robbins On Grey's Anatomy?

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Dr. Arizona Robbins was introduced in Season 5, Episode 11, "Wish You Were Here," as head of pediatric surgery at what became Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.Arizona's relationship with orthopedic resident Callie Torres began shortly after her arrival. Callie later had a one-night stand with plastic surgeon Mark Sloan, resulting in her pregnancy. Despite that betrayal, Callie and Arizona agreed to raise Sofia together after she was born.

The infamous plane crash in Season 8 resulted in Arizona's leg being amputated, which caused her to become extremely self-conscious. Her insecurity led to her one-night stand with Lauren Boswell, and her relationship with Callie ended, though they consented to a joint-custody agreement for Sofia. Sara Ramirez, who played Callie, left the show through their character's move to New York. Arizona and Sofia eventually joined Callie in the Season 14 finale, hinting that the ex-couple was on the road to reconciliation.

Why Did Arizona Leave Grey's Anatomy?

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Timeline Leading Up to Arizona's Departure
Arizona Is Involved in the Plane Crash	Season 8, Episode 24
Callie Approves the Amputation of Arizona's Leg Against Her Wishes	Season 9, Episode 22
Arizona Cheats on Callie	Season 9, Episode 23
Callie Asks for a Divorce	Season 11, Episode 5
Arizona and Callie Engage in a Custody Battle	Season 12, Episode 19
Callie Leaves Grey's Anatomy	Season 12, Episode 24
Arizona Joins Callie in New York	Season 14, Episode 24

Jessica Capshaw was only signed for three episodes of Grey's Anatomy after her character's introduction in "Wish You Were Here." However, Capshaw was promoted to a series regular during Season 6 and remained on the show until the Season 14 finale. She left the show simultaneously with actress Sarah Drew, who played Dr. April Kepner. According to a statement showrunner Krista Vernoff gave Deadline, Drew and Capshaw's departures stemmed from where Grey's Anatomy was headed creatively.

Despite being written out of the series, Capshaw shared in a statement on Twitter / X that her character would have an "impact on the world forever." Since Ramirez's character has yet to return (as they are busy with other projects, like a possible return to And Just Like That... for Season 2, despite the revival's lukewarm reception), fans weren't hopeful that Capshaw would come back either.

But Grey's Anatomy fans won't just have to hold on to their fond memories of Arizona. She returned in the 20th season of Grey's Anatomy to operate on a "tiny human," as she affectionately used to call child patients. The patient is a baby that has a rare blood vessel abnormality in the brain. The catch? She's still in the womb and the procedure has never been done before. Miranda Bailey and Arizona clash over the procedure since Bailey doesn't want her patient to be the guinea pig. But Arizona points out that someone will always be first. Sadly, Arizona doesn't give any updates about her life in New York with Callie. That part is still up to the fans' imagination.

Arizona Robbins Helped Normalize LGBTQ+ Representation On Television

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Capshaw's leave from Grey's Anatomy came as a shock to fans. Not only was Capshaw an instrumental part of the team, but Arizona was one of the few pioneers for LGBTQ+ representation on Grey's Anatomy. Arizona broke stereotypes for lesbians on television by making her a perky and overly optimistic surgeon who just happens to be a lesbian and refused to let people walk over her like a doormat. Her sexuality was a natural part of herself and rarely was ever a point of conflict for her on the show. It was powerful to see Callie accept her bisexuality and navigate this revelation with her homophobic father, but it was also empowering to see another side of LGBTQ+ stories where a character faces other problems that don't have anything to do with their sexuality.

Arizona's characterization was so well-received for her authenticity that Grey's Anatomy could only improve with their future LGBTQ+ characters. The series may have dipped in viewership numbers in recent seasons due to its longevity and losing significant cast members, but it still deserves praise for giving the LGBTQ+ community more voices on television. Many newer characters who join the surgical program as intelligent and self-assured doctors also happen to be gay, bisexual, non-binary, or transgender. Some of them define themselves by their identity because of how proud they are of it, while others still have pride but don't necessarily let it run their stories. The nuance of these newer characters is revolutionary on television, and it all couldn't have been done without Arizona.

Jessica Capshaw's Roles Outside Grey's Anatomy

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Grey's Anatomy was the series that Capshaw became known for in her acting career. Most people are likely to identify her with Dr. Arizona Robbins, but there are people who may have seen her in other movies and television shows outside the ABC medical drama.

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Before Grey's Anatomy, Capshaw got her break on the legal drama The Practice as Jamie Stringer, portraying a lawyer. She joined the cast for Seasons 7 and 8 for a total of 42 episodes. Following The Practice, she made small appearances on other well-known series like How I Met Your Mother, Bones, and The L Word. She also starred in one episode of the limited series Into the West in 2005, which was produced by Steven Spielberg.

Jessica Capshaw's Selected Filmography

• The Practice (2002-2004)
• How I Met Your Mother (2005)
• Into the West (2005)
• Bones (2006)
• The L Word (2007)
• Grey's Anatomy (2009-2018)
• Holidate (2020)
• Tell Me Lies (2022)
• Dear Zoe (2022)

In recent years, fans of Capshaw will recognize her in the Hulu original series Tell Me Lies, which received favorable reviews from critics. She also starred alongside Emma Roberts in the Netflix Christmas movie Holidate in 2020, and Stranger Things star Sadie Sink in the drama film Dear Zoe in 2022. But no matter what, Capshaw will always be Dr. Arizona Robbins, forever skating in people's hearts down a hospital hallway.

Grey's Anatomy is available to stream on Hulu and Netflix. New episodes air every Thursday at 9 P.M. ET on ABC.

TV-14 Romance Drama Network ABC Showrunner Meg Marinis Directors Rob Corn, Kevin McKidd, Debbie Allen, Chandra Wilson, Allison Liddi-Brown, Jeannot Szwarc, Tony Phelan Writers Shonda Rhimes, Julie Wong, Jen Klein, Tameson Duffy, Meg Marinis

Cast

• Ellen Pompeo Dr. Meredith Grey
• Chandra Wilson Dr. Miranda Bailey
• James Pickens Jr. Dr. Richard Webber
• Justin Chambers Dr. Alex Karev

Grey's Anatomy is a popular medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. Set in the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, the show follows the personal and professional lives of a group of surgical interns, residents, and attending physicians as they navigate the complexities of their careers, relationships, and ethical dilemmas.

Main Genre Drama Seasons 21 Powered by

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