Grey’s Anatomy Alum Chyler Leigh Reacts to Eric Dane’s Death

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Chyler Leigh is remembering her time with Eric Dane.

The actress from Grey’s Anatomy, who played a romantic partner to the actor on the popular ABC series, recently shared her experiences working with him after his death on February 19th. He was 53 years old.

Chyler shared with TopMob News that the past two days have been incredibly difficult. She expressed disbelief that she’d ever find herself speaking about someone in the past tense, saying, ‘And I hate that I am.’

She continued, describing Eric as a truly kind person. His humor, and especially his laugh, were contagious. He was also very intelligent, capable of having deep, thoughtful conversations for hours, even during work. Above all, he was a devoted father who loved his daughters with incredible intensity, and he poured that same passion into his work and the causes he cared about.

The actor, who had two children – 15-year-old Billie and 14-year-old Georgia – with his soon-to-be ex-wife Rebecca Gayheart, passed away almost a year after revealing he had ALS. Chyler highlighted that his work and memory will continue to inspire.

She went on, “The Universe is now embracing Eric, and I will carry him in my heart always.”

Chyler Leigh, who starred as Lexie Grey alongside Eric Dane’s Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy, isn’t the only cast member remembering the actor. Patrick Dempsey, who played Derek Shepherd, also shared his reaction to the sad news of Eric Dane’s passing.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve learned that even the most positive people have moments of deep sadness, and I definitely felt that this morning when I heard the news. It’s truly heartbreaking, especially when you think about the children involved. I actually had been texting with him recently – we were chatting just about a week ago, so it feels very personal and raw.

In that time, Patrick learned how much Eric’s ALS had progressed.

He explained that some friends had visited him and found his health declining quickly. He was losing his ability to speak, was confined to bed, and had difficulty swallowing, significantly impacting his quality of life.

Patrick also reflected on working with Eric on Grey’s,

Patrick described him as the funniest person he knew. He was a delight to work with, and Patrick wanted to remember him that way – as someone who always brought fun to the set. They clicked immediately and had a great working relationship. Patrick recalled one particularly memorable moment: the man’s first scene involved him playfully strutting out of the bathroom with a towel, looking fantastic, which hilariously made Patrick feel self-conscious about his own appearance.

The close, friendly relationship shown on screen between Dr. Derek Shepherd and Dr. Mark Sloan soon developed into a genuine connection in real life.

We connected instantly because we didn’t see each other as rivals; it was a genuine and respectful connection. He was incredibly bright, and I’ll always cherish the fun times we shared. It’s a real loss for those of us left behind, as he brought so much happiness to others.

For a look at how more stars reacted to Eric’s death, read on…

The Euphoria actress posted a clip from Eric’s Netflix special, Famous Last Words, and wrote, “Forever will love you.”

Shonda Rhimes shared a heartfelt message on February 20th, remembering Eric Dane as a cherished part of the Shondaland and Grey’s Anatomy teams. She praised his talent as an actor, noting that his performance as Dr. Mark Sloan had a lasting impact on the show and its viewers. Rhimes expressed gratitude for his artistry, kindness, and friendship over the years, and extended her condolences to his family, friends, and fans.

The Grey’s Anatomy alum remembered his former costar during an appearance on Virgin Radio UK. 

Patrick fondly remembered him as the funniest person he knew. He described working with him as a pure joy, and wanted to cherish those happy memories. Whenever he was on set, he brought a playful energy and had a wonderful sense of humor. They clicked immediately and were easy to work with. Patrick recalled one particularly memorable moment: his first scene involved him emerging from the bathroom looking fantastic with a towel around him, which playfully made Patrick feel self-conscious about his own appearance.

As a long-time observer of the entertainment industry, I was really touched to hear how the team behind Grey’s Anatomy brought back Eric for a Season 19 episode. The showrunner shared that it was a special effort during the pandemic to honor his incredible legacy, and seeing them with the amazing Debbie Allen really highlighted the close-knit family feel of that show.

In an Instagram post, she remembered calling Eric, who picked up right away. She asked him to return to work, acknowledging the difficulties of filming during a pandemic, but explained they would shoot outdoors and maintain social distancing because ‘the world needs joy, and Mark and Lexie are joy.’ He simply asked for the details. When she arrived on set, he excitedly said they were going to ignore the rules and hug. She shared that she’ll always remember his amazing hugs, adding, ‘Oh my friend. I wish you peace.’

The White Lotus actress shared the news of Eric’s passing on her Instagram Story, accompanied by a sad face and a broken heart emoji.

Eric’s co-star from Euphoria, who played his wife on the show, posted a touching selfie of them together on her Instagram, along with the message, “RIP MR. DANE.”

Kim, who had a romantic connection with Eric on Grey’s Anatomy, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. She described Eric as a radiant person, both on and off screen, noting his warmth towards his family. She fondly remembered his playful spirit and impeccable comedic timing during filming, saying he could deliver a line with such perfect timing it would leave you speechless. She ended by saying he would be deeply missed.

Although the actress didn’t work with Eric on Grey’s Anatomy, she fondly remembered him in a tribute, saying she passes his character’s name on set every week.

In an Instagram post on February 20th, she stated that Eric’s influence on the show and its viewers was undeniable. She described him as a remarkably talented person who will be deeply missed, and shared her condolences with his family.

The actor from I, Tonya, who appeared with Eric in the 2023 movie Americana, shared memories of his friendship with the Grey’s Anatomy actor.

Paul shared on Instagram that the band worked hard to find performances, cope with difficulties, and avoid substance use. He also expressed happiness that they had the chance to perform together in the band Americana.

He expressed his love, saying, “I love you.” He also wished they had more time together and encouraged them to find comfort in God’s love, promising to meet them again.

The journalist shared she was “heartbroken” by the “devastating news” of Eric’s death.

She praised his bravery in facing his ALS diagnosis, noting how he used his platform to share his experiences with the disease on X.

Regarding his upcoming memoir, which her publishing company will release, she said he wanted to express his love for his family and create a legacy they could cherish.

The actress from Cruel Intentions, who starred alongside Dane in the 1990s series Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane, shared her sympathy by posting a tribute to him on Instagram. She wrote, “I love you. And yours.”

Actor from That ’70s Show shared fond memories of playing Fantasy Football with Eric Dane, posting on X, “The Franklin strip fanatics Fantasy Football league will truly miss Eric. We know you’ll be cheering us on, and we’re sending our love as you continue to battle ALS. Keep fighting, buddy!”

The creator of Euphoria said he considered his friendship with Eric Dane, who played Cal Jacobs on the show, to be a special blessing, especially after Dane’s recent death. In a statement to Variety, he expressed his deep sadness, calling it an honor to have worked with Eric and describing their friendship as a true gift. He also shared his support for Eric’s family and wished his memory would be a source of comfort.

The Grey’s Anatomy actor announced the passing of a former colleague on his Instagram Story on February 19th, simply writing “Rest in Peace.”

Sarah, who also starred on Grey’s Anatomy with Eric, shared the sad news on her Instagram Story, posting “Rest in peace” along with several crying emojis.

His “Redeeming Love” co-star shared on Instagram that she was deeply saddened to hear of Eric’s death. She remembered him as a warm, generous, and dedicated actor who always led with kindness and made everyone on set feel valued. She posted a photo of them together from the set.

She expressed that ALS is a devastating illness and hoped his memory would encourage further research, greater awareness, and advancements in finding a cure. He will be greatly missed.

The actress from Charmed celebrated her friendship with Eric, who played her romantic partner on the show.

She remembered a playful glint in Eric’s eyes just before he’d say something unexpectedly funny or thought-provoking. He was incredibly witty and loved finding humor in the unexpected, often surprising people with his remarks.

And she credited him with her daring 2003 look.

Alyssa went on to say that he encouraged her to get her short pixie cut and a nose piercing. He was also there with her when she found Lucy, her cherished rescue chihuahua. He playfully called her ‘Milano,’ acting as if it was the most important part of her name.

She concluded, “My heart is with the people who were lucky enough to be his home.”

Kevin McKidd, known for his role on Grey’s Anatomy, posted a tribute to his former costar, Dane DeHaan, on Instagram. He shared a photo of DeHaan with the message, “Rest in peace buddy.”

Former Real Housewives of Atlanta star recalled Eric Dane’s nickname on Grey’s Anatomy, jokingly posting on Instagram, “Oh my goodness, not McSteamy!”

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2026-02-21 19:48