Dean Miller was one of Station 19’s best characters and captivated audiences with his charm. So why did he decide to leave the show at its peak?
As a spinoff to the hit medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, it’s no surprise that Station 19 has gathered an abundance of loyal fans since it started in 2018. Alongside its thrilling plotlines and crossovers, fans fell in love with the characters on the show and were rooting for them from the very beginning. One of these fan-favorite characters was Dean Miller, who impressed viewers with his kind heart and handsome looks.
Dean Miller was also involved in a collection of gripping story arcs, allowing him to drive plots forward across the Grey’s Anatomy universe. As such, fans were shocked to hear about his departure and some found his final episode too heartbreaking to watch. But why did this powerhouse leave Station 19, and is there any chance of him returning?
Who Is Dean Miller?
5 of the Best Dean Miller Episodes:
Season 2, Episode 11, “Baby Boom”
Season 3, Episode 8, “Born to Run”
Season 5, Episode 5, “Things We Lost in the Fire”
Season 1, Episode 3, “Contain the Flame”
Season 4, Episode 11, “Here It Comes Again”
Dean Miller is an experienced firefighter at Station 19, which acts as a subsection of the Seattle Fire Department. Together with his brave personality and Stoic attitude, Miller is not afraid to risk his livelihood to save others. Throughout his time on Station 19, he has tackled a wealth of complex cases, all of which have impacted him personally and professionally. Although he spends most of his time taming roaring fires and saving lives, he’s also a devoted single father to his young daughter, Pru Miller.
Miller’s charm and good manners certainly made him a hit at the station, and he welcomed a series of affectionate friendships with his peers, including Jack Gibson. Not to mention, since he is the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome, he definitely didn’t struggle to find a girlfriend during his time on the show. Overall, Miller worked as a key driving force in Station 19, giving each storyline a touch of heart and humility, which is helpful on a show that is well-recognized for being so tense.
Dean’s Relationship With Vic Showed His Passions as a Family Man
5 Fun Facts About Dean Miller:
- Dean was the first character to be introduced in Station 19’s crossover with Grey’s Anatomy.
- He lived on a houseboat and trained as a lifeguard in high school.
- Before becoming a firefighter, Miller worked at a corporate job and performed CPR on one of his colleagues.
- Miller decided to name his daughter after the former captain of Station 19, Pruitt Herrera.
- He also founded Crisis One, a team that helps to de-escalate crisis calls without the need for police intervention.
Despite Pru’s mother, JJ, taking off and leaving Dean to raise her single-handedly, Miller expresses a keen devotion to his family. This is also emphasized through his relationship with Vic Highes, who he believed would always be a good stepmother to his daughter. In Season 5, Episode 5, “Things We Lost in the Fire,” Miller desperately tries to revive Vic after she is electrocuted. He stays with her until an aid car arrives and promises that she will get priority access to Grey Sloane. Admittedly, it’s clear throughout the show that his feelings are not reciprocated, especially as Vic sees him more like a brother. Yet, the fact that Dean is willing to risk his life for the person he loves highlights his devotion to Hughes and his desire to welcome her into his life.
Fans see a similar interaction in Season 4, Episode 13, “I Guess I’m Floating.” Dean wakes up on a beach after trying to save Chief Gregory after he had a coronary episode and fell overboard on a cruise ship. Immediately, Vic rushes to Dean and informs him that she stayed with Pru all night. Then, Dean tries to confess his love to her but doesn’t have the energy to get the words out, so Vic just replies “I love you too.” This touching interaction showcases Vic’s devotion to Pru and how she will continue to protect her and care for her, even when her father is not present. As such, although Vic may not have any romantic feelings towards Miller, it’s evident that the pair work together to create a blended family for the sake of Pru.
His Need for Freedom Caused a Lot of Issues in His Personal Life
Though Dean Miller comes across as if he lives a very relaxed bachelor lifestyle, his parents often get in the way of his personal life and constrict his freedoms. This is most evident in Season 2, Episode 5, “Do a Little Harm,” when Dean’s parents offer him an expensive watch for his birthday and try to convince him to leave his job at the station and join the family business. Miller gets very angry at this prospect and decides once and for all to stand up against his parents and decline their offer. Though a role in the family business would be a lot less stressful for himself and Pru, Dean decides to show a sense of defiance at this moment and remain loyal to his peers at Station 19. Plus, the fact that Dean decides to stick at his job evokes the idea that he’s found a new chosen family at his workplace and that the firefighters at Station 19 are more like a loyal tribe than a bunch of colleagues.
Miller’s relationship with Dr. Miranda Bailey also highlights his lack of trust in his parents, especially when it comes to looking after his daughter. In Season 5, Episode 7, “A House Is Not a Home,” Pru wakes up at her grandparents’ house and begins to cry because she misses Bailey. Pru’s reaction to her absence shows that she feels safe around Bailey and that Dean trusts her enough to support his child when he’s not there. This relationship could also signify that Dean sees Bailey a lot more like a mother figure than a mentor, which is very similar to how her interns feel on Grey’s Anatomy. Overall, Miller and Bailey’s strong bond indicates that Dean is keen to leave his broken relationship with his parents in the past and strive toward creating a better life for himself.
Why Did Dean Miller Leave Station 19?
Dean Miller’s Most Popular Appearances in Grey’s Anatomy:
- Season 15, Episode 4, “Mama Knows Best”
- Season 16, Episode 9, “Let’s All Go to the Bar”
- Season 16, Episode 12, “The Last Supper”
- Season 17, Episode 1, “All Tomorrow’s Parties”
- Season 18, Episode 8, “Bottle Up and Explode!”
Unfortunately, Dean Miller died in Season 5, Episode 5, “Things We Lost in the Fire,” after he was seriously injured in a blast. Miller’s death crossed over into Grey’s Anatomy, where the medical staff there tried to save him. But, after multiple attempts to resuscitate him, he was tragically pronounced dead. His passing caused great waves of grief within the Grey’s Anatomy universe and fans were devastated that they wouldn’t see Miller on their screens anymore.
In fact, Dean Miller’s actor, Okieriete Onaodowan, felt it was time to hang up his fireman’s helmet and move on to something a bit different. Onaodowan is trained in musical theater and has been in a number of successful productions, including Hamilton and A Doll’s House. As such, avid fans of this actor have the chance to see him in a more intimate fashion the next time he performs on stage. So, even though Dean Miller is no longer at Station 19, viewers now have the prime opportunity to see this talented actor in a wealth of other projects.
