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Preston Xavier Burke,
M.D. A Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated MD, from the Latin ) is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the ''MD'' denotes a professional degree of physician. This ge ...
, F.A.C.S., is a fictional character from the
medical drama A medical drama is a Television film, television movie or film in which events center upon a hospital, clinic, doctor's office, a paramedic, or any other medical topic or environment. Most recent medical drama (film and television), dramatic progra ...
television series ''
Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series focusing on the personal and professional lives of surgical internship (medicine), interns, residency (medicine), residents, and attending physician, attendings at the fictional ...
'', which airs on
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...
in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. The character was created by series producer
Shonda Rhimes Shonda Lynn Rhimes (born January 13, 1970) is an American television producer and screenwriter, and founder of the production company Shondaland. Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Rhimes became known ...
, and was portrayed by actor
Isaiah Washington Isaiah Washington IV (born August 3, 1963) is an American actor. Following a series of film appearances, he came to prominence as Dr. Preston Burke in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005-2007; 2014) Washington began his career collaborating with directo ...
from 2005 to 2007. Burke is introduced as an attending cardiothoracic surgeon at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, and his romantic relationship with
intern An internship is a period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time. Once confined to medical graduates, internship is used to practice for a wide range of placements in businesses, non-profit organizations and g ...
Cristina Yang Cristina Yang, Doctor of Medicine, M.D., Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character from the medical drama television series ''Grey's Anatomy'', which has aired for 20 seasons on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the ...
(
Sandra Oh Sandra Miju Oh (born July 20, 1971) is a Canadian and American actress. She is known for her starring roles as Rita Wu in ''Arliss (TV series), Arliss'' (1996–2002), Cristina Yang in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005–14), and Eve Polastri in ''Kill ...
) becomes one of the central storylines of the show during its first three seasons. Burke made his final appearance in
Season 3 A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and pol ...
, leaving Seattle following the aftermath of his failed wedding to Cristina. In 2007, Washington was terminated from the show after he used a homophobic slur toward co-star T. R. Knight during an on-set altercation involving Knight and
Patrick Dempsey Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is an American actor and racing driver best known for playing neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005–15; 2020–21). He is also known for his leading man romantic film roles, such ...
. On June 7, 2007, ABC announced that Washington would be dropped from ''Grey'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 in
Season 10 A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and polar ...
as part of the storyline concluding Cristina's departure from the series.


Storylines

Preston Burke is the former chief cardiothoracic surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital. He completed his pre-medical studies at
Tulane University The Tulane University of Louisiana (commonly referred to as Tulane University) is a private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Founded as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834 by a cohort of medical doctors, it b ...
, where he pledged
Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. () is a List of African-American fraternities, historically African American Fraternities and sororities, fraternity. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911, at Indiana University Bloomington, it has n ...
, and graduated first in his class from
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM) is the medical school of Johns Hopkins University, a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Established in 1893 following the construction of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, th ...
. During his time in college, he met Erica 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 Richard Webber, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., is a fictional character from the ABC medical drama television series ''Grey's Anatomy''. The character was created by Shonda Rhimes and is portrayed by actor James Pickens Jr. since the series' incepti ...
( James Pickens Jr.) recovered from brain surgery. However, Richard had originally promised the position of Chief to Burke but ultimately brought
Derek Shepherd Derek Christopher Shepherd, often referred to as "McDreamy" for his "attractiveness", is a fictional surgeon from the ABC medical drama ''Grey's Anatomy'', portrayed by actor Patrick Dempsey. He made his first appearance in the series' pilot ep ...
(
Patrick Dempsey Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is an American actor and racing driver best known for playing neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005–15; 2020–21). He is also known for his leading man romantic film roles, such ...
) to Seattle to create competition, believing Burke was becoming too arrogant. Burke's most significant personal storyline revolves around his relationship with
Cristina Yang Cristina Yang, Doctor of Medicine, M.D., Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character from the medical drama television series ''Grey's Anatomy'', which has aired for 20 seasons on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the ...
(
Sandra Oh Sandra Miju Oh (born July 20, 1971) is a Canadian and American actress. She is known for her starring roles as Rita Wu in ''Arliss (TV series), Arliss'' (1996–2002), Cristina Yang in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005–14), and Eve Polastri in ''Kill ...
). 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 of
Season 2 Season 2 may refer to: * ''Season 2'' (Infinite album), 2014 * ''2econd Season'', an album by Unk, 2008 * "Season 2", a song by Phoenix from ''Alpha Zulu ''Alpha Zulu'' is the seventh studio album by French indie pop band Phoenix, released on 4 ...
, 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 from
George O'Malley George O'Malley, Doctor of Medicine, M.D., is a fictional character from the medical drama television series ''Grey's Anatomy'', which airs on American Broadcasting Company, ABC in the United States. The character was created by series producer S ...
( 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 Burke proposed 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. In
Season 4 Season 4 may refer to: * "Season 4" (''30 Rock'' episode), an episode of ''30 Rock'' See also * * Season One (disambiguation) * Season 2 (disambiguation) Season 2 may refer to: * ''Season 2'' (Infinite album), 2014 * ''2econd Season'', an album ...
, 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 Roger Rees (5 May 1944 – 10 July 2015) was a Welsh-American actor and director. He won an Olivier Award and a Tony Award for his performance as the lead in ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (play), The Life and Adventures of Nicho ...
). 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. In
Season 10 A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and polar ...
, Burke reappears in
Zurich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...
,
Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. 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, to
Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...
. Cristina accepts the offer, giving her a new and significant chapter in her career.


Development


Casting and creation

The character of Preston Burke was originally envisioned as a Caucasian man, with actor
Paul Adelstein Paul Adelstein (born April 29, 1969) is an American actor. He is known for the role of Agent Paul Kellerman in the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox television series ''Prison Break'' and his role as pediatrician Cooper Freedman in the American Broad ...
, who later starred in ''Grey's Anatomy's'' spin-off ''Private 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.
Isaiah Washington Isaiah Washington IV (born August 3, 1963) is an American actor. Following a series of film appearances, he came to prominence as Dr. Preston Burke in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005-2007; 2014) Washington began his career collaborating with directo ...
, who was initially considered for the role of
Derek Shepherd Derek Christopher Shepherd, often referred to as "McDreamy" for his "attractiveness", is a fictional surgeon from the ABC medical drama ''Grey's Anatomy'', portrayed by actor Patrick Dempsey. He made his first appearance in the series' pilot ep ...
(which went to
Patrick Dempsey Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is an American actor and racing driver best known for playing neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005–15; 2020–21). He is also known for his leading man romantic film roles, such ...
), was then called back by
Shonda Rhimes Shonda Lynn Rhimes (born January 13, 1970) is an American television producer and screenwriter, and founder of the production company Shondaland. Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Rhimes became known ...
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." 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. Rhimes praised Washington's commitment to the role, revealing that he meticulously learned all the surgeries before performing them on screen. 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 three
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
characters, along with
Miranda Bailey Miranda Bailey, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character from the long-running medical drama ''Grey's Anatomy'', created by Shonda Rhimes and portrayed by Chandra Wilson since the series' debut in 2005. Bailey has appeared in 387 episodes across ...
(
Chandra Wilson Chandra Danette Wilson (born August 27, 1969) is an American actress and director best known for her role as Dr. Miranda Bailey in ''Grey's Anatomy'' since 2005, for which she has been nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Su ...
) and
Richard Webber Richard Webber, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., is a fictional character from the ABC medical drama television series ''Grey's Anatomy''. The character was created by Shonda Rhimes and is portrayed by actor James Pickens Jr. since the series' incepti ...
( James Pickens, Jr.). In the show's third 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 at T. R. Knight (who portrayed Dr.
George O'Malley George O'Malley, Doctor of Medicine, M.D., is a fictional character from the medical drama television series ''Grey's Anatomy'', which airs on American Broadcasting Company, ABC in the United States. The character was created by series producer S ...
). Following the incident, Knight publicly came out as
gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...
. Washington initially apologized for his "unfortunate use of words" on set, but the issue resurfaced at the 2007 Golden Globes when Washington denied using the slur, even as other cast members corroborated the incident. Despite undergoing executive counseling and publicly apologizing again, Washington was let go from ''Grey's Anatomy'' in June 2007. Following his dismissal, Washington expressed his anger and disappointment, accusing Knight of using the situation to advance his career and increase his salary. He also claimed that
racism Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one Race (human categorization), race or ethnicity over another. It may also me ...
within the media played a role in his firing, which he discussed in interviews, including an appearance on
CNN Cable News Network (CNN) is a multinational news organization operating, most notably, a website and a TV channel headquartered in Atlanta. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable ne ...
's talk show ''
Larry King Live ''Larry King Live'' is an American television talk show broadcast by CNN from June 3, 1985 to December 16, 2010. Hosted by Larry King, it was the network's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly. Ma ...
'', where he presented his side of the controversy. 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 with
Cristina Yang Cristina Yang, Doctor of Medicine, M.D., Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character from the medical drama television series ''Grey's Anatomy'', which has aired for 20 seasons on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the ...
(
Sandra Oh Sandra Miju Oh (born July 20, 1971) is a Canadian and American actress. She is known for her starring roles as Rita Wu in ''Arliss (TV series), Arliss'' (1996–2002), Cristina Yang in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005–14), and Eve Polastri in ''Kill ...
). In March 2014, Rhimes announced that Washington would return to ''Grey's Anatomy'' for a special episode in
Season 10 A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and polar ...
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."


Characterization

Washington described his character Burke’s evolution on ''Grey’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 with
Cristina Yang Cristina Yang, Doctor of Medicine, M.D., Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character from the medical drama television series ''Grey's Anatomy'', which has aired for 20 seasons on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the ...
(
Sandra Oh Sandra Miju Oh (born July 20, 1971) is a Canadian and American actress. She is known for her starring roles as Rita Wu in ''Arliss (TV series), Arliss'' (1996–2002), Cristina Yang in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005–14), and Eve Polastri in ''Kill ...
) for allowing his character to show vulnerability, stating that thanks to Yang, "Burke has been able to show levels of vulnerability." In an interview with
Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954) is an American television presenter, talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show' ...
, ''Grey's Anatomy'' creator
Shonda Rhimes Shonda Lynn Rhimes (born January 13, 1970) is an American television producer and screenwriter, and founder of the production company Shondaland. Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Rhimes became known ...
described Burke as a "mama's boy", 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 the
portmanteau In linguistics, a blend—also known as a blend word, lexical blend, or portmanteau—is a word formed by combining the meanings, and parts of the sounds, of two or more words together.
"Burktina," noting that the episode "
Losing My Religion "Losing My Religion" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on February 19, 1991 by Warner Bros. as the first single from their seventh album, '' Out of Time'' (1991). It developed from a mandolin riff improvised by the ...
" was one of her favorites featuring the couple. She appreciated how the episode showcased their evolution from the beginning of the second season to its conclusion, reflecting on the complexity and depth of their relationship. Ann Oldenburg of ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'' 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.


Reception

Isaiah Washington received multiple award nominations and accolades for his portrayal of Preston Burke. In 2006, he was part of the ''Grey's Anatomy'' ensemble that won the Satellite Award for Best Ensemble in a Television Series. Additionally, he was also part of the ensemble cast nominated for the
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast (or Ensemble) in a Drama Series is an award given by the Screen Actors Guild to honor the finest ensemble acting achievements in drama series. Winners and nominees 1990s 20 ...
from
2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...
to
2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...
, with a victory in
2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
. He also won the
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series This article lists the winners and nominees for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series. The award was first given in 1972. Not to be confused with the Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramat ...
twice, in
2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...
and
2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
. Burke's relationship with
Cristina Yang Cristina Yang, Doctor of Medicine, M.D., Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character from the medical drama television series ''Grey's Anatomy'', which has aired for 20 seasons on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the ...
(
Sandra Oh Sandra Miju Oh (born July 20, 1971) is a Canadian and American actress. She is known for her starring roles as Rita Wu in ''Arliss (TV series), Arliss'' (1996–2002), Cristina Yang in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005–14), and Eve Polastri in ''Kill ...
) was highly acclaimed by critics and fans alike. It was regarded as "one of the most interesting relationships on the show", with ''
The Orange County Register ''The Orange County Register'' is a paid daily List of newspapers in California, newspaper published in California. The ''Register'', published in Orange County, California, is owned by the private equity firm Alden Global Capital via its Digit ...
'' calling it "one of the most touching and funny attractions of ''Grey's Anatomy''." Despite the positive reception of his character’s romance, Oscar Dahl of ''
BuddyTV BuddyTV is an entertainment-based website, which generates content about television programs and sporting events. The website publishes information about celebrity and related entertainment news through a series of articles, entertainment profile ...
'' listed Burke as the "fifth most worthless TV character".


References

Specific General *


External links


Grey's Anatomy
at ABC.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Burke, Preston Grey's Anatomy characters Fictional surgeons African-American characters in television Television characters introduced in 2005 Fictional cardiac surgeons American male characters in television Fictional Christians mk:Список на ликови од Вовед во анатомија#Престон Бурк