Thatcher Grey

Thatcher Grey is Meredith Grey's father and the ex-husband of Ellis Grey. They were married for about seven years before his wife began having an affair with Richard Webber. Eventually, Ellis's affair and time away from home put too much strain on their marriage, and Thatcher left.

Meredith was a small child at the time of the divorce, and roughly twenty years would pass before they saw each other again. Thatcher blames Ellis somewhat for his estrangement from Meredith, saying Ellis was "cold" and wouldn't let him get to know his daughter. After the disintegration of his first family, Thatcher married his second wife, Susan, and had two more daughters, Lexie and Molly.

Susan constantly encouraged him to renew his relationship with Meredith. However, Susan died very suddenly at Seattle Grace Hospital and Thatcher lashed out at Meredith and blamed her for Susan's death, slapping her in the face. He later forbade Meredith to come to Susan's funeral service.

In the episode "Physical Attraction, Chemical Reaction," Lexie and Alex find Thatcher extremely drunk. Thatcher later comes in the ER looking for Meredith, and she actually enjoys his company as a drunk more than his sober state.