As Dr. Richard Webber on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, James Pickens, Jr. has been through much emotional turmoil with his character's struggling marriage and illicit romantic affair.  As much as the 53-year-old actor would want to see the Chief in a romantic storyline, Richard doesn't seem to be quite ready for a love interest. Instead, Richard is now in the process of grieving that encompasses both his wife Adele (Loretta Devine) and his deceased lover Ellis Grey (Kate Burton).

"Obviously, he's scared to death of getting in the dating pool," Pickens told TV Guide of his character on Grey's Anatomy.  "With McDreamy [Patrick Dempsey] and McSteamy [Eric Dane] trying to egg him on, it doesn't bode well for him."

In the past, Richard had an affair with Meredith's (Ellen Pompeo) mother, Ellis, despite the fact that both were married.  While Ellis left her husband, he could not bring himself to leave his wife.  After contemplating that he had too much baggage and that Ellis deserved better, he ended the affair and later made several attempts to reconcile with Adele.  Unfortunately, Adele eventually filed for divorce and their relationship remains to be strained.

"At this moment, he's pretty much in limbo as far as his marital status is concerned," Pickens said.

According to Pickens, he doesn't see reconciliation as an option for Adele and his character any time soon.  Since Richard will unlikely be involved with anyone in the near future, his pool of emotions will just have to spill over into the decisions he's making at Seattle Grace Hospital as the Chief of Surgery.

"He's so utterly human and he fights letting his humanness get in the way of decisions that he makes, sometimes to his detriment," Pickens said.  "At the end of the day, he always feels that the decision he makes is the right one."

Fans can catch Pickens and the rest of his Seattle Grace staff on Grey's Anatomy every Thursday at 9/8c on ABC.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: TV Guide
(Image courtesy of TV Guide)