Tributes continue to pour in for Eric Dane months after his tragic passing, with the latest from his onscreen lover.
Chyler Leigh, who became one of the most beloved onscreen couples with Dane on “Grey’s Anatomy,” recently reflected on their time together. She revealed they had a close bond on and off set.
Eric Dane took his final breath on February 19, 2026, nearly a year after announcing his ALS diagnosis. Following his passing, many of his co-stars have shared touching tributes, honoring his memory.
Chyler Leigh Loved Eric Dane In More Ways Than One
Leigh opened up about her relationship with Dane on the May 14 episode of the “You Might Know Her From” podcast. She began by singing the late actor’s praise, hailing him as “one of the kindest hearts” and someone she “had a deep relationship” with. In her words:
“It was really, really special working with him. I got to know him really well, outside of the McSteamy, Eric Dane outside, so I will always look back fondly.”
“And I watched everything that he was on afterward, because I just loved the man,” Leigh added. Despite their close bond while working together, they hadn’t connected in some time before Dane’s death. The distance made it even harder for Leigh to come to terms with what happened.
The Actress Broke Down After Learning About Her Co-Star’s Passing
Leigh recalled that she had been doing press in Los Angeles when her publicist called her to break the news of Dane’s death. She noted her publicist told her ahead of the public confirmation of Dane’s passing, stating she did not know how to comprehend the news.
The fact that Dane was gone finally sank in during her flight the next day, leaving Leigh in an emotional mess. “I had to keep getting up and going to use the lavatory because I was just sobbing,” Leigh recalled, claiming she never expected the grief to hit her as fast and as hard as it did.
The pain continued when fans honored Dane’s memory with edits of his time on “Grey’s Anatomy,” which naturally included his lovey-dovey scenes with Leigh. At first, the reels broke her heart, but now Leigh could watch them with a sense of gratitude for the time she shared with Dane.
How The Entertainer Initially Reacted To Her Onscreen Lover’s Death
Following Dane’s passing on February 19, Leigh addressed the incident in a statement to E! News. She described her emotions as “devastating,” stressing that she never once thought she would use the words “had or was” when referring to Dane, and hated it.
“Eric had a heart of gold. His humor and, especially, his laugh were infectious,” Leigh shared. She described her former onscreen lover as “a deeply intelligent man who could carry a philosophical conversation for hours.” Leigh also praised him for being “an amazing father.”
According to the actress, Dane loved his two daughters “fiercely,” and was “incredibly passionate about his work and the causes he kept close to his heart.” One of these causes was pushing for awareness and research on ALS following his diagnosis with the neurodegenerative disease.
Katherine Heigl And Shonda Rhimes Honor The Late Actor’s Memory
Leigh wasn’t the only “Grey’s Anatomy” star to share kind words about Dane, with actress Katherine Heigl and the show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes, honoring his memory. The Blast reported in February that Heigl had penned a tribute to Dane on Instagram.
Heigl confessed that she had debated for days about grieving publicly because she wasn’t the type to do so. However, she could not let her silence be mistaken for a lack of care and chose to share her sorrow with the world. Heigl declared that she would never forget Dane or the time they shared.
Rhimes echoed similar sentiments in her Instagram tribute, with The Blast reporting that she had described Dane as “a truly gifted actor.” She acknowledged the impact his role had on the “Grey’s Anatomy” series, adding that she and the cast were grateful for the artistry and friendship he shared with them.
Eric Dane’s ‘Euphoria’ Cast Also Shared Tributes
Although Dane rose to fame for portraying Dr. Mark Sloan, aka McSteamy, on the medical drama series, he also attracted a new generation of fans for his role in “Euphoria.” He played Cal Jacobs in the HBO drama series, the onscreen father of Jacob Elrodi’s character.
The Blast shared that his co-stars had honored his memory with heartfelt tributes, with Sydney Sweeney being among the first to react to his death. She shared a video of Dane on her Instagram Stories alongside a declaration of her eternal love.
The show’s creator, Sam Levinson, issued a statement about Dane’s passing. He claimed he was heartbroken by the loss and raved about what an honor it was to work with Dane. A spokesperson for HBO echoed similar sentiments, noting they were all “deeply saddened” by Dane’s death.
Rest in peace, Eric Dane.