Eric Dane, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Euphoria’ Star, Dies at 53

Eric Dane, best known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan, also called "McSteamy," on "Grey's Anatomy," and for his complex role as Cal Jacobs on "Euphoria," passed away on February 19. His family shared this news with People Magazine. He was 53 years old.

Eric was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, in 2025.

In a statement, his family said, "With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon after a brave fight with ALS.

 He spent his last days surrounded by close friends, his loving wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world. Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a strong supporter for awareness and research, determined to help others facing the same challenge. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered forever. Eric loved his fans and is forever thankful for the love and support he received. The family has asked for privacy as they go through this difficult time."

Eric was born in San Francisco in 1972.

 He grew up in the Bay Area, going to Sequoia High School in Redwood City and San Mateo High School in San Mateo. After graduating from San Mateo High, he moved to Los Angeles to try acting. In the 90s, he had small roles on TV shows like "Saved by the Bell," "The Wonder Years," "Roseanne," and "Married... with Children." He later got a recurring role as Dr. Wyatt Cooper on "Gideon's Crossing" in 2000. That same year, he made his film debut in "The Basket."

He appeared in several movies in the early 2000s, including "Zoe," "Duncan," "Jack & Jane," "Sol Goode," "Feast," "X-Men: The Last Stand," and "Marley & Me."

 He also starred in "Open Water 2" and played Jason Dean for two seasons on "Charmed" on The WB.

In 2005, he made his first guest appearance as Dr. Mark Sloan on a Season 2 episode of "Grey's Anatomy."

 His character was so popular that he became a regular in the next season and stayed until he was written out in Season 8. Even after that, he appeared in two Season 9 episodes and made a comeback in Season 17 with the episode "Breathe."

ABC and 20th Television, the companies behind "Grey's Anatomy," released a statement: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Eric Dane.

 His amazing talent and unforgettable presence on 'Grey's Anatomy' had a lasting effect on fans worldwide. His courage and grace during his battle with ALS inspired many. Our hearts are with his family, friends, colleagues, and the fans whose lives he touched."

Throughout the 2010s, he was in the A&E movie "Wedding Wars" and the romantic comedy "Valentine's Day.

" He was a main cast member on the TNT series "The Last Ship," which ran from 2014 to 2019.

In 2019, he started playing Cal Jacobs, the secretly bisexual father of Nate Jacobs (played by Jacob Elordi), on HBO's "Euphoria."

 He appeared in 12 episodes across the first two seasons and came back for the third season, which will start in April.

His last performances were in the films "Borderline," "Into the Beautiful," and "Family Secrets," and the TV shows "Wireless," "Countdown," and "Kabul."

After making his ALS diagnosis public, Eric became an advocate for others with the disease, working with I Am ALS on laws and fundraising.

In an interview with the Washington Post, he said, "I have always been open about certain parts of my life.

 This is something I felt like I needed to share with people. I don't really care what people think about me when it comes to this. It's more about, 'How can I help? How can I be useful?'"

He added, "Not to be too dramatic, but if I'm going out, I want to go out helping someone.

"

He is survived by his two daughters.