Chyler Leigh has reacted to her former Grey’s Anatomy love interest Eric Dane’s death.
“The last 48 hours have been devastating,” Leigh, 43, told E! News in a Saturday, February 21, statement. “I never thought I would be using the term ‘had or was,’ but here we are. And I hate it. Eric had a heart of gold. His humor and, especially, his laugh was infectious. He was a deeply intelligent man who could carry a philosophical conversation for hours even while we were on set. He was an amazing father and loved his girls FIERCELY. Incredibly passionate about his work and the causes he kept close to his heart.”
She concluded, “The Universe is undoubtedly holding Eric now, just as I will continue to do within my heart forever.”
Us Weekly confirmed on Thursday, February 19, that Dane died at age 53 after a battle with ALS.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” a statement from Dane’s family read. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.”
Dane is survived by his two daughters, whom he shared with Rebecca Gayheart.
“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight,” the family’s statement continued. “He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
Dane starred as plastic surgeon Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy between seasons 2 to 8, most of which time his character was involved in an on-off romance with Leigh’s Lexie Grey. The twosome were killed in a tragic plane crash at the end of season 8 shortly after their romantic reunion.
“That’s a pretty epic way to go,” Leigh exclusively joked to Us Weekly in March 2024 of her Grey’s death. “You get crushed under the fuselage of a plane and then apparently eaten by wolves? But then — think about it — then if I was pooped out, what if Lexie turned into a tree? Do you know what I mean? Now I’m forever part of oxygenating the world.”
She continued at the time, “I will always be incredibly grateful for that character and for that story line. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard from people that are going into the medicine field and that are like, ‘I started just like this and I get to watch Lexi’s journey.’ … I appreciate how it affects fans.”
Dane and Leigh reunited on Grey’s during 2020’s season 17, where Mark and Lexie visited Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) in a dream sequence while she was comatose with coronavirus.
As for Dane, he was equally proud to be a part of the Grey’s Anatomy universe.
“I’m proud of [my career]. All of it got me to where I am today,” Dane recalled in his Famous Last Words interview, which aired on Netflix hours after his death. “There was a ton of experience in there. Life experience, personal, professional. I think when I really tried to be good and approached the craft with a certain amount of effort and focus that I was capable of doing some pretty good work.”
In his final interview, Dane further revealed that working on Grey’s Anatomy helped support his sobriety journey.
“I’m not good with a lot of time on my hands,” Dane said in the posthumously released footage. “I need structure and the show provided a lot of structure for me. When we stopped short for the writers’ strike, I had months off and I found my way back to drugs and alcohol. I knew better because, at that time, I had been sober for about nine years, so I knew better.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Read the full article here
