Grey's Anatomy has released a poignant tribute to the late actor Eric Dane and his beloved character, Dr. Mark Sloan, through an emotional montage set to the show's unofficial theme song, "Chasing Cars." The 65-second video honors Dane, who passed away last week at age 53 after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive motor neurone disease.
A Legacy on Screen
Eric Dane first appeared as the charming plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan, nicknamed McSteamy, in the second season of ABC's long-running medical drama. He quickly became a main cast member in the third season and remained a fixture on the show until a dramatic plane crash storyline at the end of season nine left multiple hospital staff members injured.
Although Dr. Sloan initially appeared to survive the crash, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries in the season nine premiere. Despite his character's death, Dane made several later appearances on Grey's Anatomy through flashbacks and hallucination sequences, maintaining his connection to the series.
The Tribute Montage
The tribute video showcases Dr. Sloan's evolution throughout the series, from his early days as a notorious ladies' man to his later role as a devoted father. Set to Tommee Profitt & Fleuries' cover of Snow Patrol's emotional ballad "Chasing Cars," the montage concludes with Dr. Sloan's poignant deathbed advice: "If you love someone, you tell 'em, even if you're scared that it's not the right thing. Even if you're scared that it will burn your life to the ground, you say it. You say it loud."
Cast Members Remember
Patrick Dempsey, who played Dr. Derek Shepherd (McDreamy to Sloan's McSteamy), shared heartfelt memories of his co-star during an appearance on Chris Evans' Virgin Radio show. "It's hard to put into words," Dempsey said. "I feel really so sad for his children."
Dempsey revealed he had been in contact with Dane shortly before his passing, noting the actor's rapid decline. "I was corresponding with him, we were texting, so I spoke to him about a week ago, and some friends of ours went in to see him and he was really starting to lose his ability to speak. He was bedridden, and it was very hard for him to swallow, so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly."
Remembering Dane's vibrant personality, Dempsey added: "He was the funniest man - he was such a joy to work with - and I want to just remember him in that spirit, because any time he was on set, he brought so much fun to it. He had a great sense of humour."
Industry Tributes
Dane's Grey's Anatomy cast mates joined numerous industry figures in paying tribute to the actor following his death. The actor had publicly shared his ALS diagnosis less than a year before his passing, bringing attention to the devastating disease that ultimately claimed his life.
The emotional tribute montage serves as both a celebration of Eric Dane's contribution to Grey's Anatomy and a touching farewell to the actor who brought Dr. Mark Sloan to life for millions of viewers worldwide.
