19 Little Known Facts About Grey’s Anatomy Star Justin Chambers

Best known for his role as Alex Karev on the smash hit medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, much like his character, Justin Chambers stole the hearts of millions with the show’s premier in 2005. However, in January of 2020, Chambers shocked fans of the show when he announced that he would not be returning for season 17. Chambers told Page Six that, although it was a difficult decision to make, he is very excited for what is to come, admitting that fifteen years on the set of one project is a “big chunk of your life.”

As Chambers was one of the few original Grey’s Anatomy cast members left, this news was particularly difficult for fans to swallow. But seeing as Chambers spent the majority of his career playing the same role, not much is known about him, or his life before fame.

Here are 20 little-known facts about Justin Chambers.

19.He Can Carry A Tune

Chambers may be known for his acting chops, but he is also quite the singer too! Now, don’t expect any sort of album or music career to come from him, as Chambers does not usually sing publicly. He did, however, offer up his vocals for a Grey’s Anatomy benefit concert in 2012.

18.He’s Lived Abroad 

After his initial recruitment in Paris, Chambers ended up living there for three years, working as a model. Despite his stint in the city of love, don’t ask Chambers to speak any French, as he sadly did not pick up the language while in France.

17.He’s Known Ellen Pompeo For Nearly 25 Years

Chambers and Grey’s Anatomy co-star Ellen Pompeo have been sharing the small screen ever since the show premiered in 2005, having worked together for 15 years. But, Chambers and Pompeo have actually known each other for much longer, having met ten years before the start of Grey’s Anatomy.

16.He Did Not Initially Desire To Be An Actor

Despite the fact that Chambers is one of the most successful actors on night time television, his ambitions in life weren’t always geared towards acting or the entertainment industry. In fact, when Chambers was younger, he had his sights set on a different profession—dentistry!

15.His Career Got Off To An Unusual Start

Chambers got his start in the entertainment business while he was in Paris on vacation. An English woman had stopped him while he was on the subway, and told him he should do commercials. He called the number she had given him, and the rest is history!

14.He Has A Twin Brother

It is no surprise that Chambers has a big family, when in fact he himself comes from a big family. He has an older brother named John, two sisters Mia and Susan, and not to mention his fraternal twin brother named Jason.

13.He Previously Suffered From Insomnia

Chambers has publicly stated that his work has taken a toll on his physical wellbeing. In 2009, he revealed that he was suffering from Insomnia because of the stress he would endure. He regulated this with practicing yoga, which he noted has helped immensely.

12.He’s Modelled For Some Pretty Big Brands

Chambers may not have reached the ranks of Cindy Crawford or Naomi Campbell, but he did reach a certain level of success during his modeling days. Chambers actually modelled for some pretty major designers like Dolce and Gabanna, Armani, and Calvin Klein.

11.He’s A Big Fan Of Vintage Superhero Shows

Though Chambers did not grow up wanting to be an actor, he still had a slew of television shows he watched frequently. Some of his favourites? The Incredible Hulk, Six Million Dollar Man, and The Bionic Woman are among some of his most beloved.

10.He’s Been Off The Market For Quite Some Time

Unlike his character Alex Karev, who took a while to settle down with his partner Jo Wilson, Chambers settled down pretty quickly. In fact, he has been off the market since 1993, when he married his now-wife Keisha.

9.He Met His Wife In A Surprisingly Ordinary Way

There were no light, cameras, or flashes involved in the making of Chambers’ relationship with his wife. In fact, the couple met in the most ordinary of circumstances—at work! Keisha was working as a model booker at an agency during the time when Chambers was modelling for Calvin Klein.

8.One Major Quality Of Alex Karev Stuck With Him

Because of his character Alex Karev works in paediatrics for a good portion of the show, Chambers has noted that he has actually grown to like working with children because of the fact that he spent so much time shooting with them.

7.He Suffered From A Chronic Illness As A Child

It’s ironic that Chambers plays a doctor, a profession which is often depicted as the picture of health and wellness, considering the fact that both he and his fraternal twin brother both suffered from chronic pneumonia episodes, which meant that they were frequently in and out of hospitals as children.

6. He Has A Big Family

Chambers is a family man—it’s hard not to be when he has such a big one. He and his wife Keisha share five children together: Jackson, Eva, Kaila, Isabella, and Maya. In fact, when announcing his departure from Grey’s Anatomy, Chambers expressed his appreciation for the support of his family.

5.He Earned His First Official Acting Credit In 1995

You may know Chambers for his role as Alex Karev on Grey’s Anatomy, but his first acting credit came in 1995 when he played Nick Hudson in three episodes of romantic drama series Another World.

4.He Doesn’t Like Living His Life In The Spotlight  

Unlike some celebrities who choose to live a life based in the public eye, Chambers opted to lead a very different life. Chambers revealed to Good Housekeeping that he and his wife make an effort to live a very “non-Hollywood” life.

3.He’s Like Every Other Dad 

Some would assume that Chamber’s children think that he’s a cool parent because of the fact that he has played one of the best doctors on television for nearly 15 years. But alas, Chambers revealed in an interview with E News, that his kids view him just as any child would view their father: uncool.

2.He’s Most Like His Own Grey’s Anatomy Character

Upon taking a quiz with Grey’s Anatomy co-star Camilla Luddington to determine which character from the show they are most like, Chambers actually got his own character! While we’re sure that Chambers does not possess some of the less likeable traits his character adopts, sometimes life really mimics reality.

1.He’s Got A Quirky Sense Of Style

Just like his personality, Chambers has a pretty cool sense of personal style. He can sometimes be caught sporting sunglasses during interviews or red carpet events. He is also partial to wearing cool and interesting hats.

Sources: Pagesix, People, Peoplepill, Spockandchristine, Closerweekly