Another season of Grey’s Anatomy (No. 14!) is ending, and as usual the May 17 finale promises lots of drama, including a long-awaited wedding… and a couple of tearful goodbyes. (Spoiler alert: So long, April and Arizona!)

But while recently chatting with Entertainment Tonight about April and Arizona’s “devastating” last episode, star Ellen Pompeo (aka Meredith Grey) revealed that sometimes a character’s send-off is determined by the actor who plays them. Only those whose “behavior is bad” get terrible exits, said Ellen, 48, adding that “if you’re a nice actor, you die nice.” So, In Touch Weekly in the magazine’s new issue, on newsstands now! — analyzed all the past Grey’s stars’ final scenes to see if we can separate the naughty from the nice. Scroll down to see!

Preston Burke

On the show: Dr. Burke left his fiancée (Sandra Oh’s Cristina Yang) at their wedding after deciding that they didn’t really love each other.

In real life: Isaiah Washington was fired in 2007 after an on-set fight with Patrick Dempsey allegedly turned physical and he used a homophobic slur to insult co-star T.R. Knight.

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Isaiah as Preston on Grey’s Anatomy.

Arizona Robbins and April Kepner

On the show: These docs’ exits “aren’t tragic,” promised Ellen. (Sure…)

In real life: In March, rumors swirled that Ellen’s new deal ($20 million for two more seasons of Grey’s) led to the dismissal of Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew, which showrunner Krista Vernoff denied.

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Jessica and Sarah as Arizona and April on Grey’s Anatomy.

George O’Malley

On the show: He died after first being disfigured in a bus accident.

In real life: T.R. Knight has said that a lack of screen time following “a breakdown of communication” with show creator Shonda Rhimes led him to quit the show in 2009.

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T.R. as George on Grey’s Anatomy.

Derek Shepherd

On the show: McDreamy was mowed down by an 18-wheeler. Ouch.

In real life: By 2015, Patrick Dempsey had a diva reputation and all but admitted in interviews to being bored with the show. He also reportedly angered Ellen and show creator Shonda by allegedly getting too cozy with a young staffer, which he denied.

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Patrick as Derek on Grey’s Anatomy.

Izzie Stevens

On the show: Izzie made it out alive, but only after getting fired and dumped.

In real life: Katherine Heigl notoriously declined to submit herself for Emmy consideration in 2008, claiming she hadn’t been given material good enough to warrant a nod. She was written out in 2010.

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Katherine as Izzie on Grey’s Anatomy.

Cristina Yang

On the show: She moved to Switzerland after being handed a job as the head of a hospital built by her ex Dr. Burke.

In real life: Sandra Oh “is as classy as they come,” Ellen has said, noting that the actress left the series in 2014 on stellar terms.

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Sandra as Cristina on Grey’s Anatomy.

Lexie Grey

On the show: Meredith’s half sister went down in a plane crash, taking her last breath after Mark Sloan professed his love.

In real life: When Chyler Leigh quit in 2012 to spend more time with her family, she says she helped plan Lexie’s demise with show execs.

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Chyler as Lexie on Grey’s Anatomy.

Mark Sloan

On the show: McSteamy was taken off life support after suffering extensive injuries in the same plane crash that killed Lexie.

In real life: Eric Dane’s 2012 departure was rumored to be due to budget tightening.

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Eric as Mark on Grey’s Anatomy.

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