'Grey's Anatomy' pays tribute to Eric Dane with 'Chasing Cars' montage

Melina Khan, USA TODAYFri, February 27, 2026 at 1:37 PM UTC

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'Grey's Anatomy' pays tribute to Eric Dane with 'Chasing Cars' montage

Dr. Mark Sloan has scrubbed out for the last time.

"Grey's Anatomy" paid tribute to the late Eric Dane, who played Sloan, with a montage at the end of its Feb. 26 episode.

Dane, 53, died on Feb. 19 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the rare degenerative disease known as ALS.

"With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS," a statement from his representative said. "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, who revealed his ALS diagnosis in 2025, played Sloan, a hunky plastic surgeon aptly nicknamed "McSteamy," from 2006 to 2012.

Since Dane's death, "Grey's Anatomy" costars and fans alike have paid homage to the actor and his iconic character. ABC also said in a statement that it was "deeply saddened" by Dane's death.

"His remarkable talent and unforgettable presence on 'Grey’s Anatomy' left a lasting impact on audiences around the world, and his courage and grace during his battle with ALS inspired so many," the network said.

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More: See Eric Dane's iconic moments as Mark Sloan in 'Grey's Anatomy'

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Isaiah Washington (Dr. Preston Burke, Seasons 1-3): The quiet but intense cardiothoracic surgeon left fiancée Cristina Yang at the altar in the Season 3 finale. Burke went on to win a prestigious award at another hospital and later ran a private research hospital in Switzerland, which he later turned over to Yang when Oh left at the end of Season 10. He then moved to Italy with his wife and two daughters.

Watch 'Grey's Anatomy' tribute to Eric Dane, Mark Sloan

A montage of Dane on the show aired at the end of the Thursday, Feb. 26 episode of "Grey's Anatomy."

Set to a cover of "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol — a notoriously emotional song on the show — the tribute features some of Sloan's most memorable moments, from his stints without shirts to glimmers of his formative relationships.

It concludes with a clip of Sloan from when he appeared on Meredith Grey's imaginary beach alongside other previously departed cast members in 2021.

"Don't waste one single minute," Dane, as Sloan, says in the final clip. The screen then fades into black-and-white as a message appears: "In loving memory of Eric Dane 1972-2026."

After the show posted the tribute montage on social media, fans shared emotional reactions.

"Boy, that mark sloan tribute video at the end of the episode surely teared me up, perhaps because they played chasing cars," one person wrote on X.

"Thank you Eric for your dedication to your art. Thank you Greys for honoring," another said.

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Grey's Anatomy' tribute for Eric Dane airs during weekly episode

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