Eric Dane starred as Dr Mark Sloan in Grey’s Anatomy but has died after a long battle with motor neurone disease which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord
Stars of Grey’s Anatomy are leading the heartfelt tributes to their former co-star Eric Dane, following his death on 19 February. The actor died aged 53 after battling motor neurone disease, and was surrounded by friends and family.
Eric’s representatives announced his death the following day and revealed that his “devoted wife” Rebecca and “his two beautiful daughters” Billie and Georgia had been there with him. Before he died he was best known for playing surgeon Mark ‘McSteamy’ Sloan in Grey’s Anatomy and as antagonist Cal Jacobs in Euphoria.
His former Grey’s Anatomy co-star, Kevin McKidd – who still plays trauma specialist Owen Hunt – posted a picture of Eric to social media and said: “Rest in peace, buddy”
READ MORE: Easily missed signs of MND/ALS to watch for after death of Eric DaneREAD MORE: Eric Dane dead: Grey’s Anatomy star’s rare public appearance in one of his final outings
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Meanwhile, Kim Raver, who plays heart surgeon Teddy Altman, posted a photo of her and Eric. In the caption, she wrote that he would be missed.
“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.”
Similar words were written by Sarah Drew, who played April Kepner, who reposted a picture of Eric in Grey’s to her Instagram stories, with the words: “Rest in peace”. James Pickens Jr, who played chief of surgery Richard Webber, did the same.
Eric’s death comes a year after he publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease. He became a passionate advocate for awareness and research for the illness. Just months ago, he gave an interview to Good Morning America, where he said: “I wake up every day and I’m immediately reminded that this is happening… It’s not a dream. I don’t think this is the end of my story… I don’t feel like this is the end of me.”
However, his ill-health often kept him from making public appearances. As such, Eric was unable to attend the Emmys last month. The actor played Mark Sloan between 2006 and 2012, leaving the show after his character died from injuries sustained in a plane crash, though he made a cameo in 2021.
Eric went on to be in Euphoria, where he played Cal, the father of Jacob Elordi’s Nate Jacobs. The third season, which is yet to air, also features the actor and will be one of his last projects.
The showrunner of Euphoria, Sam Levinson, said in a statement: “I’m heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend Eric. Working with him was an honor. Being his friend was a gift. Eric’s family is in our prayers. May his memory be for a blessing.”
The actor had also appeared in a recurring role in Charmed. He starred alongside Alyssa Milano, who shared a picture of Eric and his family to her Instagram. She wrote in the caption: “I can’t stop seeing that spark in Eric’s eye right before he’d say something that would either make you spit out your drink or rethink your entire perspective.
“He had a razor-sharp sense of humor. He loved the absurdity of things. He loved catching people off guard. And when it came to his daughters and Rebecca, everything in him softened.
“He carried them with him even in rooms where they weren’t present. You could see it in the way his voice changed when he said their names. A breathtakingly beautiful family. The spark. The mischief. The tenderness he kept guarded but never totally hidden.”
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