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Many fans of Grey’s Anatomy tune in week after week for years to follow stories about their favorite fictional Seattle doctors. One of the compelling parts of the show is the wide variety of couples that have gripping romantic stories. There are of course legendary couples such as Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey); Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) and Mark Sloan (Eric Dane); and Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) and Alex Karev (Justin Chambers). But fans also have fallen in love with later season couples — did they date in real life, off-screen?

Jesse Williams as Jackson Avery and Sarah Drew as April Kepner hugging at the wedding in the 'Grey's Anatomy' Season 14 finale. Did any of the co-stars date in real life?
Jesse Williams as Jackson Avery and Sarah Drew as April Kepner on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 14 | Eric McCandless/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

Levi Schmitt and Nico Kim were the first gay couple on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Grey’s Anatomy made history with the characters Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli) and Nico Kim (Alex Landi). The show had featured storylines surrounding gay couples before, but never with two male leads. Schmitt and Nico were the first.

People followed along as the young doctors navigated their relationship as gay men at the hospital. Fans appreciated seeing Schmitt find his sexuality and discover another part of himself through Nico.

While the two have not dated in real life, Borelli did come out as gay alongside his character, Schmitt, on Instagram.

“As a gay guy myself, tonight’s episode was so special to me,” he wrote. “This is exactly the kind of story I craved as a young gay kid growing up in Ohio, and it blows my mind that I’m able to bring life to Dr. Levi Schmitt as he begins to grapple with his own sexuality this season on Grey’s Anatomy.”

April Kepner and Jackson Avery’s connection made fans root for them

Many fans loved Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) and April Kepner’s (Sarah Drew) love story on Grey’s Anatomy. The duo went through a lot. Their friendship was their foundation for their relationship. But after they slept together, they realized they couldn’t hold down their attraction for one another. Jackson and April married, had a baby, and split up. The on-again, off-again couple was definitely many peoples’ “OTP” (one true pair).

People felt like the chemistry between Jackson and April was electric and undeniable. Did the pair date in real life, too?

Drew married Peter Lanfer in 2002 — long before she began Grey’s Anatomy in 2009.

Williams is dating Taylour Paige, an actress and dancer.

Do Callie and Arizona end up together; did they date off-screen?

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‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Sarah Drew’s Recent Instagram Has Fans Asking About April Kepner’s Return

Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) were one of the Grey’s Anatomy greats. Arizona came to the show in season six. People caught on to her sparks with Callie. The pair began dating, navigating the hardships of dating as gay and bisexual women. They raised Sofia together, who was Callie and Mark’s biological daughter.

While Callie and Arizona’s story captivated audiences everywhere, the two are not together. Capshaw has been with her spouse Christopher Gavigan since 2004, which pre-dated her time on Grey’s Anatomy.

Ramirez, who uses she/they pronouns and came out as nonbinary in 2020, married Ryan DeBolt in 2012.

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