<P> The character of Preston Burke was originally envisioned as a caucasian, to be played by Paul Adelstein, who starred in Grey's Anatomy's spin - off Private Practice . However, due to his commitment to a film whose shooting dates changed, the actor had to drop out at the last moment and his character was rethought . Isaiah Washington was originally considered for the role of Derek Shepherd, which eventually went to Patrick Dempsey . Washington later received a callback from Rhimes to play Burke . He commented: "I knew I could never be wrong in my heart about something so good and so genuine . Her writing just seemed very complex, very honest ." "I said that I would only do it if I didn't have to be like that guy on that other medical show who was always struggling with his anger ." </P> <P> Shonda Rhimes noted Washington's commitment to his role, revealing that he learns all his surgeries before he performs them on television . "I think if he stopped at an accident on the street, he'd know exactly what to do . He has pulled shifts at hospitals where he follows the surgeons around for 48 hours". At the beginning of the series, Burke is one of the three African american characters, along with Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Richard Webber (James Pickens, Jr .). </P> <P> In the show's third season, Washington became a central figure in a widely reported backstage controversy . In October 2006, news reports surfaced that Washington had insulted co-star T.R. Knight with a homophobic slur . Shortly after the details of the argument became public, Knight publicly disclosed that he was gay . The situation seemed somewhat resolved when Washington issued a statement, apologizing for his "unfortunate use of words during the recent incident on - set ." The controversy later resurfaced when the cast appeared at the Golden Globes in January 2007 . While being interviewed on the red carpet prior to the awards, Washington joked, "I love gay . I wanted to be gay . Please let me be gay ." After the show won Best Drama, Washington, in response to press queries as to any conflicts backstage, said, "I never called T.R. a faggot ." However, in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Knight said that "everybody heard him ." After being rebuked by his studio, Touchstone Television (now ABC Studios), Washington issued a statement apologizing at length for using the epithet in an argument with Patrick Dempsey . On January 30, 2007, a source told People magazine that Washington was scheduled to return to the Grey's Anatomy set as early on that Thursday for the first time since entering "executive counseling" after making the comments at the Golden Globes . However, on June 7, 2007, ABC announced it had decided not to renew Washington's contract, and that he would be dropped from the show . "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore," Washington said in a statement released by his publicist, borrowing the famous line from Network . In another report, Washington stated he was planning to "spend the summer pursuing charity work in Sierra Leone, work on an independent film and avoid worrying about the show ." In a subsequent interview, Washington claimed that "they fired the wrong guy" (referring to Knight) and said he was considering filing a lawsuit as a result . He accused Knight of using the controversy to bolster his own career and increase his salary on Grey's Anatomy . Washington, in late June 2007, began asserting that racism within the media was a factor in his firing from the series . On July 2, 2007, Washington appeared on Larry King Live on CNN, to present his side of the controversy . According to Washington, he never used the "F Word" in reference to Knight, but rather blurted it out in an unrelated context in the course of an argument "provoked" by Dempsey, who, he felt, was treating him like a "B - word," a "P - word," and the "F - word," which Washington said conveyed "somebody who is being weak and afraid to fight back ." Washington himself said that his dismissal from Grey's Anatomy was an unfortunate misunderstanding that he was eager to move past . </P> <P> On March 6, 2014, Shonda Rhimes announced that Washington would return to his role for one episode airing in May to help conclude Sandra Oh's final storylines as Cristina Yang . Rhimes said of his return, "It's important to me that Cristina's journey unfolds exactly as it should . Burke is vital to that journey--he gives her story that full - circle moment we need to properly say goodbye to our beloved Cristina Yang ." </P>

What happens to doctor burke on grey's anatomy