Culture March 4, 2022

Richard Flood leaves 'Grey's Anatomy' after 3 seasons; Skylar Astin sets recurring role

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"Grey's Anatomy" bid farewell to a series regular this week, but fans will soon see a new face around Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Richard Flood's character, Dr. Cormac Hayes, left the show at the end of the March 3 episode, bidding an emotional farewell to Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) before he officially departed.

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Flood joined the show in season 16 and was upped to series regular for season 17. Cormac, a father of two, was the head of pediatric surgery and is a former love interest for Meredith, as the two bonded over their deceased spouses.

"Richard Flood is a terrific talent. We are grateful for his nuanced and poignant character work as Cormac Hayes. Like Hayes at Grey Sloan, he will be missed," said "Grey's Anatomy" showrunner Krista Vernoff in a statement.

ABC | Getty Images
Richard Flood appears in a scene from Grey's Anatomy. | Skylar Astin attends an event in Los Angeles on Dec. 14, 2021.

While we're down one doctor, "Pitch Perfect" alum Skylar Astin will be joining the show for a recurring role as Todd Eames later in season 18.

"Charming and handsome with a gentle soul, Eames holds a PhD in environmental sciences and loves a good spreadsheet," reads a character description from ABC. "He is close with his sister, who is a pregnant patient at Grey Sloan Memorial."

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Astin, who recently appeared on "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist" and was on "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" prior to that, will debut as Eames in the March 24 episode titled "Put the Squeeze on Me."

"Grey's Anatomy" airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.