Kim Raver is an American actress, director and producer best known for playing Teddy Altman in Grey’s Anatomy, Audrey Raines in 24 and Kim Zambrano in Third Watch. Her career began with children’s television and theatre long before those prime-time roles.
Her story includes more than her years in hospital scrubs. She trained at Boston University, worked on Broadway and moved into directing. In 2026, she also closed a major chapter with her departure from Grey’s Anatomy.
Kim Raver at a glance
| Profession | Actress, director and producer |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 March 1969 |
| Age | 57 as of 29 October 2026 |
| Hometown | New York City, United States |
| Education | Boston University, College of Fine Arts, class of 1991 |
| Husband | Director Manu Boyer, also known as Manuel Boyer |
| Children | Two sons, Luke and Leo |
| Notable characters | Teddy Altman, Audrey Raines, Kim Zambrano and Nico Reilly |
Early life and acting training
Raver grew up in New York City and appeared on Sesame Street as a child. ABC’s official biography places her time on the programme between the ages of six and nine.
Theatre then became a serious commitment. In a Boston University interview, she recalled joining the First All Children’s Theater at 13. Rehearsals after school taught her the discipline of preparing, turning up on time and working with an ensemble.
She graduated from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts in 1991. After college, she and other young performers rented spaces and staged productions while auditioning. That experience helped keep her skills active between jobs.
Her Broadway breakthrough came in the 1995 production of Holiday, alongside Laura Linney and Tony Goldwyn. Raver has credited her university training with preparing her for the demands of professional theatre.
The television roles that built her career
Kim Zambrano in Third Watch
On Third Watch, Raver played paramedic Kim Zambrano. The role placed her in an ensemble following emergency workers in New York, and she spent five years on the drama.
That experience later gave her a particular connection to medical storytelling. Speaking to Boston University, she drew a parallel between filming Third Watch after the September 11 attacks and working on Grey’s Anatomy during the pandemic. Both productions brought fictional emergency workers close to real events affecting their communities.
Audrey Raines in 24
Raver reached another audience as Audrey Raines in 24. The political thriller offered a different setting from emergency services, with Audrey’s story unfolding within its high-pressure world of government and national security.
She later returned to the character in 24: Live Another Day. That return, like her later return to Teddy Altman, gave viewers a chance to reconnect with an established character after time away.
Nico Reilly and other screen work
In Lipstick Jungle, Raver played magazine editor Nico Reilly. Her television credits also include Revolution, Ray Donovan, Bones and The Nine.
Her film work includes Night at the Museum, City Hall and Keep Your Distance. These credits show how her career has moved between ensemble television, feature films and smaller dramatic projects.
Kim Raver as Teddy Altman in Grey’s Anatomy
Raver joined Grey’s Anatomy in season six in 2009. Teddy Altman arrived as a cardiothoracic surgeon with military experience and became an important mentor to Cristina Yang.
As Shondaland’s character retrospective explains, Teddy’s story expanded far beyond that first assignment. Her professional confidence sat alongside grief, difficult relationships and the challenge of making room for her own needs.
Raver left after season eight, returned during season 14 and became a series regular again in season 15. Those separate periods matter: her association with the show covered many years, but it was not one uninterrupted run.
Did Kim Raver leave Grey’s Anatomy in 2026?
Yes. Raver and Kevin McKidd departed in the season 22 finale, broadcast on 7 May 2026. Shondaland announced their exits in March.
Season 22 spoiler: Teddy and Owen’s final storyline brought them back together, with the family preparing to move to Paris for Teddy’s career opportunity. In her farewell interview, Raver welcomed an ending that allowed Teddy’s ambitions and relationship to coexist.
Directing and producing
Raver’s work behind the camera includes Tempting Fate, part of a group of Lifetime adaptations of Jane Green novels that she co-produced with her husband. Boston University highlighted those projects when announcing her as its 2023 CFA convocation speaker.
She also directed episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, beginning in season 19. In her May 2026 Shondaland interview, she credited Debbie Allen with encouraging that move and said she wanted to continue directing. She also discussed developing a female-led project based on book rights she held, without announcing a release date.
Her husband and family
Raver married director Manu Boyer in 2000. According to Us Weekly’s profile, they have two sons: Luke West, born in 2002, and Leo Kipling, born in 2007.
The couple’s creative partnership has included producing films together. That is a separate part of Raver’s life from the complicated relationships viewers have watched Teddy navigate on television.
Common questions about Kim Raver
How old is Kim Raver?
She was born on 15 March 1969 and is 57 as of this article’s publication in October 2026.
Who did she play in 24?
She played Audrey Raines and returned for 24: Live Another Day.
Was Kim Raver on Sesame Street?
Yes. Her childhood television work included Sesame Street, before her theatre training and adult screen career.
Is Kim Raver a director?
Yes. Her directing credits include Tempting Fate and episodes of Grey’s Anatomy.
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Featured image: archival photograph of Kim Raver at the 2008 Lipstick Jungle premiere by Christopher Peterson / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0. Cropped and adapted with an AI-assisted decorative frame by The Luxury News.
