Actor Patrick Dempsey, who portrays the character of Dr. Derek 'McDreamy' Shepherd in the popular medical television drama series 'Grey's Anatomy,' will quit after Season 11 of the Emmy Award-winning series on ABC.

According to Variety, in the April 23 episode of the series titled 'How to Save a Life,' viewers saw Dempsey's character hit in a car accident, which makes his wife Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) to decide to take him off life support.

Although Pompeo's contract continues through the unconfirmed 'Grey's Anatomy' Season 12, according to latest reports, Dempsey will exit Shonda Rhimes' show permanently, although his contract also runs through the 2015-16 season.

A statement issued recently by showrunner Shonda Rhimes read, "Derek Shepherd is and will always be an incredibly important character - for Meredith, for me and for the fans."

The statement added, "I absolutely never imagined saying goodbye to our McDreamy. Patrick Dempsey's performance shaped Derek in a way that I know we both hope became a meaningful example - happy, sad, romantic, painful and always true - of what young women should demand from modern love. His loss will be felt by all. Now, Meredith and the entire 'Grey's Anatomy' family are about to enter uncharted territory as we head into this new chapter of her life. The possibilities for what may come are endless. As Ellis Grey would say, 'the carousel never stops turning.'"

With the passage of each day, rumors regarding Dempsey's departure from the show have been increasing. In 'Grey's Anatomy' Season 11, Dempsey's storyline sent him to take up a job in Washington D.C., which actually cut his screen time considerably.

Recently, the actor also spoke officially about exiting the series. He told the Portland Press Herald in November that he would be leaving the show "very soon." Prior to the airing of the fatal episode on Thursday last, an article Entertainment Weekly leaked that Dempsey would be leaving the show, which added fuel to the fire.

On Thursday, ABC pushed back the April 30 episode of Rhimes' political thriller 'Scandal' with a view to accommodate a special two-hour edition of 'Grey's Anatomy,' which may possibly serve as a farewell to Dempsey. In fact the promo for next week's episode 22 titled 'She's Leaving Home,' features Pompeo's character telling her cohorts that Derek is dead.