Isaiah Washington is opening up about a loss he's been keeping private for more than a year. On October 3, the Grey’s Anatomy alum revealed that his wife of 29 years, Jenisa Marie Garland-Washington, died in June 2025 after suffering a massive hemorrhagic stroke.
© GettyThe 63-year-old shared the news 16 months after Garland’s death, explaining that the decision to remain silent was largely rooted in the kind of person his wife was.
“Yes... the rumors are true,” the actor began in an Instagram post alongside a photo of Garland. He went on to reveal that she suddenly collapsed on May 31, 2025, before dying nine days later on June 9. “It came as a huge shock to our entire family,” Washington wrote, explaining that Garland “succumbed to a massive hemorrhagic stroke and never recovered.”
He then offered advice, saying, "Listen, y’all…some headaches are not just headaches or migraines; they can be much worse and a warning sign. Get a brain scan if you can and take those headaches seriously."
© GettyThe couple had been married since Valentine’s Day in 1996 and shared three children: Tyme, Iman and Isaiah V. "She has been gone 16 months now, but she left 3 incredibly amazing children behind to continue her legacy," he continued.
© GettyTheir relationship largely remained outside the Hollywood spotlight, with Garland known for keeping her personal life private even as Washington became a familiar face on television through his role as Dr. Preston Burke on Grey’s Anatomy.
Washington acknowledged that his decision to finally speak publicly about Garland was complicated by her wishes for privacy.
© Getty“I don’t know if this is an appropriate post, because Jenisa Washington was extremely private,” he wrote, adding, “I guess I just have to be reprimanded from her on the other side.”
The pair met in Los Angeles in 1995 after being introduced by comedian Reggie McFadden and married the following year. On Sunday, it just so happened to be revealed that McFadden passed away.
On Monday, Washington shared a carousel with the first photo being the In Living Color star, and the second being the same photo he shared of his late wife. "RIP Reggie McFadden," he wrote in the caption. "Say hello to Jenisa Washington, because it was you who introduced me to her in 1995."
While Washington became a recognizable television star, particularly during his time on Grey’s Anatomy, he and Garland managed to keep much of their family life away from the cameras. She was always by his side on the red carpet, but she remained largely out of the entertainment spotlight.
© GettyFor Washington, becoming a husband and father also influenced the way he approached his career. In a 2022 Fox News Digital interview, he explained that having a wife and children changed the trajectory of his professional life because he became more conscious of the example he wanted to set for his family. “For me, being married and having children did change a lot of my trajectory,” he said at the time.
The announcement also came as Washington appears to be entering a new chapter professionally. After stepping away from acting in recent years, he recently shared that he is ready to return to the big screen. Hours before he announced her passing, he shared a couple of selfies, revealing in the caption, "I have said 'no' for 3 years now. Time to say 'yes' and get back on the big screen with a BANG! Keep watching me…"
