Jason George is thrilled to return to Grey’s Anatomy, describing the experience as akin to “coming back to your parents’ house.” The 52-year-old actor, who rejoined the iconic ABC medical drama for its 21st season after Station 19 concluded, shared his sentiments in an interview with PEOPLE.
“For those who live near their parents, you never really stop visiting,” George explained. “It’s always been your home, but you’ve also built your own space—like I did with Station 19. Coming back was a unique experience, and it turned out to be really cool.”
He appreciated the freedom and respect he received on set, stating, “Nobody tries to tell me when to be home. They treat me like an adult.” George noted that while there are new faces to adjust to, many familiar colleagues have remained, allowing him to reconnect with “some of my favorite people every day.”
George’s decision to reprise his role as Ben Warren came after discussions with Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, executive producer Betsey Beers, and showrunner Meg Marinis. He expressed enthusiasm for further exploring Ben’s relationship with Miranda Bailey, played by Chandra Wilson. “I like Ben a lot, and I like Ben and Bailey. When they explained that there was more story to tell, I was all in,” he said.
First introduced as a surgical resident in Season 6, Ben has evolved alongside Bailey, with George drawing a parallel between their dynamic and the legendary duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. “We do the Fred and Ginger of it. It’s not adversarial; it’s about how high we can take this together,” he remarked. He humorously added, “We’re Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing backwards.”
Despite working on different shows, George maintains a close friendship with Wilson. “It’s like that sibling you tease but admire deeply,” he shared. “We have that kind of relationship.”
Looking ahead, George hinted that Ben’s experience as a firefighter will influence his return to medicine. In the upcoming episode airing on October 10, he revealed that Ben is interviewing at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. “There’s a kind of confidence that comes from being a doctor, but nothing compares to the confidence of running into burning buildings when everyone else is running out,” George teased.
He added, “Having faced death multiple times gives Ben a swagger beyond that of a typical doctor. But there might be too much swagger, leading to unexpected outcomes during his interview.”
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