Isaiah Washington broke his silence on the death of his wife, Jenisa Garland, more than one year after she died.
The “Grey’s Anatomy” actor confirmed that his wife of nearly three decades died in June 2025 after suffering a “massive hemorrhagic stroke.”
“Yes … the rumors are true,” Washington wrote on social media. “My dear wife of 29 years collapsed suddenly on May 31, 2025 and passed away on June 9, 2025. It came as a huge shock to me and our entire family.”
“She succumbed to a massive hemorrhagic stroke and never recovered.”
Washington encouraged his Instagram followers to listen to their bodies and noted, “some headaches are not just headaches or migraines, they can be much worse and a warning sign.”
“Get a brain scan if you can and take those headaches seriously,” Washington wrote. “She has been gone 16 months now, but she left 3 incredibly amazing children behind to continue her legacy.”
He added, “I don’t know if this is an appropriate post, because Jenisa Washington was extremely private, but I guess I just have to be reprimanded from her on the other side.”
Viola Davis sent condolences and wrote, “So very sorry Isaiah,” while actor Michael Beach noted, “It is appropriate, brother. We all need to pay better attention to what we are going through physically and mentally. Love to you and your family.”
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Washington played Dr. Preston Burke during the show’s first three seasons from 2005-07.
In October 2006, he was reportedly accused of using a homophobic slur, directed at co-star T.R. Knight, during an argument with another cast member, Patrick Dempsey. Knight was not present at the time. Washington later publicly apologized in a statement that he shared with People Magazine.
“I sincerely regret my actions and the unfortunate use of words during the recent incident on-set,” Washington said in the statement. “Both are beneath my own personal standards. I have nothing but respect for my co-workers … and have apologized personally to everyone involved.”
Amid the ensuing controversy, ABC decided not to renew Washington’s contract and his character was written out of the show. However, he returned for an episode in 2014 to send off actress Sandra Oh, who left “Grey’s Anatomy” after its 10th season. Washington’s character, Burke, was a former love interest of Oh’s Cristina Yang.
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While speaking about his departure on the Fox Nation series “Isaiah Washington: Kitchen Talk” in July 2020, Washington explained why he decided to publicly apologize for the incident.
“The story was a lie and misconstrued. But as a family guy, a father, I thought I was helping the family,” said Washington.
The “God’s Not Dead” star went on to say that he wouldn’t ever apologize for it again.
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“That’s why I’ll never apologize again — to this day,” Washington said. “That’s why [former President Donald] Trump doesn’t apologize, because when you apologize for something, then that it is admitted to wrong — doing something wrong. I did nothing wrong.”
In a recent social media post, Washington alluded to getting back to work in front of the camera.
“I have said ‘no’ for 3 years now,” he captioned a series of snaps. “Time to say ‘yes’ and get back on the big screen with a BANG! Keep watching me…”
