‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Pays Tribute to Late Disney TV Executive Stephanie Leifer in Season 21 Premiere

The season 21 premiere of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy ended with a card dedicating the episode to Stephanie Leifer. While the name may not be recognizable to the average Grey’s fan, the tribute holds great significance for those who worked on the show at any point.

Leifer, who died of cancer in June at the age of 56, was a beloved programming executive who spent a total of 28 years at ABC and its sister studio before leaving the company in 2022. She oversaw Grey’s Anatomy as a current executive at the network. and then to ABC Signature (formerly ABC Studios), which produces the hit medical drama.

In an interview with Deadline tied to the season 21 premiere, Grey’s Anatomy executive producer/showrunner Meg Marinis spoke about the decision to dedicate the episode to Leifer. Marinis has worked with Leifer for more than a decade and a half, while…