The Ghost Denny era of Grey’s Anatomy, featuring the character played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan as a hallucination of Izzie Stephens portrayed by Katherine Heigl, was deemed awkward and confusing by the actors. The actors expressed that they didn’t feel like the plotline was working while they were filming it. Heigl noted that the concept of the storyline was awkward, despite possibly being fulfilling for fans. Morgan mentioned that his character was unable to be acknowledged by Izzie after his character died, leading to difficulties in filming certain scenes.
Heigl revealed that there is one particular scene involving her character and Denny that she would never watch with her children, regardless of their age. The scene she referred to involved Denny being present in the room while Alex and Izzie were intimate. Heigl expressed her discomfort with the scene, joking that it was simply part of the job. The “Ghost Denny” episodes were a significant part of the show’s fifth season, with Heigl’s character experiencing hallucinations of her deceased fiancé.
Despite the awkwardness of filming the scenes, Morgan expressed his satisfaction with returning to the show after his character’s death. He appreciated being back on the set and working with the cast again. However, both actors recognized that the storyline didn’t have the desired impact on viewers, as it strayed from the typical Grey’s Anatomy narrative. Heigl admitted that she enjoyed the idea of her character getting to interact with Denny again, even if it was just a fantasy, but acknowledged that the supernatural aspect was not aligned with the show’s usual themes.
Heigl and Morgan reflected on the challenges of portraying the Ghost Denny storyline and the difficulties it posed for the cast. Heigl mentioned that the scenes she filmed with Morgan were not ones she looked forward to watching. Despite this, both actors had positive experiences working on the show and relished the opportunity to return, with Morgan enjoying the chance to reunite with the Grey’s Anatomy cast. Overall, the Ghost Denny era was a memorable but awkward time for the actors involved, as they navigated the complexities of a plotline that was challenging for both them and the viewers.
