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| Preston Burke | |
|---|---|
| Grey's Anatomy character | |
 The season 3 gallery photo of Isaiah Washington as Preston Burke | |
| First appearance | "A Hard Day's Night" (1.01) March 27, 2005 |
| Last appearance | "Didn't We Almost Have It All?" (3.25) May 17, 2007 (as series regular) "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" (10.22) May 1, 2014 (as guest star) |
| Created by | Shonda Rhimes |
| Portrayed by | Isaiah Washington |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Preston Xavier Burke |
| Title | M.D.F.A.C.S. |
| Occupation | AttendingCardiothoracic Surgeon Head ofCardiothoracic Surgery (Former) Director ofCardiothoracic Surgery (Former) Chief Medical Officer (Former) |
| Family | Donald Burke (father) Jane Burke (mother) |
| Spouse | Edra Burke |
| Significantother | Cristina Yang (ex-fiancée) |
| Children | Miscarriage (with Cristina) Simone Burke Vivianna Burke |
| Religion | Christian[1] |
Preston Xavier Burke,[2]M.D.,F.A.C.S., is a fictional character from themedical drama television seriesGrey's Anatomy, which airs onABC in theUnited States. The character was created by series producerShonda Rhimes, and was portrayed by actorIsaiah Washington from 2005 to 2007. Burke is introduced as anattendingcardiothoracic surgeon at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, and his romantic relationship withinternCristina Yang (Sandra Oh) becomes one of the central storylines of the show during its first three seasons.
Burke made his final appearance inSeason 3, leaving Seattle following the aftermath of hisfailed wedding to Cristina. In 2007, Washington was terminated from the show after he used a homophobic slur toward his co-starT. R. Knight during an on-set altercation involving Knight andPatrick Dempsey. On June 7, 2007, ABC announced that Washington would be dropped fromGrey's Anatomy as a result of this incident.
Although Burke is mentioned occasionally in the seasons following his departure, the character makes an official return inSeason 10 as part of the storyline concluding Cristina's departure from the series.[3]
Preston Burke is the former chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital. He completed his pre-medical studies atTulane University, where he pledgedKappa Alpha Psi, and graduated first in his class fromJohns Hopkins School of Medicine. During his time in college, he metErica Hahn (Brooke Smith), his rival who graduated just behind him, starting a long-standing competitive relationship. Burke once served as the interim Chief of Surgery while Dr.Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) recovered from brain surgery. However, Richard had originally promised the position of Chief to Burke but ultimately broughtDerek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) to Seattle to create competition, believing Burke was becoming too arrogant.
Burke's most significant personal storyline revolves around his relationship withCristina Yang (Sandra Oh). Although they initially broke off their romance due to fears of damaging their professional reputations, they rekindled their relationship after Cristina suffered a miscarriage. The two began living together, and Burke's structured, meticulous lifestyle clashed with Cristina's more chaotic approach, though they managed to make it work.
Towards the end ofSeason 2, Burke was shot, which impaired the control of his right hand—a major issue for a surgeon. To cope, he secretly relied on Cristina during surgeries, having her take over when his hand became unstable. This arrangement eventually unraveled when Cristina, under pressure fromGeorge O'Malley (T. R. Knight), confessed their secret to the Chief. This caused a rift between Burke and Cristina, though they reconciled after a period of silence, and Burkeproposed to her, which she accepted.
Despite the excitement surrounding their engagement, Burke's injury temporarily jeopardized his career, but after a successful surgery by Derek, he recovered. As the couple prepared for their wedding, they experienced the usual stresses, including meeting each other's families. However, on the day of the wedding, Burke realized that he had been trying to change Cristina into someone she was not. In a moment of clarity, he called off the wedding,leaving Cristina at the altar and subsequently leaving Seattle. Cristina, returning to their apartment, found that Burke had taken only his personal belongings, leaving her heartbroken.
InSeason 4, Hahn replaced Burke as the head of cardiothoracic surgery. Although Hahn respected Burke's skills, she held a disdain for Cristina, largely because of Cristina's previous relationships with Burke and Colin Marlowe (Roger Rees). Later, it is revealed that Burke won the prestigious Harper Avery Award in 2008. Cristina was deeply hurt when Burke did not mention her in his award-winning research, despite her critical role in helping him recover from his injury.
InSeason 10, Burke reappears inZurich,Switzerland where he runs a cardiothoracic research hospital. He invites Cristina to speak about her research, though she is initially angry and shocked to see him. They exchange bitter words, and Cristina admits that their relationship would never have worked because she had wanted to emulate him, not be his partner. Burke reveals his true reason for bringing her to Zürich: he offers her the chance to take over his hospital. He explains that he is moving with his Italian wife, Edra, and their two daughters, Simone and Vivianna, toMilan. Cristina accepts the offer, giving her a new and significant chapter in her career.
"In the abstract, Burke was a more awkward and self-hating guy, a little bit of a weasel, but that was before Isaiah walked into the room. Isaiah played him as someone who intensely loves his job. He brought a sense of honor to what Burke does. And with Isaiah, suddenly there was a sexiness to the role, an intelligence and a wit."
The character of Preston Burke was originally envisioned as a Caucasian man, with actorPaul Adelstein, who later starred inGrey's Anatomy's spin-offPrivate Practice, slated for the role. However, due to scheduling conflicts with a film project, Adelstein had to drop out, prompting the show's producers to rethink the character.[5][6]Isaiah Washington, who was initially considered for the role ofDerek Shepherd (which went toPatrick Dempsey),[5] was then called back byShonda Rhimes to portray Burke. Reflecting on his decision to take the role, Washington 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."[7] He also noted that he only agreed to the role if it didn’t involve being the stereotypical "angry" character often seen in medical dramas.[8]
Rhimes praised Washington's commitment to the role, revealing that he meticulously learned all the surgeries before performing them on screen.[9] She remarked, "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 start of the series, Burke is one of the threeAfrican American characters, along withMiranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) andRichard Webber (James Pickens, Jr.).
In the show'sthird season, Washington became embroiled in a highly publicized backstage controversy. In October 2006, reports emerged that he had used a homophobic slur during an argument with co-star Dempsey, directed atT. R. Knight (who portrayed Dr.George O'Malley). Following the incident, Knight publicly came out asgay.[10] Washington initially apologized for his "unfortunate use of words" on set, but the issue resurfaced at the2007 Golden Globes when Washington denied using the slur, even as other cast members corroborated the incident.[11] Despite undergoing executive counseling and publicly apologizing again, Washington was let go fromGrey's Anatomy in June 2007.[12] Following his dismissal, Washington expressed his anger and disappointment, accusing Knight of using the situation to advance his career and increase his salary.[13] He also claimed thatracism within the media played a role in his firing, which he discussed in interviews, including an appearance onCNN's talk showLarry King Live, where he presented his side of the controversy.[14][15]
Washington’s portrayal of Burke was highly regarded, and after his departure from the show, Burke remained a key figure in the series through his past relationship withCristina Yang (Sandra Oh). In March 2014, Rhimes announced that Washington would return toGrey's Anatomy for a special episode inSeason 10 to help conclude Cristina's storyline. Rhimes emphasized the importance of Burke in Cristina’s journey, stating, "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."[16]
Washington described his character Burke’s evolution onGrey’s Anatomy as one of personal growth. He said, "He did start out sort of stone-faced, but he's evolved into someone we see as an effective leader and someone who learns how to love and be loved." Washington credited Burke's relationship withCristina Yang (Sandra Oh) for allowing his character to show vulnerability, stating that thanks to Yang, "Burke has been able to show levels of vulnerability."[17]
In an interview withOprah Winfrey,Grey's Anatomy creatorShonda Rhimes described Burke as a "mama's boy",[9] which became apparent to audiences when Burke's parents made an appearance on the show. This added a surprising layer to Burke’s otherwise serious and composed demeanor. Washington also highlighted Burke's "determination" and "commitment" as key traits of the character, showing his professionalism and dedication to both his career and his personal relationships.
Rhimes referred to the relationship between Burke and Yang using theportmanteau "Burktina," noting that the episode "Losing My Religion" was one of her favorites featuring the couple. She appreciated how the episode showcased their evolution from the beginning of thesecond season to its conclusion, reflecting on the complexity and depth of their relationship.[18]
Ann Oldenburg ofUSA Today praised Burke and Yang’s relationship, calling it "one of the spiciest relationships on TV right now". She pointed out their contrasting personalities: Burke is "tidy" and "spiritual," while Yang is "messy" and less inclined toward spirituality.[19]
Isaiah Washington received multiple award nominations and accolades for his portrayal of Preston Burke. In 2006, he was part of theGrey's Anatomy ensemble that won theSatellite Award for Best Ensemble in a Television Series.[20] Additionally, he was also part of the ensemble cast nominated for theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series from2006 to2008, with a victory in2007.[21][22][23] He also won theNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series twice, in2006 and2007.
Burke's relationship withCristina Yang (Sandra Oh) was highly acclaimed by critics and fans alike. It was regarded as "one of the most interesting relationships on the show", withThe Orange County Register calling it "one of the most touching and funny attractions ofGrey's Anatomy."[17] Despite the positive reception of his character’s romance, Oscar Dahl ofBuddyTV listed Burke as the "fifth most worthless TV character".[24]
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