‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Alum Jake Borelli Is Returning to Season 21 After 2024 Exit

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In a trailer for the upcoming May 8 episode, Borelli’s Levi Schmitt comes back to attend the wedding of Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) and Atticus “Link” Lincoln (Chris Carmack).

“Are you mad I have to work on our wedding?” Link asks Jo in the clip released after the Thursday, May 1, episode.

After Jo noted that she wasn’t upset, the OB-GYN resident added, “I’d be jealous if Levi wasn’t coming to marry us.”

The camera then flipped to reveal Borelli, 33, standing at their front door, sporting a new mustache and wearing a denim jacket over a white T-shirt with a backpack slung across both shoulders.

Levi and Jo have a long history together, going from flings to roommates to friends in their medical residencies. Levi’s story line, however, was wrapped up at the start of season 21, which premiered in September 2024. He accepted a pediatric research position in Texas to help his eventual chances at securing a surgical fellowship in the department.

Levi, who was featured on eight seasons of the hit medical drama, left with new love interest James (Michael Thomas Grant).

“All the way up to the end, I was in Meg [Marinis]’s office with her, typing on the computer with her, trying to figure out, ‘What is the best way to end this? What are the conversations he should be having with Jo? What is important in this gay relationship? How does this relationship differ from Nico?’” Borelli recalled to Variety in November 2024, referring to Grey’s showrunner Marinis and Levi’s ex-boyfriend played by Alex Landi. “We really focused on [Levi and James] having a very good, easy communication style, which led to them navigating this big choice of whether or not they should move across the country together. So there was a lot of input, and I’m really grateful for that.”

Levi previously came out as queer during a 2018 episode, around the same time that Borelli publicly disclosed his sexuality off screen.

“I had so much trepidation. I almost said no to Krista [Vernoff, the then-showrunner] when she said that her plan was to have Levi come out,” Borelli added to Variety. “This was after a year of being on the show and playing him not queer, for all I knew. I almost said no, because I knew he would be the first major gay male character in the show, and that would be massive for the show.”

Grey’s Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET.