Grey’s Anatomy has paid a moving tribute to Eric Dane, the actor best known for his role as Dr Mark Sloan, following his death at the age of 53, per unilad.com. Dane passed away on February 19 after a year-long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The long-running medical drama, currently in its 22nd season, dedicated its latest episode to the late star. The tribute featured a 60-second montage of Sloan’s most iconic moments, tracking his evolution from the confident “McSteamy,” first seen in his famous towel scene to a devoted father.
The coda was soundtracked by Tommee Profitt and Fleurie’s cover of Chasing Cars, a song synonymous with the show’s most poignant milestones. The clip included Sloan’s poignant advice to Meredith Grey: “If you love someone, you tell them… don’t waste a single second.”
Dane joined the cast in season two as a guest star, but his popularity led to a permanent role the following year. Though his character died in season nine following a plane crash, Dane made a brief, celebrated return during a beach sequence in 2021.
Former co-star Chyler Leigh, who played Sloan’s primary love interest, Lexie Grey, described the news as “devastating”. “Eric had a heart of gold,” she said in a statement. “His humour and his laugh were infectious. He was an amazing father and loved his girls fiercely.”
Patrick Dempsey, who played Dr Derek Shepherd, also shared his grief, revealing he had hoped to cast Dane as his brother in his upcoming series, “Memory of a Killer”.
Dane, who recently starred in Euphoria, is survived by his estranged wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters, Billie and Georgia.
