Kate Walsh returned to Grey’s Anatomy as Addison to drop a shocking revelation about her marriage.
During the Thursday, January 29, episode of the hit ABC series, Addison paid a visit to Amelia (Caterina Scorsone), who was still on sabbatical from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The doctors both helped to assist with a pregnant patient who was suffering from a tumor that affected her sight.
In an effort to get Amelia to scrub back in, Addison revealed that her marriage to husband Jake (Benjamin Bratt) might be over. Addison refused to share any more details about their issues, but Amelia eventually convinced her to open up. Addison said Jake was forcing her to choose between their marriage and her career — and she chose the latter.
Addison and Amelia talked over her options before realizing the relationship likely couldn’t be saved. They ended the episode bonding at Amelia’s apartment, but it remains to be seen what Addison will do about her personal life.
Walsh, 58, made her Grey’s Anatomy debut back in 2005 before Addison got her own spinoff, Private Practice, which aired from 2007 to 2013. She is far from the only fan-favorite cast member to return to Grey’s Anatomy after an extended exit.
Earlier this season, Jesse Williams reprised the role of Jackson following his departure in 2021. He previously praised the writers’ room for allowing him to have a say in how his character would wrap up his time on Grey’s Anatomy.
“I feel really honored by having the opportunity to really form a story with our writers that honors the character and the characters around him, that world, and also has a connection to the real world,” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2021. “It really marks a journey for him, particularly the personal element to the role with his father and really digging into self-improvement. That really impacted me.”
Scott Speedman‘s Nick also returned for multiple episodes this season, rejoining the cast as a recurring character and Meredith’s love interest.
Grey’s Anatomy has faced plenty of cast shakeups on season 22 alone. Scorsone’s character chose to take a sabbatical from the hospital while grieving the death of her colleague Monica (Natalie Morales). It was subsequently reported that Scorsone’s break will last until later this year as the result of a cost-saving measure.
The medical drama is already reducing the minimum guarantees for its veteran cast members to 14 out of the show’s 18 episodes per season. While some of Grey’s Anatomy‘s consistent stars will be missing for four episodes, Scorsone’s absence was doubled.
Showrunner Meg Marinis previously hinted that not every character would be safe this season.
“But even in the last two seasons with what you saw this year, we had to reduce the cast a little bit [because of industry-wide budget cuts], and everybody has very passionate feelings about their favorite characters,” Marinis told The Hollywood Reporter in May 2025. “But if we can get the writers upset then we know we’re doing it right. It’s not as satisfying a story if people aren’t upset when someone leaves. It’s supposed to make people upset and sad, so I’m sure there’ll be some arguments. But I’ve been persuaded before to change my mind on things.”
Grey’s Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Hulu.
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