Black Actors in Grey’s Anatomy



Grey’s Anatomy is a famous American TV medical drama debuted and mostly aired on American Broadcasting Company (ABC). It was thought to be a mid-season replacement for the TV show Boston Legal in mid-2005. It is a TV series that has seen seasons aired and it targets surgical interns and residents who are gradually developing their skills of becoming seasoned qualified doctors.

The show features many with Shonda Rhimes as an executive producer. Others include Mark Gordon, Krista Vernoff, Rob Corn, Betsy Beers, Allan Heinberg and Mark Wilding. It is a racially diverse TV show with a colour-blind casting technique used. The medical TV show revolves around Seattle Hospital and the staff. Initially, the TV show was supposed to be set in Chicago but because another famous TV shore ER was set there, the creator Shonda Rhimes opted for Seattle. Below is a list of black actors in Grey’s Anatomy:

Chandra Wilson

Born on 27th August 1961 in Houston Texas, USA, Chandra Wilson began as a music performer at the age of five. She is a former student at Houston High School for the performing and visual Arts. Later, she acquired BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and had a four-year stint at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. Her first appearance in a series was on ABC in a TV show known as Bob Patterson in 2001. She played the role of Claudia Hopper. Besides, she has featured in several other TV shows as well as commercials for Blockbuster video, Scope, Burger King as well as the United Negro Fund.

In Grey’s anatomy series, Chandra Wilson plays the role of Dr Miranda Bailey. Through this, she was nominated for the Emmy for the best-supporting Actress four times.

James Pickens Jr.

James Pickens Jr. is a black American actor known for his role as Dr. Richard Webber on the ABC medical TV show Grey’s Anatomy. Born on 26th October 1954, James Pickens Jr. is a Cleveland, Ohio native who attended the Bowling Green State University. While in college, Pickens grew interested in acting and 1976, he graduated with a Bachelor of fine arts in BGSU. He later appeared on stage in York City where he stared in the Negro Ensemble Company’s A soldier’s Play together with other famous actors like Denzel Washington as well as Samuel L. Jackson. He appeared on the TV soap opera Another World (1964) between 1981 and 1990.

Besides, he appeared in the famous romance drama Beverly Hills and the comedy show Roseanne. Featuring as Dr Richard Webber in Grey’s Anatomy (2005), he has worked extensively which has earned him a reprise on Private Practice series (2007).

Jesse Williams

Jesse Wesley Williams is an American actor born on 5th august 1981 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a former high school teacher and activist who now acts as an actor and director in the film industry. In Grey’s Anatomy, Jesse Williams plays the role of Dr. Jackson Avery. Besides, he has featured in other films which include The Cabin in the Woods (2012), The Butler (2013) and Band-Aid (2017.

Kelly McCreary

Kelly McCreary is an American actress born on 29th September 1981 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. In the Grey’s Anatomy, Kelly McCreary plays the role of Dr Maggie Pierce. She is the half-sister of Meredith Grey and she first appeared as a guest towards the end of the tenth season.

Initially, Kelly had begun her career in the theatre where she eventually made it to Broadway. She has featured in various productions. Before venturing into an actress, she was behind voice work for numerous animated children’s educational programs. She then made appearances as a guest on several TV series.

Debbie Allen

Deborah Kaye Allen is an American actress who also poses as a dancer, TV director/producer and choreographer. She was a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She is a Houston, Texas-born of African-American origin. As a child, Debbie together with her other siblings escaped racism from USA to Mexico under the guidance of their mother. Together with her elder actress sister Phylicia Rashad, Debbie Allen is fluent in Spanish. She went to Howard University and graduated with a BFA in Classical Greek Literature, Speech and Theatre. She plays the role of Catherine Fox on Grey’s Anatomy.

Jason George

Jason Winston George is an American actor and model. Born on February 9, 1972, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA, Jason George has featured in several films. In Sunset Beach soap opera, he played the role of Michael Bourne on the NBC TV and as J.T. Hunter on the UPN television sitcom Eve. He has also featured on Off the Map as Dr Otis Cole and as Dr Ben Warren on Grey’s Anatomy series.

Jason George is a graduate from the University of Virginia with a double major in Rhetoric and communication as well as drama. He acted as lifeguard Michael Bourne on Sunset Beach in 1997. Later, he appeared on screen in The Darker Face of the Earth drama in Los Angeles. In this drama, he played the role of male lead Augustus. Other ABC series that he has featured on include Eli Stone, Off the Map, What about Brian Grey’s Anatomy and as a guest anchor on Castle and Desperate Housewives. You can watch Grey’s Anatomy online free.

Gaius Charles

Born on May 2, 1983, in New York City, New York, USA, Gaius Charles is a dedicated actor and director. He is known for Salt (2010), Friday Night Lights (2006) and The Messenger (2009). He studied in Teaneck High School and graduated in 2001. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts with a BFA in drama. Also, he studied in Australia at NIDA (National Institute for Dramatic Arts). Also, he studied in Drew University where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies.

In Grey’s Anatomy, Gaius Charles played Dr Shane Ross and as Bunchy Carter in a drama series Aquarius.