After all these years Eric Dane; otherwise known as Doctor McSteamy, reconsiders why he was “let go” from the Popular TV series “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Eric Dane, became a staple of the show from his first appearance in season two. Known for his charm, good looks, and complex relationships, McSteamy quickly became a fan favorite, bringing a mix of humor and depth to the series.
Mark Sloan was introduced as the best friend of Dr. Derek Shepherd, with a complicated backstory that included an affair with Derek’s wife, Addison. TOne of the most significant aspects of McSteamy’s character was his relationship with Dr. Lexie Grey. Their romance engaged viewers. This relationship allowed Mark to evolve from a playboy to a committed partner.
Dane’s portrayal of Mark Sloan also involved a dynamic presence in surgical storylines. As a talented plastic surgeon, McSteamy contributed to many of the show’s medical cases. His professional rivalry and eventual friendship with other doctors added more dimension to his character, making him a major part of the hospital’s social scene.
Dane was on the show for more than six seasons prior to being killed off in the season nine premiere, in 2012. As of late, the actor believes he was fired from the prime time show.
The actor was a guest on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast and said “I didn’t leave, so much as, I think I was let go.” At the time, Dane had a substance abuse problem, but says that wasn’t the reason for his departure.
“They didn’t let me go because of that, although it definitely didn’t help,” the 51-year-old carried on. “I was starting to become—as most of these actors who have spent significant time on a show—you start to become very expensive for the network. And the network knows that the show is going to do what it’s going to do, irrespective of who they keep on it. As long as they have their [Meredith] Grey, they’re fine.”
Dane said, “I wasn’t the same guy they had hired. So I had understood when I was let go.”
The actor checked himself into rehab in July 2011, this was right before season eight was starting. Dane’s last full season. His rep said that he was going to treatment because he was addicted to a pain medicine that was prescribed for a sports injury.
In the interview, Dane talked about being sober for the early years of the show. However, in 2007, he relapsed during the Writers Guild strike.
“If you take the whole eight years on “Grey’s Anatomy”, I was f–ked up longer than I was sober, and that’s when things started going sideways for me.”
After Grey’s Anatomy, Dane starred in “The Last Ship”, where he took on the role of Captain Tom Chandler. He played Cal Jacobs on “Euphoria” (HBO). Most recently, he is starring in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” with Martin Lawrence and Will Smith. The movie is currently in theaters.