Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 continues to deal with the rollercoaster journey of medical professionals as they wrestle to stability their private {and professional} lives. One main occasion that has intrigued followers is a tribute to the late Stephanie Leifer. So, who was Stephanie Leifer, and why was she given a tribute in Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 1?
Right here is every little thing that you must learn about Leifer’s significance within the collection.
Who was Stephanie Leifer from Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 1?
Stephanie Leifer was a programming government at ABC. She handed away in June 2024 on account of most cancers on the age of 56.
The ending of Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 1 witnessed a card dedicating the episode to Leifer. For the unknown, Leifer served as an government vice chairman of present programming of ABC, which produces Gray’s Anatomy. She started working at ABC in 1994. In 2006, she took over the tasks of the studio for managing the present programming.
Aside from Gray’s Anatomy, she oversaw many reveals on the studio, together with Ugly Betty, Misplaced, and Non-public Apply. In Could 2022, she left the corporate as government vice chairman of present programming at ABC Signature, marking the top of her 28-year collaboration with the community and its studio (by way of Variety).
Why is Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 Episode 1 devoted to Stephanie Leifer?
The primary episode of the brand new season of the collection was devoted to Stephanie Leifer on account of her contributions as an government producer to the community.
In an interview with Deadline, showrunner and government producer Meg Marins shared the choice behind dedicating the episode to Leifer. She mentioned, “Stephanie Leifer was an unbelievable individual and devoted champion of Gray’s. She really believed in us from the early years all through and supported our artistic imaginative and prescient.”
Marins additional continued, “I began my profession as a PA, delivering Gray’s scripts to her workplace, and I bear in mind her door all the time being open. She was so encouraging to writers and attended a number of Gray’s milestone occasions. It was a heartbreaking loss for this household.”
Marinis and Leifer had labored on the collection for greater than a decade. Leifer’s vital contributions to the community are one of many causes behind Gray’s Anatomy’s profitable run.
Gray’s Anatomy is now streaming on ABC and Hulu.