| Alex Karev | |
|---|---|
| Grey's Anatomy character | |
 The season 9 promotional photograph of Justin Chambers as Dr. Alex Karev | |
| First appearance | "A Hard Day's Night" (1.01) March 27, 2005 |
| Last appearance | "Leave a Light On" (16.16) March 5, 2020[a] |
| Created by | Shonda Rhimes |
| Portrayed by | Justin Chambers Tommy O'Brien (younger self) |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Alexander Michael Karev |
| Title | M.D., F.A.C.S. |
| Occupation | Attending Pediatric Surgeon Chief of Staff (Former) Interim Chief of Surgery (Former) Head of Pediatric Surgery (Former) |
| Family |
|
| Spouse | Izzie Stevens (m. 2009, div. 2010; reconciled)[1] Jo Wilson (m. 2018, div. 2020)[1] |
| Significant other | Callie Torres (one-night-stand) Olivia Jankovic (ex-affair) Addison Montgomery (one-night-stand) Rebecca Pope (ex-girlfriend) Lexie Grey (ex-girlfriend; deceased) Lucy Fields (ex-girlfriend) Meredith Grey (ex-fiancé; alternate reality) Heather Brooks (one-night-stand; deceased) Leah Murphy (one-night-stand) |
| Children | Eli Stevens Alexis Stevens |
Alexander Michael "Alex" Karev (né Evans), M.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy, portrayed by actor Justin Chambers.[2][3] Introduced as a surgical intern at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, Karev evolves throughout the series, obtaining the position of resident and eventually specializing as a pediatric surgeon. At one point, he also becomes the Interim Chief of Surgery for six months while Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) is on a stress sabbatical. His relationships with colleagues Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) and George O'Malley (T. R. Knight) form a central part of the show's early dynamics.
Initially, Karev is disliked by his fellow interns for his brusque and dismissive behavior towards patients and co-workers.[3] His negative attitude and temper often bring him into conflict with the attending physicians. At one point, Addison Montgomery, the former neonatal surgeon, requests Alex on her service as punishment for his rude behavior towards her and others, such as Derek Shepherd. This punishment leads to Alex demonstrating a remarkable talent for pediatric surgery, which shapes his career moving forward. As his character develops, Alex becomes more empathetic toward patients, particularly children, despite his initial claims of disliking them.
In the fifteenth-season premiere, Alex is appointed as interim Chief of Surgery after Bailey takes a sabbatical. In season 16, Alex leaves Seattle Grace Hospital to reunite with Izzie and their children, with his final appearance occurring in the episode titled "Leave a Light On". It received polarized reviews from fans and critics alike, who were divided on the show's handling of Alex's exit, but many largely felt it made sense given the circumstances of Chambers' abrupt departure. Moreover, the reuniting of Alex and Izzie's popular pairing after 10 years received widespread critical and popular acclaim.
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- ^ a b Writers: Finch, Elisabeth Director: Allen, Debbie (March 5, 2020). "Leave a Light On". Grey's Anatomy. Season 16. Episode 16. ABC.
- ^ "What a Difference a Day Makes". Grey's Anatomy. Season 5. Episode 22. 2009-05-07. ABC.
- ^ a b "Character Bios". ABC.com. Archived from the original on 2008-03-25. Retrieved 2007-02-08.