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Isaiah Washington as Dr. Preston Burke Born on August 3, 1963 in Houston, Texas, Isaiah Washington is a graduate of Willowridge High School. When he was younger, Washington got involved in an altercation, where he suffered a gunshot wound on his right hip. Before pursuing the entertainment world, he spent four years in the Air Force. Eventually, he studied drama at Washington, D.C.'s Howard University, afterwhich he appeared in many stage productions like Thomton Wilder's Skin of Our Teeth and August Wilson's Fences. His love for theater has led to his becoming a founding member of the City Kids Repertory, a group that visits community centers and high schools all over New York. Aside from this, he has also appeared in several films such as Exit Wounds, Romeo Must Die, True Crime, Dead Presidents and the much-admired Dancing in September, a performance which earned him a nomination for an Outstanding Actor Award in the NAACP. Washington is also included in the popular TV series Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Preston Burke. The role won him another NAACP Image Award, this time for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 2007. Unfortunately in the same year, his accomplishment was greatly overshadowed by his homophobic behavior, which he displayed by using a gay slur term. On more than one occasion, Washington used the gay slur term in reference to his co-star, T.R. Knight, who admitted to being a homosexual early 2007. Sympathy went to Knight, and much criticism has been thrown Washington's way. In response, Washington apologized for his remark and told the public that he was ready to face his demons and entered a rehabilitation center. In June of 2007, ABC announced the Washington would not be returning to Grey's Anatomy's fourth season.