Martin Henderson Joins ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ Replacing Patrick Dempsey As Series Regular

Martin Henderson has been cast in Grey’s Anatomy as one of the show’s leading men for the show’s upcoming 12th season.

Martin Henderson Joins ‘Greys’

Henderson, 40, will join the cast as a series regular, likely filling the space left by departing series star Patrick Dempsey, reported TV Line. Prior to landing a part as Grey Sloan Memorial’s newest MD, Henderson had worked with Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes on the short-lived medical drama Off the Map, in which he played Dr. Ben Keeton.

Henderson, who hails from Australia, has most recently appeared in Sundance Channel TV series The Red Road with Jason Momoa and Julianne Nicholson. He’s likely best known, however, for starring opposite Naomi Watts in 2002’s The Ring. In addition to Grey’s, Henderson’s upcoming projects include feature film Everest with Jake Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley, Robin Wright and Josh Brolin.

Dempsey, who was the original leading man on Grey’s Anatomy, somewhat unceremoniously left the show towards the end of the ABC drama’s 11th season. His character, Derek Shepherd, ended up suffering brain damage after a freak car accident, leading to his wife, Meredith, pulling the plug. Addressing the character’s death, Rhimes said at the time that the group of doctors will be entering “uncharted territory.”

“Derek Shepherd is and will always be an incredibly important character—for Meredith, for me and for the fans,” Rhimes told E! News. “His loss will be felt by all. Now, Meredith and the entire Grey’s Anatomy family are about to enter uncharted territory as we head into this new chapter of her life. The possibilities for what may come are endless. As Ellis Grey would say: the carousel never stops turning.”

Grey’s Anatomy’s 12 season will premiere Thursday, Sept. 24 on ABC