Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington breaks his silence on wife's sudden death last year: 'It came as a huge shock'

Isaiah Washington broke his silence on his wife Jenisa Garland's sudden death last year.

The 63-year-old actor, who famously starred as Dr. Preston Burke on Grey's Anatomy prior to his 'retirement' from acting in 2023, shared a statement on social media, noting that it has been 16 months since she passed away.

He revealed his late wife suffered a 'massive hemorrhagic stroke' last summer and died nine days later. 

'Yes...the rumors are true. My dear wife of 29 years collapsed suddenly on May 31, 2025 and passed away on June 9, 2025,' he wrote via Instagram on Saturday alongside a black-and-white photograph of his late wife.

'It came as a huge shock to me and our entire family,' he continued.

'She succumbed to a massive hemorrhagic stroke and never recovered,' the Love Jones alum added.

Washington then hinted at the symptoms his late spouse experienced before her death as he encouraged others to get frequent doctor's checkups and 'take those headaches seriously.' 

He wrote: 'Listen, ya'll...some headaches are not just headaches or migraines, they can be much worse and a warning sign.'

He told his followers to 'get a brain scan if you can and take those headaches seriously.' 

'She has been gone 16 months now, but she left 3 incredibly amazing children behind to continue her legacy,' he continued. 

Washington and his wife met at a dinner party in Los Angeles and later tied the knot on Valentine's Day in 1996.

The pair welcomed three children: sons Isaiah V and Tyme as well as daughter Iman. 

'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,' he wrote as he concluded his Instagram post.

Back in 2022, Washington shed insight into his marriage with Jenisa and how parenthood changed his approach to his craft. 

'I always told my wife, "Since I have the kids and a wife, that I would rather kiss a horse than a woman onscreen",' he told Fox News Digital. 

'Because then I have to explain myself to my daughter, like, "Why are you kissing a strange woman?" I've said 'no' more than I've said 'yes.' 

Washington continued: 'Because I always wanted to be alive to know 20 years later, what my kids would think of me in that particular role. 

'For me, being married and having children did change a lot of my trajectory,' he added.

Washington is known for collaborating with the iconic director Spike Lee on a variety of films, including Crooklyn, Clockers, Girl 6 and Get on the Bus. 

He also starred as the hunky heart surgeon Dr. Preston Burke on Grey's Anatomy for three seasons before he was fired in 2007 after allegedly using a gay slur against co-star T.R. Knight. 

He later returned as a guest star in 2014 for a single episode in season 10. 

In 2023, Washington announced his 'early retirement' from acting and shared a statement about how his film Corsicana may be his final acting project.