Isaiah Washington Fired From Grey's Anatomy

His Firing

It was unclear why Washington's contract was not renewed by ABC Television Studios. However, he was criticized in October 2006 for making and later denying a homophobic slur made against fellow cast member T.R. Knight. The 43-year-old star was also said to have "behavioral issues," according to TV Guide.

In response to his termination, Washington said in a statement, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore," borrowing a line from the 1970s movie, Network.

Behavioral History

Isaiah Washington made headlines in the fall of 2006 when it was reported that a fight started between he and Grey's co-star Patrick Dempsey after Washington used a homophobic slur about T.R. Knight. A few months later at the 2006 Golden Globe Awards, Washington denied ever making the comment and eventually the dust settled -- or so everyone thought. However, at the end of 2007's season three, Washington's character walked out on his fiancée before their wedding and moved out of their apartment. It seemed clear his future on the show was not known.

Saving Face

Following that debacle, Washington went on to release a public service announcement against the use of hate speech, met with gay leaders and agreed to a psychological assessment and counseling. Knight also came out of the closet and announced that he was gay. Washington is working on his latest movie, The Least of These, which is due out in 2008.