‘Grey’s Anatomy’: DeLuca Will Return Later This Season — Giacomo Gianniotti Teases More Scenes

Many Grey’s Anatomy fans are heartbroken after Andrew DeLuca’s (Giacomo Gianniotti) storyline on March 11, 2021. However, things aren’t all bad. The 31-year-old Canadian-Italian actor gave fans something to look forward to later in season 17 that involves DeLuca.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for Grey’s Anatomy Season 17, Episode 7]

What happens to DeLuca on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?

Grey’s Anatomy fans who didn’t watch DeLuca on Station 19 on March 11 were confused when the medical drama began. DeLuca was suddenly fighting for his life in an ambulance. He was surrounded by Ben Warren (Jason Winston George) and Carina DeLuca (Stefania Spampinato).

During the Station 19 episode, the DeLuca siblings chased the human trafficker. Luckily, their efforts led to the arrest of two people suspected of trafficking children. However, the unidentified male stabbed DeLuca before he was taken into custody.

Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) and Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) rushed DeLuca into surgery. He pulled through; however, he began to bleed out later in the episode. Hunt and Altman fought to save the surgeon’s life, but ultimately DeLuca died fighting to protect young girls’ lives.

Is DeLuca really dead on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?

Yes, Andrew DeLuca is dead on Grey’s Anatomy; however, viewers will see more of him in season 17. In an interview with Deadline, Giacomo Gianniotti reminded fans that many characters left the show over 17 seasons. However, the characters live on or return whether they died in the series or not.

“We’ve continued to see those people in flashbacks, in dreams, in all kinds of different scenarios,” Gianniotti told the outlet. “Just because DeLuca has died, it doesn’t mean that there’s not other ways for us to see clips and other manifestations of DeLuca in the future. So, yeah, I definitely think there’s a possibility to see DeLuca in the rest of the season. But, I don’t know exactly how and can’t comment on how.”

Showrunner Krista Vernoff also announced to fans on March 11 that they should expect to see Gianniotti. She added we will see him again both “as an actor and a director.”

“Giacomo remains a member of our family, not just in perpetuity but for more this season,” Vernoff tweeted. You will see him again.”

There are no futher details on how he will return. However, DeLuca will be back on Grey’s Anatomy in season 17.

Why did Giacomo Gianniotti leave?

There was a heartbreaking reason that DeLuca died on Grey’s Anatomy. It was because of the “beautiful story” he helped tell with his ending. Vernoff and director Debbie Allen presented the idea to Gianniotti, and he felt very strongly about it.

“I just thought it was a beautiful storyline,” Gianniotti told Deadline in the same interview. “I thought it was a beautiful way for the character to exit as a hero.”

Although Gianniotti became very close to his fellow cast members on Grey’s Anatomy, the storyline spoke strongly to him.

“I think it’s going to do justice to a lot of people and help a lot of people,” he added.