What happened to George in Grey’s Anatomy? Character’s fate explored

Grey’s Anatomy, created by Shonda Rhimes, first premiered in 2005. The show is set at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital (which used to be Seattle Grace), and follows the lives of surgeons caught up in medical cases and personal drama.

George O'Malley, played by T.R. Knight, started off as an intern with Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, Izzie Stevens, and Alex Karev. They were all fresh-faced doctors working under Dr. Miranda Bailey, who although tough, had a soft spot for her interns.

In Grey’s Anatomy, George had a big heart and was loyal to his friends. He had his fair share of issues, stumbling through both his job and his love life. His relationships with Izzie and Callie were complicated. The show saw him go from an awkward intern to a confident trauma surgeon.

However, just when it seemed like George’s story might settle down, it took an unprecedented turn as he left Grey’s Anatomy.

---

What happened to George in Grey’s Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy (Image via ABC)

George O'Malley spent five seasons of Grey's Anatomy trying to figure out where he belonged. When he finally decided to join the U.S. Army as a trauma surgeon, it felt like he had found his path.

However, things went wrong one day while he was on his way home. George saw a woman about to get hit by a bus, and he acted without thinking. He jumped in front of the bus to push her out of the way. The accident left him badly hurt and nobody at the hospital recognized him.

Since he could not talk, he used his hand to write "007" on Meredith Grey’s hand. It was a callback to his old nickname and the only way he could tell them who he was.

The moment Meredith understood, the doctors did everything they could. Nevertheless, George's injuries were too severe. His brain swelled during surgery, and they could not save him. His death was sudden and a hard blow for the characters.

Behind the scenes, however, the story was different. T.R. Knight, who played George, had issues with showrunner Shonda Rhimes. Communication broke down, and Knight started to feel lost in his own storyline. He was not happy with where things were going, especially after the affair with Izzie. Instead of a quiet exit, the show chose a dramatic end that fit its reputation for shocking send-offs.

George’s death changed the tone of the series. It set a new standard for how Grey’s Anatomy handled exits. His death hit the characters hard. Meredith shut down, Izzie struggled to cope, and Bailey, who had always seen George as her favorite, put up walls to protect herself.

Years later, George came back during Meredith’s COVID-19 beach vision in season 17. Besides nostalgia, it gave the show and the fans a sense of closure.

---

Episodes of Grey’s Anatomy where T.R. Knight played George O'Malley

George O'Malley, played by T.R. Knight, appeared in 105 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy from season 1 to season 6. He started off as the awkward, unsure intern but ended up as one of the show's major characters, known for his bravery and huge heart.

In season 1, George struggled to find his place at Seattle Grace Hospital. On his very first day in A Hard Day’s Night, he almost lost a patient during a routine surgery. That mistake earned him the nickname "007"—a not-so-great nod to his "license to kill." But George did not stay down for long.

In Shake Your Groove Thing, he found his footing. When the hospital elevator got stuck, George stepped up and performed open-heart surgery right there in the cramped space.

In season 2, he fell for Meredith and had an awkward and painful one-night stand with her in episode 19, titled What Have I Done to Deserve This. In episode 27, Losing My Religion, he stood by Izzie after Denny Duquette died.

In season 3, George went through a lot of personal struggles. His father fell ill, and George had to deal with his death in episode 12, Six Days, Part 2. He married Callie Torres out of grief and confusion in episode 15, Walk on Water. But things fell apart when he cheated on her with Izzie in episode 25, Didn’t We Almost Have It All.

Season 4 had George repeating his intern year because he failed his exams. He worked closely with Lexie Grey and had to fight his own insecurities. His focus was on proving himself, and he finally passed his intern exam in episode 17, Freedom.

By season 5, George decided he wanted to be a trauma surgeon in the army. In the last episode of the season, Now or Never, he saved a woman by pushing her away from a bus.

---

Stay tuned for more stories on Grey’s Anatomy.