Chris Carmack Reveals When He Stopped Feeling Like the ‘New Guy’ on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Chris Carmack reveals when he stopped feeling like the “new guy” on Grey’s Anatomy during an exclusive video interview with Closer.

“I’ve been on the show for seven years now. This is my seventh season on the show and this is the first year I haven’t felt like the new guy,” Chris, 43, exclusively tells Closer while discussing his and wife Erin Slaver’s partnership with Autotrader to promote their Private Seller Exchange, which is the brand’s used-car marketplace that facilitates the private buying and selling process.

Chris – who has played Dr. Atticus “Link” Lincoln since season 15 – explains that he felt like the new kid on set “because the show has such a deep and rich history.”

“I’m working with some actors who have been on the show since the beginning, and some crew members that have been on the show since the beginning, and they have very high standards,” he says. “They’re all very, very talented people and they know what they are doing.

Chris adds that it was “a little bit intimidating” to join the show when he was first cast, though that has inspired him to help other newcomers. “I’ve since seen it from the position of somebody who’s been on the show for a long time,” the Washington, D.C. native continues, explaining that he will walk the new stars through what to expect and advises them to “just be prepared.”

While Chris now finally feels comfortable on the show, he says that it was “pretty nerve-wracking coming on” in the beginning.

Not only did Chris discuss his gig on Grey’s Anatomy, but he also opened up about his partnership with Autotrader. The brand’s experts vet the process from start to finish using the fraud protection of a dealership and the value of the private market. To help raise awareness about the brand, Chris and Erin, 36, took to social media to share a compilation of their best pranks.

Chris explains that he and Erin have “been doing a lot of social media over the last couple of years,” which began with them sharing music with fans. However, their music “had to take a backseat” when they welcomed baby No. 2, daughter Cielle Estee, in 2022.

“We started creating these sort of … funny marriage videos and they took off and got really popular. And then our social media took off, and we started doing some partnerships with reputable brands,” Chris shares. “And when a reputable brand like Autotrader comes along, we’re very excited to partner with them. They’re a very customer forward enterprise, and they look after their customers.”

Chris adds that he’s “been trying to get a new used car” and has “been perusing Autotrader” for himself. “They’ve helped me to understand that their process is much easier, and it’s safer because they vet the buyers and the sellers. You’re not showing up to some dark alley with an envelope of cash and leaving with nothing,” he says. “So we’re very excited to partner with Autotrader. We did a really fun reel about surprises.”