Beloved actor Eric Dane, known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” passed away on Feb. 19, after nearly a year-long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Dane was diagnosed in April 2025 and fought until the very end, continuing his work by filming scenes for Season 3 of HBO Max’s “Euphoria” in late 2025.
Dane’s most iconic role was as Mark, also known as “McSteamy,” in “Grey’s Anatomy.” Mark’s death after battling complications from a plane crash will hit harder than ever for fans rewatching the show. His most famous storyline involved a romance with Lexi Grey, protagonist Meredith Grey’s little sister, who also dies in the same crash that left Mark injured. The hospital changes its name to the current “Grey Sloan Memorial,” honoring the two. Now we are always reminded of the beloved Mark, and with him we are reminded of Dane. Interestingly, fans have pointed out that Dane’s date of passing marks exactly 20 years since he premiered on “Grey’s Anatomy” on Feb. 19, 2006.
Dane’s co-stars Patrick Dempsey and Kate Walsh posted Instagram tributes for their late friend. Dempsey said, “The world was a better place because of you,” and Walsh called Dane a source of support and love.
In his final few months, Dane became an advocate to help find a cure for ALS. In Dec. 2025, he joined the Board of Directors for Target ALS, a nonprofit aimed toward research to find effective treatments for the disease.
“This disease takes something from me every day, but I won’t let it take my spirit,” Dane said. “Target ALS embodies that relentless spirit, and that’s why I’m joining the board.”
Immediately following his passing, Netflix released an interview with the late actor in an episode of “Famous Last Words,” where he highlighted the most vulnerable parts of his life to interviewer Brad Falchuk. He talks about everything, from his battle with drugs and alcohol to how laughing is his favorite thing to do.
There was some controversy surrounding the release where people said it was too soon for Netflix to air something of the sort, but the interview had been filmed in Nov. 2025 with the intention of its airing after Dane’s death, which he was aware of.
“It’s kind of cool, I think,” Dane said on the fact that no one would see the interview until after he was gone.
Multiple times during the interview, he said that he was never fond of being vulnerable. This is the most revealing conversation that he had with anybody. He opened up about how he never thought that he was enough or was deserving of a great life. Since his diagnosis, he had realized that he was more than enough and this disease helped him see that. With ALS, all he had left was himself, which made him more open and available to experiencing the truths about himself.
Dane looked back on his biography and his work saying that he was “proud of all of it,” as it got him to where he was at the time of the interview. Though he was an iconic actor with familiar roles, his role as a father was the one that mattered most to him. He called himself a good dad and said that he showed up where it mattered, even if it was hard while he and his wife were separated.
There are roughly 31,000 people in the United States living with ALS, and Dane still couldn’t believe that he was one of them. He never imagined losing his life to such a rapidly progressing disease and wished that he could walk his daughters down the aisle and meet his grandkids. He felt sorry for his daughters, wife and friends, but he did not feel sorry for himself. He said that he had “tons” of regrets, but he had pretty much let go of everything. Even though he wished that he could have done that when he was healthy, he said that it was very freeing.
He thought of himself as a “kind, thoughtful, considerate, empathetic, sensitive, vulnerable – even though afraid to be at times – person who cares a lot.” He said that it was exhausting feeling everything as deeply and intensely as he felt all the time.
Since his diagnosis, he said multiple times that this disease would never take his spirit. He said he had been jealous of people who had the quality in them that makes people want to keep going regardless of what’s happening, as he never had that himself.
“There’s no reason for me to be happy in any individual moment, but I am,” Dane said.
His spirits have been surprisingly buoyant throughout his health journey, and he has no idea why.
Before the interview wrapped up, leaving everything out there, he humorously denied murdering anyone but said that he had punched a couple of people who deserved it.
He ended the interview with his last words for his daughters. He left them with four things that he had learned from his disease: live now, find a passion, choose your friends wisely and fight – never give up.
“You are my heart, you are my everything. Goodnight, I love you. Those are my last words,” Dane said.
Following his passing, his family’s GoFundMe has raised over $450,000, helping to pay Dane’s heavy medical bills. During his final interview, Dane said that ALS research is fueled by money. If there were unlimited funds, a solution would be found relatively quickly. Target ALS said that they will carry their work forward in Dane’s honor and in honor of many who came before him.
Thank you, Dane. You’ve been a great inspiration, and you have shown the world what it means to fight until the very end.
