There have been plenty of rumors swirling around cast departures on "Grey's Anatomy," but now a co-star is reporting that two actors are indeed leaving the show.
James Pickens, Jr., who plays chief of surgery Dr. Richard Webber at fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, told Us Weekly that Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight are on their way out.
Us also quoted a set source as saying "(Knight) complains to Katherine all the time. The energy on set will be much better when he's gone." However, the magazine went on to quote a source saying that the show's writers want to create a "believable exit" for Knight's character, one that would make it possible for him to return to the show at a later date.
Heigl plays blonde bombshell and troubled doctor Izzie Stevens, who accidentally killed her fiance, Denny Duquette, while trying to help him get a heart transplant. Her character has been playing controversial romantic scenes with the long-dead Duquette, and a recent episode indicated that the scenes may be the result of a mental problem caused by a health issue.
Knight plays George O'Malley, a doctor who had to re-take his intern exam and has had no end of romantic trouble, including a quickie marriage and divorce to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Callie Torres.
The actor, who is openly gay, was involved in a controversy off-set in 2006, when then-co-star Isaiah Washington reportedly delivered an anti-gay slur aimed at Knight and became involved in an argument with actor Patrick Dempsey. Washington was eventually dropped from the show.
The magazine reported that ABC and the actor's reps had no comment.
When asked by msnbc.com about the possible departures, an ABC publicist said, "studio and network are not confirming, so it very much remains a mystery."