Lexie Grey

Alexandra Caroline "Lexie" Grey, M.D. is a fictional character from the ABC medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy. The character was created by Shonda Rhimes and is portrayed by Chyler Leigh. She was first mentioned in Season 2 before being introduced in Season 3 as the half-sister of protagonist Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo). Leigh was initially contracted for a multi-episode story arc but received star-billing from seasons 4 through 8. She also reprised her role on the spin-off series Private Practice. Characterized by Rhimes as a "dork" with issues expressing her feelings, Lexie transfers to the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital as a surgical intern following the sudden death of her mother, Susan Grey (Mare Winningham). She eventually progresses to the position of surgical resident. Her main storylines throughout the series focus on her struggles with the pressures of a highly competitive profession, her initially strained relationship with Meredith, and her on-again, off-again romance with Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), an attending in plastic surgery. The couple sustained fatal injuries during an aviation accident in the Season 8 finale, leading to the renaming of Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital to Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital in their memory. Leigh's performance as Lexie Grey received widespread critical acclaim from critics and fans alike. Her death remains one of the most emotional moments in the series' history.