# Kelly McCreary
**Kelly McCreary** (born 1981) is an American actress best known for her ten-season run as Dr. [Maggie Pierce](https://www.edgepedia.org/maggie-pierce) on the ABC medical drama *Grey's Anatomy*, a role she played from 2014 to 2025 across 203 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3691741/). She began her career in theater, making her professional debut on Broadway, and has since worked across television, film, voice acting, and stage[2](https://www.artistandbrand.com/clients/kelly-mccreary).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Signature role | Dr. Maggie Pierce on *Grey's Anatomy*, 2014–2025, 203 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3691741/) |
| Born | 1981, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; sources disagree on the exact date[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kelly-mccreary/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3691741/) |
| Training | Barnard College; Chautauqua Conservatory Theater Company; British American Drama Academy, London; The Actors Center, New York[4](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/kelly-mccreary) |
| Broadway debut | *Passing Strange*, 2008[2](https://www.artistandbrand.com/clients/kelly-mccreary) |
| Notable film role | Eartha Kitt in the indie drama *Life* (2015), opposite Dane DeHaan and Robert Pattinson[4](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/kelly-mccreary) |
| Voice work | Dot in DreamWorks' *Harvey Girls Forever!*, which launched on Netflix as *Harvey Street Kids*[2](https://www.artistandbrand.com/clients/kelly-mccreary) |
| Current project | *Power: Origins*, an 18-episode next chapter of the Power Universe, in which she plays Officer Melanie Rivers[2](https://www.artistandbrand.com/clients/kelly-mccreary) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3691741/) |
## Early life and training
McCreary was born in [Milwaukee](https://www.edgepedia.org/milwaukee), Wisconsin, in 1981. Published sources disagree on her exact birth date: TV Insider lists 1981[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kelly-mccreary/), while IMDb lists September 29, 1981[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3691741/).
She is an alumna of [Barnard College](https://www.edgepedia.org/barnard-college) and trained at the Chautauqua Conservatory Theater Company, the British American Drama Academy in London, and The Actors Center in New York[4](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/kelly-mccreary).
## Stage career
McCreary made her professional acting debut in the original Broadway musical *Passing Strange* in 2008, followed by the musical comedy *Perfect Harmony* on Theatre Row in 2010[2](https://www.artistandbrand.com/clients/kelly-mccreary). Her stage credits include Lynn Nottage's *Intimate Apparel* at Bay Street Theater, Dominique Morisseau's *Follow Me to Nellie's* at Kean Stage, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival productions of *A Midsummer Night's Dream* and *Euridyce*[4](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/kelly-mccreary). She also performed in Morisseau's *Skeleton Crew* at the Geffen Playhouse[5](https://wrapwomen.thewrap.com/team/kelly-mccreary/).
In winter 2024 she starred in *Bad Kreyol* in New York City[2](https://www.artistandbrand.com/clients/kelly-mccreary). She headlines the world premiere of Janine Nabers' play *The Peterson Show* at the Echo Theater Company, alongside Tamberla Perry and John Clarence Stewart; the play follows five former child stars confronting a family scandal[6](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Kelly-McCreary/).
## Grey's Anatomy and television
Before joining *Grey's Anatomy*, McCreary appeared on television in *Scandal*, *Castle*, *Emily Owens, M.D.*, *White Collar*, and *Rubicon*, among other shows[4](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/kelly-mccreary). She joined the *Grey's Anatomy* cast in Season 10 as Dr. Maggie Pierce, a cardiothoracic surgeon and [Meredith Grey](https://www.edgepedia.org/meredith-grey)'s half-sister[4](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/kelly-mccreary). IMDb credits her in the role from 2014 to 2025 across 203 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3691741/).
Her character left as a series regular in season 19, in a two-part sendoff in which Maggie chooses a job in Chicago over her deteriorating marriage, with a cameo from her birth mother Ellis Grey (Kate Burton)[7](https://time.com/6914179/how-greys-anatomy-characters-died-or-left/). McCreary has since returned as a guest: she appeared in the show's 450th episode during Season 22 in October 2025, in which Maggie returns to Seattle to help Meredith Grey care for their sister [Amelia Shepherd](https://www.edgepedia.org/amelia-shepherd) after a hospital explosion[2](https://www.artistandbrand.com/clients/kelly-mccreary) • [8](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/greys-anatomy-450th-episode-featured-classic-callbacks-gnarly-injury-but-i-cant-get-over-twist-real-life-connection). The series consistently ranks in Nielsen's Top 10 streaming list[2](https://www.artistandbrand.com/clients/kelly-mccreary).
Her other television work includes voicing Dot in the DreamWorks animated series *[Harvey Girls Forever!](https://www.edgepedia.org/harvey-girls-forever)*, which launched on Netflix as *Harvey Street Kids*[2](https://www.artistandbrand.com/clients/kelly-mccreary), and a guest appearance as Maggie Pierce on the spin-off *Station 19* in 2018[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kelly-mccreary/).
## Film
McCreary portrayed [Eartha Kitt](https://www.edgepedia.org/eartha-kitt) in [Anton Corbijn](https://www.edgepedia.org/anton-corbijn)'s indie drama *Life* (2015), opposite [Dane DeHaan](https://www.edgepedia.org/dane-dehaan) and Robert Pattinson[4](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/kelly-mccreary). Her other film credits include Paul Weitz's *Being Flynn* (2012), Brian Klugman's dramedy *Baby, Baby, Baby* (2015), and Chioke Nassor's *How to Follow Strangers* (2014)[4](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/kelly-mccreary) • [3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kelly-mccreary/). She produced and starred in the short film *The Middle Game* (2017), in which she played Eva[4](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/kelly-mccreary) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3691741/).
## Other work and upcoming projects
McCreary hosted the third season of the podcast *How It Is* on [Reese Witherspoon](https://www.edgepedia.org/reese-witherspoon)'s Hello Sunshine network[5](https://wrapwomen.thewrap.com/team/kelly-mccreary/). She sits on the board of the Equal Justice Society, a legal organization pursuing the dismantling of institutional bias, and supports [Feeding America](https://www.edgepedia.org/feeding-america)[2](https://www.artistandbrand.com/clients/kelly-mccreary).
She is currently filming *[Power](https://www.edgepedia.org/power-tv-series): Origins*, the next chapter of the Power Universe, slated for 18 episodes, in which she plays Officer Melanie Rivers; the series is in post-production[2](https://www.artistandbrand.com/clients/kelly-mccreary) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3691741/).
## Personal life
McCreary has been married to filmmaker Pete Chatmon since May 2019, and they have one child[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3691741/). She has resided in Los Angeles[5](https://wrapwomen.thewrap.com/team/kelly-mccreary/).
## References
1. [Kelly McCreary, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3691741/)
2. [Kelly McCreary, Artist & Brand](https://www.artistandbrand.com/clients/kelly-mccreary)
3. [Kelly McCreary, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kelly-mccreary/)
4. [Kelly McCreary, L.A. Theatre Works artist profile](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/kelly-mccreary)
5. [Kelly McCreary, WrapWomen](https://wrapwomen.thewrap.com/team/kelly-mccreary/)
6. [Kelly McCreary, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Kelly-McCreary/)
7. [A Comprehensive Ranking of How Grey's Anatomy Characters Left the Show, TIME](https://time.com/6914179/how-greys-anatomy-characters-died-or-left/)
8. [Grey's Anatomy's 450th Episode Featured Classic Callbacks, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/greys-anatomy-450th-episode-featured-classic-callbacks-gnarly-injury-but-i-cant-get-over-twist-real-life-connection)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Mc to Mi*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license