Peter Gallagher has landed a recurring role on the upcoming 18th season of Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Alan Hamilton, who knew Ellis Grey (Kate Burton).
The Grace and Frankie star, 66, will make his debut on ABC’s long-running medical drama on the season premiere, which airs September 30.
Alongside scrubbing in the cast and meeting Ellis’ daughter Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), he and Burton’s backstory will reportedly be told in flash backs, according to Deadline.
Handsome: Peter Gallagher has landed a recurring role on the upcoming 18th season of Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Alan Hamilton, who knew Ellis Grey (Kate Burton); seen in 2020
In response to the exciting news, Gallagher’s Grammy-winning daughter Kathryn Gallagher showed her support on her Instagram Story.
‘I didn’t not cry when he told me. HARDEST SECRET I’VE EVER HAD TO KEEP,’ the 28-year-old daughter wrote, before describing herself as a ‘stan’ (an obsessive fan) of the show.
She also shared a sweet snap of herself curled up in a blanket with several of the show’s fictional character names on it.
Medical drama: The Grace and Frankie star, 66, will make his debut on ABC’s long-running medical drama on the season premiere, which airs September 30
Burton, whose character suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease and died of a heart attack on season three, is confirmed for ‘multiple episodes next season.’
Most recently, Gallagher appeared in Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and guest starred on Netflix’s Grace and Frankie and NBC’s Law & Order: SVU.
Upon its renewal earlier this year, Grey’s Anatomy made history as the longest running medical drama in television history.
Supportive daughter: In response to the exciting news, Gallagher’s Grammy-winning daughter Kathryn Gallagher showed her support on her Instagram Story
‘I didn’t not cry when he told me. HARDEST SECRET I’VE EVER HAD TO KEEP,’ the 28-year-old daughter wrote, before describing herself as a ‘stan’ (an obsessive fan) of the show
Ellen, the series’ protagonist is one of the highest paid women in TV, earning $20 million per year, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
During an interview last year on the Jemele Hill is Unbothered podcast, Pompeo admitted she ‘made a decision to make money’ when taking on the role of Meredith Grey.
‘For me, personally, a healthy home life was more important than career,’ she told Hill. ‘I didn’t grow up with a particularly happy childhood. So the idea that I have this great husband and these three beautiful children [and] a happy home life was really something I needed to complete.’
Doctor talk: Pompeo, who also serves as a producer on the show, closed a one-year deal after ‘lengthy negotiations’ earlier this year
Smart move: During an interview last year on the Jemele Hill is Unbothered podcast, Pompeo admitted she ‘made a decision to make money’ when taking on the role of Meredith Grey
Grey’s firefighter spinoff, Station 19, also received a renewal notice for the fifth season with executive producer and showrunner Krista Vernoff at the helm.
‘The writers, directors, casts and crews of Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19 worked so hard to bring these shows to life this past season,’ Vernoff, 47, said in a statement.
‘Keeping each other safe on set while paying tribute to the front-line heroes and first responders has been a challenge and a privilege. I’ve been truly blown away — particularly by our tireless crews — as they reinvented the TV-making wheel.
‘The writers, directors, casts and crews of Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19 worked so hard to bring these shows to life this past season,’ Vernoff, 47, said in a statement.
‘Thank you to ABC and ABC Signature for the support and extraordinary partnership through this unprecedented season. We are so grateful for the opportunity to tell more stories.’
Grey’s past season welcomed back a host of former cast members as Meredith battled COVID-19, including a dream beach sequence with Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd.
T.R. Knight portrayed George O’Malley, Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey and Eric Dane came back as Mark Sloan, while Sarah Drew returned as April Kepner.
Giacomo Gianniotti’s character, Andrew DeLuca, was killed off during the midseason premiere, and Jesse Williams’ character, Jackson Avery, will make his final appearance on May 20.
‘Keeping each other safe on set while paying tribute to the front-line heroes and first responders has been a challenge and a privilege. I’ve been truly blown away — particularly by our tireless crews — as they reinvented the TV-making wheel’