Isaiah Washington has announced the death of his wife of nearly three decades, Jenisa Washington.
The Grey’s Anatomy and The 100 actor opened up about the loss in an Oct. 3 Instagram post, saying Jenisa suffered a stroke last year.
“My dear wife of 29 years collapsed suddenly on May 31, 2025 and passed away on June 9, 2025,” Washington wrote. “It came as a huge shock to me and our entire family. She succumbed to a massive hemorrhagic stroke and never recovered.”
The couple married in 1996 and had three children together. Washington reflected on their family in his tribute, saying their children would carry on their mother’s legacy.
“She has been gone 16 months now, but she left 3 incredibly amazing children behind to continue her legacy,” he wrote.
Washington, 63, also urged his followers to take headaches seriously, sharing a warning in the wake of his wife’s death.
“Listen, y’all…some headaches are not just headaches or migraines, they can be much worse and a warning sign,” he said. “Get a brain scan if you can and take those headaches seriously.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel inside the brain ruptures and bleeds. The symptoms include headaches, light sensitivity, dizziness and slurred speech.
While fans know Washington from his television and film roles, his statement offered a rare look at his private life. The actor said he had mixed feelings about sharing the news because Jenisa preferred to stay out of the spotlight.
“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.
Washington was one of the original cast members of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, playing Dr. Preston Burke when the medical drama premiered in 2005. He appeared on 63 episodes of the series, according to his IMDb page.
He later starred in The CW’s sci-fi series The 100 from 2014 to 2018, and had a recurring role on Starz’s P-Valley.
In 2023, Washington announced he was stepping back from Hollywood, describing the decision at the time as an “early retirement” from the entertainment industry.
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