Eric Dane Addresses Being “Let Go” From Grey’s Anatomy
Dr. Mark Sloan was one of the heartthrobs on “Grey’s Anatomy” during its heyday. Played by Eric Dane, this charismatic cosmetic surgeon first appeared at the end of the second season. He quickly became a permanent fixture at Seattle Grace Hospital. Nicknamed McSteamy, he was the “rival” of Dr. Derek Shepherd, a.k.a. McDreamy, for six memorable seasons.
A Not-So-Glamorous McSteamy
Eric Dane left the show early in its ninth season in 2012, following the tragic plane crash that also took the life of his love interest, Lexie. Many fans assumed the departure was a voluntary, personal decision, but Dane now suggests otherwise. He believes he was subtly fired due to financial constraints and his struggles with addiction.
On Dax Shepard’s podcast, “Armchair Expert,” Dane revealed that when he joined “Grey’s Anatomy,” he had been sober for three or four years. However, his sudden spike in popularity thrust him into a whirlwind that led to his relapse. “It was overwhelming, and I think I just wanted to pretend that it wasn’t the case and that I was comfortable with it all,” the actor admitted. “Over the course of those eight years on Grey’s Anatomy, I was high more often than sober. That’s when things started to go wrong for me.”
Eric Dane’s Departure
Dane candidly discussed his battle with addiction, stating, “I was struggling with these addictions. They didn’t break up with me because of it, although it obviously didn’t help.” According to him, his departure was also financially motivated. “I think they let me go. I was starting to become very expensive for them, and the network knows that the show will continue to make money no matter who they keep. As long as they have their Grey, it’s all good.”
The actor acknowledged he was “not the same guy that they hired,” and understood why he was let go. “Shonda [Rhimes] has been really great. She fiercely protected us privately… But I probably wasn’t fired; it was more like, ‘You’re not coming back.’”
A New Career Path
Despite the turmoil, Eric Dane has successfully rebooted his career post-Grey’s Anatomy. He made a brief return as Mark Sloan for a special appearance in season 17, visiting Meredith Grey in a coma. Professionally, Dane bounced back with a starring role in the series “The Last Ship” for five seasons. More recently, he has been turning heads with his complex portrayal of Cal Jacobs, a man leading a double life, in HBO’s hit series “Euphoria.”
This article first appeared on grazia.fr – Author: Jordane Guignon
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