Patrick Dempsey has confirmed that the upcoming eighth season of his hit medical drama ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ will be his last, TVLine is reporting. The actor’s contract expires next year, and he isn’t interested in continuing with the show that helped revive his career. “I do not know what’s going to happen to the other characters, but for me it’s done,” Dempsey told the Italian Vanity Fair.

The news comes as Demsey’s co-star Ellen Pompeo, who stars as the title character and his character’s wife, is also up to renew her contract after next season. He said he’s not sure whether or not Pompeo plans on renewing her contract.

Of his departure, Dempsey said it will be “bittersweet because it’s been great and a great part of my life.” But he added that he can’t imagine himself continuing with the show for a ninth season. His announcement comes after ‘Grey’s creator Shonda Rhimes told TVLine in May 2011 that she’s acting as though the eighth season will be the last. She added that the season “might be the last hurrah for a lot of them,” including fellow original cast members Justin chambers, Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson. She added that all the actors have “an individual choice to make.”

Written by: Karen Benardello