Isaiah Washington
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Fans were shocked when T.R. Knight made the decision to leave the cast of Grey’s Anatomy, the hit medical drama that launched him to fame in 2005.

This week, in an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actor reveals what led him to his decision, and he also candidly discusses the Isaiah Washington situation, coming out of the closet, and leaving his friends at Seattle Grace.

This fall, Knight was surprised to see his character George O’Malley all but vanish from the show - in fact, in the first nine episodes of Season 5, he appeared on screen a total of only 48 minutes, compared to 114 for Sandra Oh’s Cristina Yang.

Still, due to what he calls a “breakdown of communication” between himself and Grey's Anatomy executive producer Shonda Rhimes, the actor chose not to ask his boss what was going on with George O’Malley. Instead, he simply asked to leave.

"My five-year experience proved to me that I could not trust any answer that was given [about George]," he explains. "And with respect, I'm going to leave it at that."

Though he was unknown when Grey's Anatomy premiered, Knight emerged as one of the show's breakout stars, earning a supporting actor Emmy nod in 2007. But what came to be known as "Isaiahgate" catapulted him to household-name status.

After Isaiah Washington referred to Knight as a "f----t" during an on-set argument with Patrick Dempsey, the tabloids caught wind of it, Knight came out of the closet, and Washington was ultimately not asked back to the show the following season.

While Knight doesn’t specifically fault Shonda Rhimes for how the situation was handled behind the scenes, he says she tried to discourage him from coming out:

"I think she was concerned about having my statement come out so close to the [initial] incident." Rhimes denies it: "I said, 'If you want to come out, that's awesome.'"

Knight returned to work on Season 4, but the actor struggled with the story line in which George cheated on his wife Callie (Sara Ramirez) with Izzie (Katherine Heigl).

And once George went MIA at the star of Season 5, the star came to the conclusion that his character had “expired.” But Knight is at peace with his choice to leave:

"There comes a time when it’s so clear that moving on is the best decision," he says.

But at first, his castmate and friend Katherine Heigl tried to talk him out of it: "I didn't think it was the right decision," she says. "I felt like some of the problems could be worked out. But by the time it came to fruition, I was [glad] because he was ready to go."

T.R. Knight knows he’s taking a risk walking away from his top 10 show and $14 million contract: "From an outsider's perspective, I get the [impression that] 'Oh, he’s just a spoiled actor ... he doesn’t know how good he has it,'" he says.

"There are a lot of people who would like to be in my position. But in the end, I need to be fulfilled in my work, and I am confident I made the right decision."

Former Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington - who was let go from the show after the end of the third season in mid-2007 (amid allegations of making homophobic slurs about gay co-star T.R. Knight) - is slamming the show for its recent firing of Brooke Smith.

"I looked at a brilliant actress, whom I have adored since I first saw her in Silence of the Lambs," Washington says in the November 17 issue of TV Guide.

"For her to be treated this way, I find very interesting."

After Brooke Smith was let go, Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes released a statement last week insisting she "was obviously not fired for playing a lesbian" and did not think the "chemistry with Brooke's character would sustain in the long run."

Regardless, Isaiah Washington says the move was harsh.

"The fact is that, just before the holidays, you have a mother, a wonderful actress removed from a steady income without the proper reasoning behind it," he said.

"You look at the way another consummate professional [is] being treated because her character, her story line [has] potentially made producers uncomfortable."

He says Shonda Rhimes is getting the raw deal.

"Now that I see what they're doing to a show that I love and I care about, I think it's disgusting," Isaiah Washington said. "The fact that Shonda has been put in this position is extremely unfair. It's unfortunate because it was probably, at the time, the most progressive show on television. Now I see it [being] systematically torn apart."

How can the show be fixed?

"Bring Burke back!" Washington says.

Would he return to the show, despite all the drama? "Absolutely!" 

In the wake of the latest Katherine Heigl controversy, two former Grey's Anatomy co-stars are going on the record with Entertainment Tonight about the actress' decision to remove her name from Emmy contention.

A winner just last year, Heigl said she did not submit her name for the awards because of material she didn't feel was worthy of consideration.

Not surprisingly, the show's writers take issue.

Former co-star Isaiah Washington is no stranger to controversy himself. In fact, he removed himself from Emmy consideration after the firestorm of criticism following his alleged remarks about co-star T.R. Knight.

Washington spoke candidly about Heigl's situation to ET.

"It's unfortunate that what is happening is happening. I understand both sides, I was there. I know exactly where everyone's coming from," he said.

Isaiah Washington said he called Grey's Anatomy creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes as soon as he heard that the news broke.

"I've reached out and said, look, whatever I can do to help out, I'm open to it," he said.

Meanwhile, Kate Walsh, who appeared on an episode of Grey's Anatomy this spring and is the star of its spin-off, Private Practice, didn't address Heigl directly, but had praise for the writers on her current show.

"All I know is I think that they're, it's an amazing show and amazing writers, and I love going to work everyday," Walsh said.

Katherine Heigl (seen below vacationing with husband Josh Kelley in Mexico) is expected back when Grey's Anatomy returns to production June 25.

Despite widespread rumors that the actress wants to leave the hit show, she has never made a comment to that effect publicly. Stay tuned.

Sort of.

If you've seen promos for this week's episode, "The Becoming," you likely noticed that they feature Preston Burke - even if the former character doesn't appear on the actual episode of Grey's Anatomy. Just a picture of him.

Below is a photo taken from the promo. Tonight's Grey's Anatomy will focus on how Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) reacts to this news of her ex-fiance.

Isaiah Washington, who portrayed Preston so brilliantly before being fired after Season 3, is now shooting a movie with Forrest Whitaker in New Orleans, but is reportedly upset about his likeness being used on Grey's Anatomy.

Washington's rep, Howard Bragman said in a statement:

"Isaiah has no plans to go back to Grey's Anatomy ... That being said, we were more than a little surprised that ABC used his likeness in a promo for the show, and indeed advanced his character's storyline. Mr. Washington's attorney has contacted the Screen Actors Guild and ABC as to the appropriateness of that action."

A representative for ABC could not be reached for comment.

This poses the question of whether ABC is using Burke (a la Addison) as a ploy to boost Grey's Anatomy ratings, which have slipped. Thoughts?

Even without a script to guide, the Grey's Anatomy cast generated plenty of drama Wednesday when they showed up once again to support striking writers picketing outside the fabled Paramount Studios lot in Los Angeles.

Stars Katherine Heigl, who plays Dr. Izzie Stevens, T.R. Knight, who plays her on-screen love interest Dr. George O'Malley, and Sara Ramirez, who plays George's estranged wife Dr. Callie Torres, posed for pictures and gave interviews.

Sara Ramirez, T.R. Knight and Katherine Heigl on the picket line.

Even former cast member Isaiah Washington showed up. Washington, who played Dr. Preston Burke, was not asked back to the show in June amid tension that began and quickly escalated when he allegedly used a slur in reference to T.R. Knight and then used the word again during a Golden Globes appearance.

Isaiah Washington has since apologized, met with gay leaders and checked into rehab, and the actor appeared on NBC's Bionic Woman earlier this fall.

His presence underscored the symbolism of "Diversity Day" in which writers and actors who are gay or minorities were specifically asked to appear on the picket line.

Grey's Anatomy creator and writer Shonda Rhimes, considered one of the most powerful black women in Hollywood, was among those picketing at Paramount.

Isaiah Washington denied there were problems with his former co-workers. He later posed for a photo with another Grey's Anatomy star, Justin Chambers.

"They're former castmates. I've been in over 25 movies, I have lots of former castmates," the actor said.

Justin Chambers and Isaiah Washington on the picket line.

The Grey's Anatomy cast members joined fellow actors Rex Lee from Entourage, Amy Brenneman of Private Practice, Motorcycle Diaries screenwriter Jose Rivera, and other cast and crew from CSI Miami, Cold Case, The Shield and Bionic Woman to support the television and screenwriters in their six-week strike.

The writers are negotiating their payments for work shown on the Internet. Talks broke off last week when the writers walked away from the bargaining table.

Isaiah Washington has found solace in his charity work with the African nation of Sierra Leone, despite all the negativity swirling around his departure from Grey's Anatomy in June.

"This is the thing that kept me sane," Washington told USA Today. "While all the negative stuff was happening [on Grey's Anatomy], I had all this support over there."

To soothe any bad feelings he had from the on-set altercation with co-star Patrick Dempsey, during which it was alleged that Washington uttered a homophobic slur (the context of which has been widely debated and disputed) the actor says that he immersed himself in his children's charity - the Gondobay Manga Foundation.

Isaiah Washington also tells the newspaper that he and his wife, Jenisa, are considering adoption since making their latest trip.

"There is one boy, about eight years old, who I fell in love with [in Sierra Leone]," he says. "But I'm not interested in stripping him of his culture. My wife and I have three kids already, but we have talked about adoption, and we're not ruling it out."

The actor's foundation is building a school in the Njala Kendema village in Sierra Leone, with 350 students due to start there this September.

Says Washington, who is currently shooting five episodes as part of a guest role he will play on NBC's new drama, Bionic Woman:

"I feel safer in Sierra Leone than I do in L.A., because they're my people and they are not trying to hurt you. If anything, they're going to try to get money out of you to survive."

Once Isaiah Washington found that he had a genetic connection to people of that African nation, it has helped keep him going on a regular basis.

"When I get to the point when I'm very frustrated, I go to my Web site to check e-mails from [people] all over the world who want to help out."

Regardless of what really happened on the Grey's Anatomy set, we all know the ultimate result was that Isaiah Washington was not asked to return to the program.

As Isaiah attempts to restart his career, he paid a visit to the set of Access Hollywood for a candid interview with Billy Bush - mere hours after it was announced that T.R. Knight received an Emmy nomination.

"Do you think he benefited from this dust up?" Isaiah was asked by Bush regarding T.R. Knight and his Emmy nomination.

"T.R. Knight is a good actor. He has been a wonderful actor from day one," Isaiah said. "T.R. Knight, congratulations. He finally got the attention he deserved."

In fact, it was only well wishes from Isaiah for his former Grey's Anatomy co-star who received his first Emmy nomination on Thursday.

"Whether or not it serves any particular agenda that he's nominated now, to make a point, I can't speak on that. That's theoretical. I don't know, but good for him," the former Dr. Burke said.

Washington claims the controversy stemming from the Grey's Anatomy set had nothing to do with his decision to not submit his name for Emmy consideration, as actors typically do.

"It wasn't about not submitting because of the backlash," Isaiah Washington said. "I didn't want the pain of being nominated and losing. I didn't have a good time at the last Emmys. It was the stress of 'Are we going to win? Are we going to win?' the whole day. I remember being on the red carpet and my wife and I had the biggest argument because of my nerves."

Of course, it's not the first time the pressure of an awards show appears to have gotten to Washington, there was the post-Golden Globes incident.

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A surprise reunion for the resurgent Isaiah Washington and two of his former Grey's Anatomy co-stars - James Pickens, Jr. and Chandra Wilson - took place at an event for a good cause.

The actor, who was let go from the ABC hit in June, unexpectedly showed up Saturday at Kiki Shepard's 5th Annual Celebrity Bowling Challenge to "Bowl a Strike for Sickle Cell Disease" at the PINZ Entertainment Center in L.A.

Washington, who seemed in good spirits, casually greeted James Pickens, Jr., with a pat on the back before the two got to catching up, then gave Wilson a hearty hug and kiss hello.

Carrying an unlit cigar, Washington opted not to bowl and instead watched as James Pickens, Jr., who plays Dr. Richard Webber on Grey's Anatomy, showed off his bowling skills with a few strikes and a couple of spares.

As we reported yesterday, however, Isaiah Washington, 43, has already made a strike of his own.

The actor has landed some new TV roles, including a guest-starring role on this fall's NBC remake of The Bionic Woman with Michelle Ryan.

He's also landed a development deal as the lead star in a potential action drama he pitched to NBC for the 2008-09 season, according to USA Today.

While details of his role on The Bionic Woman remain a mystery, NBC co-chair Ben Silverman thinks this could be a stepping stone for Washington.

"I think he could be an action star," Silverman said. "There aren't any African-American action stars on television, so I thought we'd give him a forum to do his thing."

Silverman, who knows Washington through a mutual friend who's organizing charitable events in Africa, made the decision to hire Washington based on personal knowledge rather than the hype surrounding his often-discussed argument on the Grey's Anatomy set.

"I just think he's a great actor," says Silverman.

As for Washington's former home base, with the Grey's team having reported back to work last Monday, Wilson told People it just isn't the same.

"There's something missing," said Wilson, who plays Dr. Miranda Bailey. "There are definitely big voids there, so you're trying to figure out how do you work now with the voids ... not only personally but for the characters ... and what does that mean?'"

Pickens declined to discuss Washington but did offer some kind words for Kate Walsh, who is also gone, having left to start her own show, Private Practice.

"[Kate Walsh] was such integral part of the cast, so beautiful and funny," he said. "But I'm so happy for her with the new show. I wish her nothing but success with it."

At Monday's gathering of the cast - the first since Season 3 of Grey's ended in May - "We started with a vengeance," said Chandra Wilson. "It's like full 14-hour days already, so it didn't feel like we took a break."

"You hit the ground running," Pickens added.

Added to the cast is Chyler Leigh, who plays Lexie Grey, Meredith Grey's half-sister and a new Seattle Grace intern.

"She's really talented." Pickens said of Chyler Leigh. "We're looking forward to seeing how she integrates into the cast. I haven't had any scenes with her, but from what I've seen I think she's going to be a great addition."

This should come as pleasant news to Isaiah Washington supporters: the actor will be getting a second shot on the small screen, courtesy of NBC.

USA Today has the story: Isaiah Washington, the embattled star fired from ABC's Grey's Anatomy last month, is officially back to work.

Washington is reportedly set to guest-star on the network's high-profile remake of 1970s drama Bionic Woman this fall, and has signed a development deal to star in a potential action drama he pitched to the network for the 2008-09 TV season.

Washington, of course, was fired last month from the hit medical drama after on-set conflicts including use of an anti-gay slur, which later was connected to co-star T.R. Knight. Washington initially denied missteps, then apologized and underwent counseling at ABC's insistence.

But in subsequent interviews after his firing, he said racism might have been a factor and accused Knight of manipulating the controversy.

Katherine Pope, president of NBC's Universal Media Studios, says that despite the public baggage, Washington is "a brilliant actor," and she believes viewers will re-embrace him. "I think people watch characters on TV, not personalities" in the news, she says.

Washington won critical praise for his role as Dr. Preston Burke, who was written out of Grey's at the end of its third season in May, when he walked out on Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) moments before their planned wedding.

On Bionic Woman, he'll play an outsider with a mysterious agenda who is introduced early in the series and may either help the superpowered Jamie (Michelle Ryan, in the role first played by Lindsay Wagner) or take her down.

Washington signed on for at least five episodes of the drama, considered NBC's strongest shot this fall, in a crop developed by former entertainment president Kevin Reilly, who has since moved to the same post at Fox.

The Washington deal marks the first stamp of new NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman, who also is an executive producer of The Office and Ugly Betty.

"He's a totally awesome actor," Silverman says. "He did a great job for Grey's Anatomy and he's got a fan base." As for Washington's offscreen drama, "He's put that behind him. Let's give him a chance to do what he does."

Isaiah Washington blamed co-star Patrick Dempsey's repeated tardiness to the Grey's Anatomy set for the infamous blow-up which resulted in Washington using a homophobic slur.

Interviewed last night on Larry King Live, Washington said he regretted that he did not confront Dempsey the first time he was late to the set, so he challenged him when the actor was late again.

But Dempsey wanted to delay the scene more to wait for Grey's star Ellen Pompeo, who plays Dempsey's love interest, before shooting began.

"I said I don't need Ellen, I can act," Washington told Larry King. "And that was the moment that sent it into a different zone."

According to Washington, Patrick Dempsey erupted.

"He became unhinged, sprayed spittle in my face," said Washington, in his first TV interview about the controversy. "I'm asking him why is he screaming at me... He just becomes irate."

That's when Washington said "a lot of things I'm not really proud of."

"I said several bad words," he recalled, quoting himself as telling Dempsey: "There's no way you're going to treat me like the B-word, the P-word or the F-word."

He said that the "F-word" was not meant as an anti-gay slur, but implied "somebody who is being weak."

Washington also strongly denied he ever directed the word at gay costar T.R. Knight, as frequently reported and insinuated by the press.

"I am not homophobic, in no way, shape or form," said Washington.

As for T.R. Knight claiming the slur was directed at him, Isaiah Washington said that is patently false.

"That's a lie. He misrepresented himself," Washington said, suggesting that Knight did that to advance his career and get more money.

"He has been very disappointed in playing the character he has been playing. He told me that," Isaiah added.

But Washington said he felt badly about repeating the slur backstage at the Golden Globe Awards, when he attempted to explain the context in which he used it in the first place.

"I wish I could take that back," Isaiah Washington said.

He became emotional at one point in the interview.

When King asked if any cast members had written him, Washington paused and appeared close to tears when recalling that Sandra Oh had.

Washington attended counseling and finished Season 3 of Grey's Anatomy after the incident, but was released from the hit ABC series a month ago as Preston Burke was written out of the show.

Larry King said on the air that the Grey's Anatomy producers, Patrick Dempsey and T.R. Knight all declined to comment.