Hollywood is mourning the loss of Eric Dane, who died at the age of 53 following a battle with ALS. The actor, best known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy, Euphoria and The Last Ship, had publicly revealed in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with the rare degenerative disease. Following news of his death, several colleagues and friends from the industry shared tributes remembering him.
Dane became widely popular for playing plastic surgeon Mark Sloan, also known as McSteamy, on Grey’s Anatomy. He later portrayed Cal Jacobs in Euphoria and commanding officer Tom Chandler in The Last Ship.
His Grey’s Anatomy co-star Kevin McKidd, who played Dr Owen Hunt, wrote on his Instagram Story, “Rest in Peace Buddy.” James Pickens Jr, who played Dr Richard Webber on the show, shared, “Rest in Peace.” Sarah Drew also posted a similar message on her Instagram Story.
Alyssa Milano, who worked with Dane on Charmed, shared a longer tribute: “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,” Milano continued.
Nina Dobrev, who appeared alongside Dane in the 2022 film Redeeming Love, wrote, “Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Eric. He was warm, generous, prepared, and so passionate about what he did. He led with kindness and made everyone on our set feel seen. ALS is a cruel and unforgiving disease. May his memory inspire more research, awareness, and progress toward a cure. He will be deeply missed. Sending love and heartfelt condolensces to his family.”
Take a look at the tributes:
Dane joined Grey’s Anatomy midway through its second season, a series created by Shonda Rhimes, and quickly became a central character. His portrayal of Mark Sloan made him a fan favourite.
Dane also appeared in films such as X-Men: The Last Stand and Marley & Me. Over the years, he built a diverse career across both television and cinema.
