The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of Eric Dane, best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan on the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Dane passed away last week at the age of 53 following a battle with ALS, a diagnosis he received in April 2025. Among the outpouring of grief from colleagues and fans, Katherine Heigl, who shared several seasons with Dane on the series, offered a particularly poignant tribute.
Heigl shared her emotional response via Instagram on Sunday, , acknowledging her discomfort with public displays of grief. “I debated this post for days,” she wrote. “I have never been comfortable grieving publicly. I share my tears, my stories and my memories with those I’m closest to and more times than not I share them only with the heavens alone. But that silence can often look like a lack of care which I could not abide here.”
Her message extended directly to Dane’s ex-wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their daughters, Billie and Georgia, expressing the inadequacy of conventional condolences. “Rebecca, Billie, Georgia… There is so little, if in fact anything, one can say about a tragic loss like yours. All the ‘I’m sorries’ and ‘my prayers are with you’ ring a bit hollow in the midst of so much pain and grief.”
Instead of platitudes, Heigl turned to poetry, sharing lines from Robert Frost’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” a poem she has personally connected with for years – so much so that it’s tattooed on her body in her parents’ handwriting. She recited the poem’s opening verses: “Nature’s first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, so Dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.”
Heigl’s choice of Frost’s poem speaks to a broader theme of appreciating fleeting beauty and accepting the inevitability of loss. It’s a sentiment that clearly resonated with her experience of working with and knowing Dane. “I will never forget Eric’s gold and I will forever be grateful I got to bask in it for even a brief moment in time,” she concluded. “Thank you for sharing him with us. God Speed my old friend…here’s to your next great adventure.”
Dane’s passing has prompted an outpouring of remembrance from his Grey’s Anatomy co-stars. Patrick Dempsey, who played Dr. Derek Shepherd, recently shared details about Dane’s final days, revealing the rapid deterioration of his condition. “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,” Dempsey said on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show. “He was bedridden, and it was very hard for him to swallow. So the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly.”
The actor’s battle with ALS, though brief, brought attention to the devastating disease. Dempsey noted Dane’s bravery in raising awareness during his final months. “He did an incredible job at bringing awareness to this horrible disease in those remaining days, which was really brave of him to do, and it just reminds us that we all have to celebrate every day like it’s our last day.”
Shonda Rhimes, the creator and showrunner of Grey’s Anatomy, also issued a statement praising Dane’s talent and impact. “Eric was truly a gifted actor whose portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan left an indelible mark on the series and on audiences around the world,” Rhimes wrote in a social media post. “We are grateful for the artistry, spirit, friendship and humanity he shared with us for so many years. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, and all who were touched by his work.”
Kate Walsh, another prominent cast member from Grey’s Anatomy, shared a personal anecdote recalling her first scene with Dane on the show. “I literally remember my very first scene with Eric…an elevator scene at Seattle Greys,” she posted on Instagram, alongside a collection of photos from the set. “So, so long ago. I believe it was his first scene on the show too and he was nervous. He was so handsome and I thought ‘but can this guy act?’ and of course he could, and did, and the rest is history.”
Eric Dane’s legacy extends beyond his memorable portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan. His colleagues’ tributes underscore not only his professional talent but also the warmth and genuine connection he fostered with those around him. His brief but impactful fight against ALS has also served as a poignant reminder of the importance of cherishing every moment and supporting research into this challenging disease.
