T.R. Knight Tells EW Why He Left Grey's Anatomy

Posted on July 24, 2009 - 12:30am by tammy T.R. Knight who plays the adorable George O'Malley on Grey's Anatomy, or should I say played, was rumored to be leaving the show with best friend and fellow co-star Katherine Heigl for quite some time. The rumors have finally come to an end as the truth comes out. Katherine Heigl is signed on to Grey's for two more seasons and sadly, T.R. Knight will be making his final appearance on the show's season premiere which airs Sept. 24. The last we saw of the guy was him lying on a hospital bed in Seattle Grace, unrecognizable due to 3rd degree burns covering his entire body. He was listed as a "John Doe" until he motioned with his hands to Christina that he was "007," an inside joke from a previous episode. Meanwhile, Knight, reveals to the magazine for the first time why he decided to ditch Seattle Grace... Like Heigl, Knight was not happy with his character's diminishing screen time with no explanation: "My five-year experience proved to me that I could not trust any answer that was given [about George]. And with respect, I'm going to leave it at that." On his relationship never being the same with creator Shonda Rhimes after she apparently discouraged him not to come out after Isaiah Washington busted out the f-word: "I think she was concerned about having my statement come out so close to the [initial] event." On knowing that not everyone will understand or apprectiate his decision to leave a $14 million paycheck: "There are a lot of people who would like to be in my position," he acknowledged. "But in the end, I need to be fulfilled in my workthat's more important than the money. [So] that's the goal. If I'm lucky to ever work again." To read more of T.R.'s interview click here.