Grey’s Anatomy lost one of its own today. Eric Dane, one of the venerable ABC medical drama’s most popular cast members, died Feb. 19 at the age of 53 after battle with ALS.
The series is expected to pay tribute to the actor in the upcoming episode next week when Grey’s returns after a break.
Introduced as a guest star in Season 2, Dane became a series regular the following season, playing the beloved character of Mark Sloan aka “McSteamy.” He remained on the show until the Season 9 premiere when Mark, along with Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), died as a result of the plane crash in the Season 8 finale. The characters’ presence has remained on the show, as Seattle Grace Mercy West was subsequently renamed Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in their memory.
Longtime Grey’s cast member Kim Raver, who spent three seasons on the show with Dane, remembered the late actor on Instagram.
“Eric was a light,” she wrote next to an episodic image of the two of them on Grey’s and a red carpet photo of her, Dane and his wife Rebecca Gayheart. “You’d see it effortlessly shine from him on the set of Grey’s as well as when he was with Rebecca and the girls. During filming he’d get this twinkle in his eye and with a mischievous look, he would deliver with perfect comedic timing, a line of dialogue that would floor you! You will be missed.”
Fellow veteran Grey’s Anatomy cast member Kevin McKidd, who co-starred alongside Dane for four seasons, posted a photo of Dane from his time on the show with the caption, “Rest In Peace Buddy…”
Similarly, original cast member Jeremy Pickens Jr., who was on Grey’s for Dane’s entire tenure, posted a tribute photo with the message “Rest In Peace.”
Another OG Grey’s star, Patrick Dempsey, opted to honor his former colleague by posting a clip from Dane’s September video in support of ALS research, in which he says, “I’m Eric. An actor, a father and now a person living with ALS.”
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Eric Dane,” ABC and series producer 20th Television said in a joint statement Thursday night. “His remarkable talent and unforgettable presence on Grey’s Anatomy left a lasting impact on audiences around the world, and his courage and grace during his battle with ALS inspired so many. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and colleagues, as well as the many fans whose lives were touched by his work.”
Dane and Leigh returned during the pandemic-themed 2020-21 season as part of the beach-themed dream sequences while Covid-stricken Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) was in a coma. Fittingly, it was Mark and Meredith’s sister Lexie who ultimately convinced her to fight and choose life, with her coming out of the coma shortly thereafter.
In a touching moment from Dane’s 2021 return to Grey’s Anatomy, Mark addresses in one scene what he misses about being alive and he mentions his daughter Sofia, sharing that he talks to her all the time.
In an interview with Deadline about his guest appearance, Dane, himself the father of two young daughters, elaborated on Mark’s conversations with his daughter from beyond. “Whether she’s listening to me or not, you always have somebody looking over you,” he said.
