KEVIN McKIDD JOINS THE CAST OF ABC'S "GREY'S ANATOMY"

Actor Kevin McKidd ("Rome," "Journeyman") has joined the cast of ABC's popular drama "Grey's Anatomy." McKidd first appeared as Major Owen Hunt in this season's premiere episode of "Grey's Anatomy," titled "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Hunt has joined the staff of Seattle Grace Hospital as the head of trauma surgery, after serving as a top military field surgeon in Iraq.

An established star of film, television and theatre, the Scottish actor has made a name for himself playing such varied roles as a doomed drug addict in "Trainspotting," a brooding Caesar-era soldier in HBO's "Rome" and a time-traveling journalist in last year's NBC drama, "Journeyman." McKidd recently co-starred alongside his "Grey's Anatomy" co-star, Patrick Dempsey, and Michelle Monaghan in the 2008 film romantic comedy, "Made of Honor."

McKidd has wrapped production on "Bunraku," starring alongside Josh Harnett, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson and Ron Perlman. In the drama he plays a virulent criminal who terrorizes a town. Other film credits include "Hannibal Rising," "Kingdom of Heaven," "De-Lovely" and "Sixteen Years of Alcohol," for which he was nominated for Best Actor at the British Independent Film Awards.

Born and raised in Scotland, McKidd was a member of the Moray Youth Theatre. He became involved in the Bedlam Theatre Company while he was a student at the University of Edinburgh, and it was there that he decided to pursue acting full-time, landing his first leading role in the Wild Cat Theatre Company-produced stage play, "The Silver Darlings," for which he won the Gulliver Award.

McKidd currently resides in Los Angeles with his family.

"Grey's Anatomy" stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, Katherine Heigl as Isobel "Izzie" Stevens, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, T.R. Knight as George O'Malley, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres, Eric Dane as Mark Sloan, Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey and Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt.

"Grey's Anatomy" was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes ("Introducing Dorothy Dandridge"). Betsy Beers ("Casanova"), Mark Gordon ("Saving Private Ryan"), Krista Vernoff ("Law & Order"), Rob Corn ("Chicago Hope"), Mark Wilding ("Jake: 2.0") and Allan Heinberg ("The O.C.") are executive producers. "Grey's Anatomy" is an ABC Studios production.