
The character of Dr. Isobel Katherine Stevens, played by Katherine Heigl, was a surgical intern at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital in the television series Grey's Anatomy. Izzie's character arc, including her marriage with Alex Karev and her brain tumours, gained significant momentum before her abrupt departure in Season 6. While there were rumours of Izzie returning to the show, Heigl stated in 2010 that a graceful return would be challenging. However, in 2012, she expressed interest in providing closure to Izzie's storyline, and the character briefly returned in Season 16, portrayed by a body double.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name of the character | Izzie Stevens, M.D. |
Show | Grey's Anatomy |
Portrayed by | Katherine Heigl |
Occupation | Doctor/Surgeon |
Hospital | Seattle Grace Hospital |
Colleagues | Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, Alex Karev, George O'Malley |
Reason for leaving | Cut Denny Duquette's LVAD wire, treatment error, relationship issues |
Return | Came back briefly, but left again |
Future return | Unlikely, but Heigl is open to it |
What You'll Learn
- Izzie Stevens, portrayed by Katherine Heigl, left Grey's Anatomy in season 6
- She returned to Seattle Grace Hospital after cutting Denny Duquette's LVAD wire
- Izzie was fired from the hospital after giving the wrong dosage of medicine to a patient
- She returned to Seattle for a final PET scan and to ask Derek for a job recommendation
- In 2012, Heigl stated she wanted to return to the show to give closure to Izzie's storyline
Izzie Stevens, portrayed by Katherine Heigl, left Grey's Anatomy in season 6
Izzie's departure from the show came as a surprise to many viewers, especially considering the critical acclaim Heigl garnered for her performance. In 2007, she won a Primetime Emmy for her role. In 2009, Heigl requested to be released from her contract 18 months early, citing a desire to spend more time with her family. There were also rumours that Heigl was a difficult co-worker, which may have contributed to her exit.
Following her departure, there was speculation about Izzie returning to the show. In 2010, Heigl commented that a return would be challenging as she couldn't think of a graceful way for Izzie to come back that wouldn't feel manipulative. However, in 2012, she expressed interest in returning to provide closure to Izzie's storyline. While showrunner Shonda Rhimes acknowledged Heigl's positive comments, she stated that there were no plans for the character to return at that time.
In 2020, Izzie appeared in a sequence in season 16 of Grey's Anatomy, but this was a body double and not Heigl.
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She returned to Seattle Grace Hospital after cutting Denny Duquette's LVAD wire
In Grey's Anatomy, Izzie Stevens was a 25-year-old former model who worked as a doctor at Seattle Grace Hospital. She fell in love with cardiothoracic patient Denny Duquette, who was in need of a heart transplant. When Denny lost out on a donor heart, Izzie wanted to ensure he got the next one. She cut his LVAD wire to worsen his condition and move him up the donor list.
Izzie initially intended to quit the program, unable to deal with her guilt and grief over Denny's death. However, after some time, she started to heal and her passion for medicine was reignited. Alex Karev convinced Miranda Bailey to speak to Izzie and make her come back. Bailey convinced the Chief to let Izzie return, but with strict probation conditions, including observing without interacting with patients.
Izzie was dissatisfied with the limited medical work she could do and frequently pushed the boundaries of her probation. During an emergency involving a ferry accident, Izzie saved a man's life by drilling burr holes in his skull with an ordinary drill. This impressed the Chief, who took her off probation and allowed her to finish the procedure with a high-speed surgical drill.
Izzie received an inheritance check for $8.7 million from Denny, which she used to open the Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic, a free clinic at the hospital.
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Izzie was fired from the hospital after giving the wrong dosage of medicine to a patient
In the popular medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy, Izzie Stevens, played by Katherine Heigl, was a surgical intern at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital. She worked her way up to resident level, and her relationships with her colleagues formed a focal point of the series.
Izzie was fired from the hospital after giving the wrong dosage of medicine to a kidney patient. Her judgment was clouded by petty competition, and her mistake endangered the patient's life. This incident was not Izzie's first mistake; she had previously cut Denny Duquette's LVAD wire, for which she faced suspension but instead chose to quit.
After her firing, Izzie left her husband, Alex Karev, and moved away from Seattle to start a new life. She eventually returned to Seattle for a final PET scan and to ask Derek to put in a good word for her, as she wanted to get a job in Tacoma and repair her relationship with Alex. However, Tacoma did not want to hire her due to her history.
Despite her departure from the hospital, Izzie's character arc continued to be referenced in the show. It was revealed that she had given birth to twins using a frozen embryo she and Alex had saved before her cancer treatment. Alex decided to leave his partner, Jo, and Seattle to reunite with Izzie and their family.
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She returned to Seattle for a final PET scan and to ask Derek for a job recommendation
Izzie Stevens, a fictional character from the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy, left the show in season 6. She returned to Seattle Grace Hospital for a final PET scan to determine whether her cancer was gone. She also wanted to ask Derek for a job recommendation so she could get a job in Tacoma and repair her relationship with Alex.
Izzie's return to the hospital was not a triumphant one. She had previously been fired from the hospital, and her relationship with Alex had ended. When she returned, she wanted to reunite with Alex, but he refused, feeling that he deserved better. Despite her clean scan, Alex urged her to leave and not come back.
Izzie's departure from the show was abrupt and shocked viewers, especially since her story arcs were gaining significant momentum. There were also rumours that the writers were planning to kill off her character. In 2012, Katherine Heigl, who portrayed Izzie, expressed interest in returning to the show to provide closure to her character's storyline. However, Shonda Rhimes, the showrunner, stated that there were no plans for the character to return at that time.
In Season 6, after Izzie's final appearance, it is revealed that she sent divorce papers to Alex, which he signs. In the season finale, Alex is shot and delirious, calling out for Izzie. In later seasons, it is revealed that Alex left his partner, Jo, and Seattle to get back together with Izzie, and they have twins together.
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In 2012, Heigl stated she wanted to return to the show to give closure to Izzie's storyline
Katherine Heigl portrayed the character of Izzie Stevens on the show Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010. She left the show in 2010, and her departure was abrupt, leaving viewers with unanswered questions about her character's storylines. In 2012, Heigl expressed interest in returning to the show to provide closure to Izzie's narrative arc. She stated that she wanted to see where Izzie was and what she was doing, and she envisioned Izzie finding success and doing well in a different hospital. Heigl also acknowledged that she missed her friends and the work environment on the show.
Heigl's decision to leave Grey's Anatomy in 2010 was due to a shift in her personal priorities, as she wanted to spend more time with her family and no longer desired to work full-time. She also believed that it would be unfair to the fans for Izzie to return and leave again, as she had already done so twice earlier in the season. At the time of her departure, there were rumours that Heigl was challenging to work with, and her relationship with her co-stars and showrunners was reportedly complicated.
In an interview in January 2012, Heigl stated that she had asked the producers if she could return to the show to give closure to Izzie's storyline. She expressed her desire to see where the character was and what she was doing, and she imagined Izzie finding success and thriving in a different hospital. She also acknowledged that she missed her friends and the work environment on the show.
While promoting Scandal in 2012, showrunner Shonda Rhimes commented that she had a strict "no Heigls" policy after Heigl's exit. However, she also stated that she was open to seeing Izzie again, leaving the possibility of Heigl's return open. Several of Heigl's former co-stars, including Ellen Pompeo, also shared their thoughts on her decision to leave the show, with some believing that she could have handled the situation better.
Heigl's portrayal of Izzie Stevens on Grey's Anatomy was well-received by fans, and her character's kindness and vulnerability made her a favourite among viewers. Her departure from the show left a significant impact, and many fans were surprised and hurt by her abrupt exit. The showrunners had to develop a different storyline for her castmates, particularly Justin Chambers, who played Izzie's husband, Alex Karev.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Izzie Stevens does come back to Seattle Grace Hospital.
Izzie was fired from the hospital after making a treatment error that endangered a patient's life. She was also dissatisfied with the limited amount of medical work she could do due to the terms of her probation.
When Izzie returned to the hospital, she wanted to reunite with Alex, but he refused as he felt he deserved better. She also asked Derek to put in a good word for her so she could get a job in Tacoma.
No, Izzie did not return to work at Seattle Grace Hospital. Derek learned that Tacoma didn't want to hire her because of her history, and while he planned on hiring her once he became Chief of Surgery, Alex urged her to leave and not come back.
There is a possibility that Izzie could return to the show in the future as Katherine Heigl, the actress who played her, has expressed interest in tying up her character's arc and providing closure for fans. However, as of 2012, there were no plans for the character to return.