Grey’s Anatomy marked a significant moment in its latest episode. The series aired a tribute revisiting one of its most memorable characters. The long-running medical drama honored Eric Dane by looking back at Dr. Mark Sloan’s legacy.
Grey’s Anatomy pays tribute to Eric Dane in new episode
Grey’s Anatomy honored Eric Dane in Thursday’s episode, one week after he died on Feb. 19 at age 53. The ABC drama closed the hour with a 60 to 65 second video montage celebrating Dane and his character, Dr. Mark Sloan. The show set the montage to Tommee Profitt and Fleurie’s cover of Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars.
The series associated the song with its storytelling when it used it in the Season 2 finale during Denny Duquette’s death. The show has used different versions of Chasing Cars throughout its run to underscore emotional storylines, including the 400th episode in 2022. The tribute revisited Mark Sloan’s introduction and highlighted key moments from multiple seasons.
Dane first appeared in Season 2 as Mark Sloan, a plastic surgeon and estranged best friend of Derek Shepherd. His affair with Addison Montgomery contributed to Derek and Addison’s separation. He became a series regular in Season 3 and remained until his character died from injuries sustained in a plane crash.
The montage included Mark’s early line to Meredith Grey referring to themselves as the “dirty mistresses.” It also featured his advice to Jackson Avery from his deathbed: “If you love someone, you tell ’em, even if you’re scared that it’s not the right thing. Even if you’re scared that it will burn your life to the ground, you say it. You say it loud.” The hospital later renamed Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in memory of Mark and Lexie Grey.
Doctors diagnosed Dane with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2025. He completed filming Season 3 of Euphoria and portrayed an ALS patient on NBC’s Brilliant Minds. HBO will premiere Euphoria on April 12.
