| April Kepner | |
|---|---|
| Grey's Anatomy character | |
 Sarah Drew as Dr. April Kepner | |
| First appearance | "Invasion" (6.05) October 15, 2009 (as recurring cast) "With You I'm Born Again" (7.01) September 23, 2010 (as main cast) |
| Last appearance | "All of Me" (14.24) May 17, 2018 (as main cast) "You Are the Blood" (18.20) May 26, 2022 (as guest cast) |
| Created by | Shonda Rhimes |
| Portrayed by | Sarah Drew |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | April Kepner April 23, 1982 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Nickname |
|
| Title | M.D. F.A.C.S. Captain |
| Occupation | Attending trauma surgeon (former) Interim Chief of General Surgery (former) Chief Resident (former) Trauma surgeon for the United States Army (former) |
| Family | Joe Kepner (father) Karen Kepner (mother) Libby Kepner (sister) Kimmie Kepner (sister) Alice Kepner (sister) |
| Spouse | Jackson Avery (m. 2013; div. 2016; reconciled)[1] Matthew Taylor (m. (2018; div. 2020) |
| Significant other | Tom Koracick (one night stand) Vikram Roy (ex-affair) |
| Children | Samuel Norbert Avery (deceased) Harriet Kepner-Avery |
| Religion | Christianity |
April Kepner, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character from the ABC's medical drama series Grey's Anatomy. The character was created by series producer Shonda Rhimes and is portrayed by actress Sarah Drew.[2] April was introduced in the episode "Invasion" as a surgical resident from Mercy West Medical Center who joins the staff at Seattle Grace Mercy West following the merger of the two hospitals. This was done to compensate for the absence of some central cast members, and April was originally created to be somewhat disliked by her colleagues.[3] Although initially set to appear in just two episodes, Drew's contract was extended for the remainder of Season 6, and she became a series regular in Season 7.[3][4]
April's primary storylines revolve around her professional struggles and religious beliefs. She eventually marries Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) and together, they have two children: a son, Samuel, who tragically dies from osteogenesis imperfecta type II, and a daughter named Harriet. April's story concluded with her departure in the Season 14 finale, and it was later revealed in Season 17 that she left Seattle with Jackson to run the Catherine Fox Foundation.
Initially, April focused on neurosurgery during her residency due to a crush on Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey),[5] but she ultimately found her true passion in trauma surgery.[6] After failing her medical boards, April briefly leaves the hospital but later returns as a surgical attending when Chief Owen Hunt )Kevin McKidd) offers her job back. ABC characterized her as determined, thorough, and intelligent, while also noting her insecurity, over-eagerness, and vulnerability as her main weaknesses.
The character received mixed reviews from critics early on, with some finding her irritating due to her insecurity and overzealous nature. However, as April evolved and her storylines deepened, she gained significant character growth, and many fans began to appreciate her journey, eventually becoming a fan-favorite.[7][8]
- ^ Writers: Vernoff, Krista Director: Allen, Debbie (May 26, 2022). "You Are the Blood". Grey's Anatomy. Season 18. Episode 20. ABC.
- ^ "Character Bios". American Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on March 25, 2008. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
- ^ a b Marsi, Steve (October 21, 2009). "Sarah Drew Previews Character, Grey's Anatomy Role". TV Fanatic. SheKnows Entertainment. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- ^ Marsi, Steve (November 15, 2010). "Sarah Drew Dishes on Dream Grey's Anatomy Gig". TV Fanatic. SheKnows Entertainment. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
- ^ Brian Tanen (writer), Chandra Wilson (director) (October 21, 2010). "Almost Grown". Grey's Anatomy. Season 7. Episode 05. American Broadcasting Company.
- ^ "Interview with Sarah Drew". April 26, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- ^ "The Most Loathed TV Characters Pictures, April Photos". TV Guide. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
- ^ MacKenzi, Carina (October 16, 2009). "'Grey's Anatomy': Mercy West is in, Izzie Stevens is out". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 18, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2009.