Grey’s Anatomy‘s newest episode paid tribute to Eric Dane after his death at 53.
The hit ABC series returned on Thursday, February 26, and featured a montage at the end of the episode that highlighted Dane’s best moments as Mark Sloan (a.k.a. McSteamy) through the years. Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” played in the background with a message that read, “In loving memory.”
News broke on February 19 that Dane died after a battle with ALS, which is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and has no cure. The day of Dane’s death also marked 20 years since he made his debut on Grey’s.
After the medical drama premiered in 2005, Dane joined in season 2 in an episode titled “Yesterday,” which followed Dr. Sloan’s arrival at Seattle Grace that forced Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Addison (Kate Walsh) to confront their past. Despite only being in one episode that season, Dane’s screen time was increased, and he remained on the show until 2012.
Dane later reflected on how his struggles off screen contributed to his character being killed off.
“I think I was let go,” Dane said on an episode of the “Armchair Expert” podcast in 2024 about how he was dealing with addiction issues at the time. Dane clarified that the show’s producers “didn’t” let him go specifically because of that.
“Although it definitely didn’t help. I was starting to become — as most of these actors who have spent significant time on a show, you start to become very expensive for the network,” he explained about his experience before entering a treatment center in 2011. “And the network knows that the show is going to do what it’s going to do irrespective of who they keep on it. As long as they have their Grey, they’re fine.”
Dane added: “I wasn’t the same guy they had hired. So I understood when I was let go. And [executive producer] Shonda [Rhimes] was really great. She protected us fiercely. She protected us publicly. She protected us privately. … But I was probably fired. It wasn’t ceremoniously like, ‘You’re fired,’ it was just like, ‘You’re not coming back.’”
Dane announced in April 2025 that he was diagnosed with ALS. Following his death, Rhimes, 56, released a statement reflecting on Dane’s legacy.
“Eric Dane was a beloved member of the Shondaland and Grey’s Anatomy families,” Rhimes said in a statement on February 19. “He was truly a gifted actor whose portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan left an indelible mark on the series and on audiences around the world.”
She continued: “We are grateful for the artistry, spirit, friendship and humanity he shared with us for so many years. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, and all who were touched by his work.”
Grey’s Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Hulu.
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