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 tip 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 within 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 within 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 a single 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 believe I used to be let go,” Dane said on an episode of the “Armchair Expert” podcast in 2024 about how he was coping with addiction issues on the time. Dane clarified that the show’s producers “didn’t” let him go specifically due to that.
“Even though it definitely didn’t help. I used to be beginning to develop into — as most of those actors who’ve spent significant time on a show, you begin to develop into very expensive for the network,” he explained about his experience before entering a treatment center in 2011. “And the network knows that the show goes to do what it’s going to do regardless of who they carry on it. So long as they’ve their Grey, they’re tremendous.”
Dane added: “I wasn’t the identical guy they’d hired. So I understood after 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 used to be probably fired. It wasn’t ceremoniously like, ‘You’re fired,’ it was similar to, ‘You’re not coming back.’”
Dane announced in April 2025 that he was diagnosed with ALS. Following his death, Rhimes, 56, released an announcement reflecting on Dane’s legacy.
“Eric Dane was a beloved member of the Shondaland and Grey’s Anatomy families,” Rhimes said in an announcement 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 all over the world.”
She continued: “We’re grateful for the artistry, spirit, friendship and humanity he shared with us for therefore a few years. Our hearts are together with his family, family members, and all who were touched by his work.”
Grey’s Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET before streaming the following day on Hulu.