Grey Sloane Memorial will be bringing back a familiar face for Season 22 of Grey’s Anatomy. A new report has confirmed that Kate Walsh, best known for her iconic performance as Dr. Addison Montgomery, will return for the upcoming 22nd season of ABC’s long-running medical procedural. This will mark Walsh’s latest resurgence on the show after she returned in a recurring capacity for Seasons 18 and 19 from 2021-2023.

While it’s wonderful to hear that Kate Walsh back at one of the most famous hospitals in television history, fans of the series who are hoping for her to stick around for an extended period of time shouldn’t get too excited yet, as there is a slight catch. As of now, Walsh’s appearance in Season 22 is being billed as a guest appearance. Not only that, but she’s currently only slated to appear in one episode, that being the episode titled “Strip That Down,” which will air on January 29.

Kate Walsh and Dr. Montgomery have been a part of the Grey’s Anatomy universe almost since the very beginning, with both first making their debut in one episode of Season 1 with Episode 9. Dr. Montgomery’s no-nonsense approach to medicine clearly made an impression on the growing fanbase, as Walsh was then promoted to a series regular for Season 2 and Season 3. Afterwards, Walsh still made guest appearances in Seasons 4-8 and later with Seasons 18 and 19. Compared to others, there are definitely many other characters and actors who have served longer on the show, but Walsh’s Dr. Montgomery has made a clear impact as a bona fide favorite, with her romance with Dr. Jake Reilly (Benjamin Bratt) being just one of many highlights.

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