'Grey's Anatomy' pays tribute to late actor Eric Dane
"Grey’s Anatomy" paid tribute to late actor Eric Dane on Thursday’s episode.
The long-running drama shared a minutelong montage of Dane, who portrayed plastic surgeon Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan for seven seasons, including the iconic scene where Sloan walks out of the bathroom and interrupts Patrick Dempsey’s Dr. Derek Shepherd and Kate Walsh’s Dr. Addison Montgomery.
"Grey’s Anatomy" also shared the memorable collection of scenes, which ended with a recent black-and-white portrait of Dane, in an Instagram reel. The show team captioned the post, “In loving memory of Eric Dane. ❤️”
Dane died on Feb. 19 at the age of 53, less than a year after he went public with the news that he had been diagnosed with the rare neurological condition amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS.
"I'm very hopeful. I'm pretty resilient," Dane told ABC News' Diane Sawyer last June, adding that he was "fighting as much as I can."
After his death, Dane’s friends and colleagues remembered his bright personality and talent.
Dempsey described Dane on a radio show as “the funniest man.”
"He was such a joy to work with. And I just want to remember him in that spirit because anytime he was on set, he brought so much fun to it," Dempsey said. "He had a great sense of humor ... we got along instantly."
Shonda Rhimes, the creator and showrunner of "Grey's Anatomy," also called Dane "a beloved member of the Shondaland and Grey's Anatomy families."
"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," Rhimes wrote on Instagram. "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."
