‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Pays Tribute to Eric Dane with Montage of His Most Memorable Moments
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Pays Tribute to Eric Dane with Montage of His Most Memorable Moments
Grace GalanteFri, February 27, 2026 at 3:59 AM UTC
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(Photo by Eric McCandless on Getty Images)
Grey's Anatomy is honoring Eric Dane.
At the close of the Thursday, Feb. 26 episode, titled “(If You Want It) Do It Yourself,” the long-running medical drama honored Dane with a one-minute montage of his most memorable moments, set to Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars.”
Dane starred as plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan, better known as “McSteamy,” from 2006 to 2012. He later returned for a guest appearance in 2021 for dream sequence alongside his onscreen love interest, Dr. Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh).
The tribute opens with Sloan introducing himself to Dr. Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) before moving through a series of his most iconic scenes.
It closes with two of the character’s most poignant lines, including the speech he delivers from his hospital bed shortly before his death: "If you love someone, you tell them. Even if you're scared that it's not the right thing. Even if you're scared that it'll cause problems. Even if you're scared that it will burn your life to the ground, you say it, and you say it loud."
The montage ends with Sloan saying “don’t waste one single minute,” followed by a title card reading, “In loving memory of Eric Dane, 1972–2026.”
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Dane died at the age of 53 on Thursday, Feb. 19—exactly 20 years after his first appearance on Grey's—following a battle with ALS, according a statement from his representative shared with Parade.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” the statement read. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.”
“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight,” the statement continued. “He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
ABC and 20th Television also paid tribute to Dane in an earlier tribute posted to Instagram last week.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Eric Dane. His remarkable talent and unforgettable presence on Grey's Anatomy left a lasting impact on audiences around the world, and his courage and grace during his battle with ALS inspired so many," the post read. "Our hearts are with his family, friends, and colleagues, as well as the many fans whose lives were touched by his work."
Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Episodes are available next day on Hulu.
RELATED: Patrick Dempsey Called Eric Dane ‘Incredibly Courageous’ Just Weeks Before His Death (Exclusive)
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
