'Grey's Anatomy' Season 13 Cast: Sara Ramirez Will Not Return As Callie

Longtime "Grey's Anatomy" actress Sara Ramirez has confirmed that she will not be returning as Dr. Callie Torres for the show's 13th season. Her character was written out of the show in the Season 12 finale, "Family Affair," where we saw Callie moving forward with plans to follow her girlfriend Penny (Samantha Sloyan) to New York.

Back in April, Ramirez sent out a cryptic tweet saying, "That's a wrap for Doctor #CallieTorres #Season13 #GreysAnatomy #ThankYou all for an enriching & unforgettable #Rollercoaster ride!" While many assumed it was just a message about wrapping the 12th season, it was actually the actress saying goodbye to the series as Dr. Callie Torres.

Ramirez's said in her statement: "I’m deeply grateful to have spent the last 10 years with my family at Grey’s Anatomy and ABC, but for now, I’m taking some welcome time off. [Series creator] Shonda [Rhimes has] been so incredible to work for, and we will definitely continue our conversations. I send my love to Ellen [Pompeo], the rest of the cast and crew, and I look forward to always being a part of the Shondaland family!"

Meanwhile, Rhimes issued her own statement, saying, "Dr. Callie Torres came into our lives dancing it out in her underwear almost a decade ago, and I could not be happier or more proud of her journey. Sara Ramirez’s performance inspired me as well as millions of fans each week. We wish her the best on her well-deserved time off. I will miss Callie tremendously but am excited for what the future holds for Sara. She will always have a home at Shondaland."

Ramirez joined "Grey's Anatomy" in its second season and is one of the several veteran cast members whose contracts are set to expire this year. Her exit marks the third major "Grey's" exit in as many seasons, following the departures of Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang in Season 10 and Patrick Dempsey as Dr. Derek Shepherd in Season 11.