Who is Elizabeth Finch? Everything to know about Grey’s Anatomy writer who faked cancer
Elizabeth Finch is an American television writer and producer who gained attention for her work on popular shows like Grey’s Anatomy. Her inventiveness helped her become well-known in Hollywood, but her reputation suffered when it was discovered that she had created false stories.
Finch came clean in 2022 about several aspects of her life, including cancer and other health issues, having lied about many things. Her lies startled many in the entertainment industry, which brought about her eventual downfall.
Finch’s biggest connection to mainstream television came from her time while writing for Grey’s Anatomy. She crafted emotionally charged episodes, many of which she claimed were based on her personal battles with a rare form of bone cancer.
Her work gained widespread praise, but it was later revealed that her stories were lies. Those have been further explored in the 2024 docuseries Anatomy of Lies, which delves into Finch’s life and deception. Anatomy of Lies released on Peacock in October 2024.
Disney investigated Finch's false narratives, which resulted in her Grey's Anatomy resignation. Learning the truth, the news stunned her former colleagues and supporters. The story of Elizabeth Finch serves as a sobering reminder of the extent some would go to keep success and control in the cutthroat entertainment business.
Elizabeth Finch’s rise in television writing
Elizabeth Finch got her start in the entertainment business because she loved telling stories. She was born and raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. From a young age, she was gifted and wrote scripts for high school theater.
She went to the University of Southern California and subsequently started working as a junior writer on True Blood, following her dream. Early work on TV shows like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries helped portray herself as a competent writer.
Finch’s career took off when she joined Grey’s Anatomy. Her work on the show focused on complex medical and emotional storylines. She wrote episodes about cancer, abortion and personal trauma in particular, and she said that many of them were based on her own life.
She was even a nurse in a small part of the show, which made her even more connected to the show's themes of healing and strength.
Also Read: 5 key details about Elizabeth Finch's lies
The fabrication of Finch’s illness
In 2012, Elizabeth Finch began sharing details about her alleged struggles with chondrosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer. She claimed that these personal health battles influenced the character of Catherine Fox, played by Debbie Allen, on Grey’s Anatomy.
Finch wrote articles and essays detailing her experiences with chemotherapy, a kidney loss and knee replacement surgery. However, it was later revealed that none of these medical claims were true.
Over the years, Finch used her fabricated illness to gain sympathy and support from her colleagues. She altered her appearance to seem sick and requested accommodations at work, like extended deadlines. These lies went unquestioned for years as Finch continued to create emotional, compelling content for the show.
Andy Reaser, one of Finch's former coworkers, claims that Finch would wrap a scarf around her head to conceal the hair loss she allegedly experienced as a result of chemotherapy treatments.
"It started to really feel I'm going to attend this person's funeral," he says.
This refers to the fact that Finch would excuse herself to go to the bathroom to throw up after receiving treatment. He was fooled by this situation.
The revelation of the lies
The unraveling of Elizabeth Finch’s lies began when her wife, Jennifer Beyer, alerted Finch’s employers about her suspicions. In 2022, an investigation by Disney revealed that Finch had fabricated her entire medical history.
Finch refused to show proof that she was sick or get a medical exam by a doctor who wasn't working for Finch. Because of that, she was put on administrative leave in March 2022 and quit Grey's Anatomy soon after.
Finch’s lies didn't stop at her fake cancer diagnosis. She also falsely claimed that her brother had died by suicide and that she had cleaned up the remains of a friend killed in the Tree of Life synagogue shooting. These fabrications further shocked those who had supported her throughout her career.
Read More: Anatomy of Lies: Everything we know so far
The impact of Finch’s deception
Elizabeth Finch’s lies had significant consequences. Her fabricated stories affected her colleagues, who had trusted and supported her through her alleged battles with illness and trauma.
The extent of her deceit came as a major betrayal to those she worked with in the tight-knit world of television writing. Following the investigation and her resignation, Finch became a pariah in the entertainment industry.
Despite her confession, Finch has expressed a desire to return to the entertainment industry. She admitted to making poor decisions and acknowledged the harm her lies caused. However, rebuilding her reputation in an industry that values trust and authenticity will be a difficult challenge.
Anatomy of Lies: Finch’s downfall
Peacock released Anatomy of Lies in October 2024. It's a three-part documentary series about Elizabeth Finch's career and lying. The show looks into the lies Finch told about her life and medical history, as well as how those lies affected her career and the people who worked with her.
The docuseries shows how Finch's made-up stories got incorporated into Grey's Anatomy and how they ultimately worked against her.
The series also examines the broader implications of Finch’s actions within the entertainment industry, particularly regarding trust and authenticity in storytelling. Anatomy of Lies is available for streaming on Peacock and offers a comprehensive look at the shocking story of Elizabeth Finch.
Elizabeth Finch went from being a celebrated television writer to a disgraced figure in Hollywood. She used made-up stories about being sick and traumatic to move up in the entertainment business, but they eventually brought her down.
Her lies became public when she quit Grey's Anatomy, the investigation into her lies began, and Anatomy of Lies came out.
