Levi Schmitt, M.D., is a fictional character from the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy, which airs on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States. The character is portrayed by Jake Borelli. Levi is introduced as a sub-intern at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital at the start of Season 14 and later becomes a resident in Season 16. Initially, Levi's character served as comic relief due to his clumsiness and lack of social skills. However, as the series progressed into the fifteenth season, Levi's storylines expanded, focusing on his questioning of his sexuality, his desire to gain confidence, and his complicated relationship with his overbearing mother. Borelli was promoted to the main cast in the sixteenth season, while also making occasional appearances on the companion show Station 19. Schmitt is notable for being Grey's Anatomy's first LGBTQ main character since the departures of Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) in seasons 12 and 14, respectively. He is also the series' second Jewish main character after Dr. Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh). Schmitt's relationship with openly gay orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nico Kim (Alex Landi) has been praised by both critics and fans. On May 13, 2024, it was confirmed that Borelli would depart as a series regular due to budget cuts. Borelli’s character departed during the seventh episode of the twenty-first season, titled "If You Leave", that aired on November 14, 2024.
Background Levi has lived in Seattle for an undisclosed amount of time with his mother, specifically residing in her basement. Growing up, Levi was a member of the debate club and spent much of his time playing Dungeons & Dragons rather than socializing with his peers. His social struggles were exacerbated by his mother's overprotective tendencies and neuroticism. Due to her constant worrying, Levi developed issues with self-confidence and clumsiness, which often interfered with his ability to perform at his best. Levi eventually decided to attend medical school, finishing in the top 10% of his program. Despite his success, he chose to continue living in his mother's basement due to the high costs of medical school. Coming from a close Jewish family, Levi's relatives contributed financially to help him through his studies, remaining heavily involved in his career decisions. Levi first arrived at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital as part of a clerkship group doing a rotation, where Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) and April Kepner (Sarah Drew) evaluated the group to determine if they would be offered internship opportunities. After an interview with Webber and Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), Levi was offered an internship at Grey Sloan, a prestigious opportunity his family supported due to the hospital's reputation for producing highly skilled surgeons. During his time at Grey Sloan, Levi formed friendships with fellow interns like Taryn Helm (Jaicy Elliot), Casey Parker (Alex Blue Davis), and Dahlia Qadri (Sophia Ali).
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