After eight years on Grey’s Anatomy, Deadline reports Jake Borelli (#Reality High, The Thundermans) has bid farewell to his beloved character, Levi Schmitt, in the November 14 episode. In a heartfelt exit, Levi leaves Grey Sloan Memorial for a pediatric research position in Texas, accompanied by his boyfriend, James, the “hot Chaplain,” played by Michael Thomas Grant (The Rookie: Feds, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), who became a fan-favorite addition to the show’s roster of charismatic religious figures.
Borelli, a staple in the long-running medical drama, opened up to Deadline about his exit and the themes that shaped his character’s journey.
Borelli’s path to departure started with a call from Grey’s showrunner Meg Marinis (Grey’s Anatomy), who explained the decision to write out Levi in a way that would see him take a meaningful step toward his personal and professional growth. “They wanted to give him a place where he could be seen for who he was,” Borelli said. “And for the audience to finally see him grow into the doctor we all knew he could be.”
Levi’s exit was wrapped up in a relatively low-key fashion, with just two significant scenes involving his closest friends on-screen: Jo Wilson, played by Camilla Luddington (Tomb Rider, Justice League After Dark), and Taryn Helm, played by Jaicy Elliot (Station 19, Romance in Style) , Borelli expressed that he was grateful for the focus on those friendships. “I would have loved to have more scenes, but it felt right that we closed out the story with those relationships,” he said.
Reflecting on the emotional nature of filming his final scenes, Borelli discussed his bond with Luddington and Elliot, who are close friends off-screen. He described the final moments as deeply personal, revealing that their goodbye scenes were infused with genuine emotion for their characters and real-life friendship.
Levi’s arc on Grey’s was punctuated by a significant personal milestone in season 15 when he came out as gay—a storyline that not only defined Levi’s journey but also became a major turning point for Borelli as an actor. Although Borelli admitted to initial hesitation about taking on the groundbreaking plotline, he ultimately embraced the opportunity to portray a queer character authentically.
“It was terrifying, but I’m so glad I did it,” Borelli said, reflecting on how the storyline allowed Levi to step into his true self. “His coming out was the catalyst for him to become the confident doctor and person he is now.”
The actor also discussed the culmination of Levi’s journey, which saw him find both career success and a loving relationship with James. “Levi finally gets the dream job, and he’s in a relationship where communication is key, which we didn’t see him have with Nico,” Borelli explained. He described this ending as poetic, especially given how far Levi has come since his early, insecure days on the show.
As for his final moments on set, Borelli shared that the last scene he filmed involved a poignant monologue with a baby in the NICU, marking an emotional but fitting conclusion to Levi’s time at Grey Sloan. Reflecting on the brief moment he shared with the interns before leaving, Borelli acknowledged the symbolic passing of the torch, a hallmark of Grey’s storytelling tradition.
Looking ahead, Borelli expressed hope that Levi might return in the future. “I think the audience would love to see Levi’s growth off-screen and how he could come back as a boss,” he said. In the meantime, Borelli is exploring new creative opportunities, including his desire to direct and develop queer stories on other platforms.
Borelli’s legacy on Grey’s Anatomy is one of growth, representation and authenticity—which will continue to resonate with fans long after Levi’s departure. Anything is possible in show biz. Because he didn’t pass away on the show, there’s always room for him to come back.