Isaiah Washington Breaks Silence on Wife Jenisa’s Tragic Death
Published 12:23 5 Oct 2026 GMT+1
The actor said his wife had been a very 'private' person, so he had kept the news to himself until now
Isaiah Washington has broken his silence on the death of his wife of 29 years, Jenisa, after her sudden death last year.
The former Grey’s Anatomy star, 63, shared the heartbreaking news on social media more than a year after his wife’s death, explaining that he had kept the loss private because Jenisa was fiercely protective of her personal life.
Jenisa, who had been married to Washington for almost 30 years, collapsed suddenly on May 31, 2025.
She died nine days later, on June 9, aged 56.
Advert
The actor said the death had been an 'enormous shock' to everyone..
“Yes…the rumors are true. 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,” Washington wrote in an Instagram post on October 3.
The Grey's Anatomy star shared the heartbreaking family news with fans (Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
“She succumbed to a massive hemorrhagic stroke and never recovered.”
Washington, who shares three children with Jenisa, said he had chosen not to announce her death at the time because she was a private person.
His decision to speak publicly now appears to have come partly in response to speculation about his family, but his message was also an emotional tribute to the woman he had spent nearly three decades with.
He urged people not to dismiss severe or unusual headaches, drawing on the devastating experience his family had been through.
“Listen, y’all…some headaches are not just headaches or migraines, they can be much worse and a warning sign,” he urged.
The star added: “Get a brain scan if you can and take those headaches seriously.”
Washington said that their three children are continuing her legacy.
He also acknowledged the unusual circumstances of making such a personal announcement so long after his wife’s death.
“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.”
The post prompted an outpouring of sympathy from friends and fellow actors.
Grey’s Anatomy star Viola Davis was among those who offered her condolences, while Debi Mazar also sent a message of support to Washington and his family.
A haemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, causing bleeding.
The couple had been married for nearly 30 years (Photo by Tara Ziemba/FilmMagic)
According to the American Stroke Association, haemorrhagic strokes account for about 13% of all strokes.
The NHS describes bleeding on the brain as a medical emergency.
Warning signs of a stroke can appear suddenly and include facial weakness, weakness or numbness in an arm, problems with speech, dizziness, vision problems and a severe headache.
In the case of a subarachnoid haemorrhage, the NHS says the main symptom can be an extremely painful headache that starts suddenly and does not go away.
Other symptoms can include vomiting, confusion, fainting, seizures and weakness on one side of the body.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms should call 999 immediately.
Washington is best known for playing cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Preston Burke on Grey’s Anatomy, joining the hit medical drama when it launched in 2005. He left the series in 2007.
Featured Image Credit: Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images/Frank Ockenfels
Topics: TV And Film, Entertainment, Health