Grey’s Anatomy fans have been left utterly heartbroken at the one-minute montage paying homage to the late Eric Dane at the end of the latest episode.
On Thursday, February 26, season 22 episode 11 of the long-running ABC medical drama – titled (If You Want It) Do It Yourself – aired a tearjerking tribute to Dr Mark ‘McSteamy’ Sloane, portrayed by the late Dane across seven seasons.
The actor died last week at the age of 53, less than a year after he publicly announced he had been diagnosed with the motor neurone disease known as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
His death prompted tributes from across Hollywood and several of his Grey’s Anatomy co-stars, such as Patrick Dempsey, Kim Raver and creator Shonda Rhimes.
The TV tribute, included at the end of last night’s episode, included a montage of some of McSteamy’s most memorable scenes and moments, including his relationship with Lexie Grey.
Set to the backing track of Tommee Profitt & Fleuries’ cover of Chasing Cars, the video ended with his character poignantly saying: ‘Don’t waste one single minute’.
Chasing Cars has been regularly used in the soundtrack of the show during the series’s most emotional moments, making it a fitting choice.
The official Grey’s Anatomy account then shared the clip to social media with the caption: ‘In loving memory of Eric Dane’.
Fans have been moved to tears by the surprise tribute.
‘I can’t take it, this song, all these unforgettable moments, our McSteamy, you will be forever missed Eric,’ SarahB wrote on X.
‘Grey’s Anatomy held a special place in my heart for years…. McSteamy and Lexie in particular. Watching Eric grow as an actor and then become a disability advocate was inspiring, and I’m grateful the show took the time to honour him,’ Kelly added.
‘I am completely shattered,’ tivaswiftie shared.
‘Shattered me this,’ swinconnor agreed.
‘“If you love someone, you tell them, even if you’re scared that it’s not the right thing. Even if you’re scared that it’ll burn your life to the ground, you say it and you say it loud.”
‘RIP, Eric Dane. Thank you for all of the memories. McSteamy forever,’ MaxJGao posted.
What is ALS?
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a form of motor neurone disease and operates as a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord – according to the ALS association website.
Symptoms of ALS often include:
- muscle twitching
- weakness in an arm or leg
- trouble swallowing
- slurred speech
- Untimely crying, laughing or yawning
- Thinking or behavioral changes
According to the Mayo Clinic website, eventually ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe.
At current, there is no known cure for this fatal disease.
In an interview with Metro, Dempsey revealed that he had been attempting to have Dane play his brother in his new Amazon Prime thriller, A Memory of Killer.
He shared: ‘His agent had reached out, and we were trying to make it work. But it’s just so shocking how rapidly the disease progressed.’
Then continued: ‘He was a remarkable actor and a remarkable man to work with, and he is deeply missed. I wish his family the best, and I’m glad he left such a remarkable legacy.’
Dane’s most recent project was as an ALS patient on NBC’s Brilliant Minds, but he will also appear posthumously in season three of Euphoria, for which he finished filming.
His final ever interview was also released on Netflix, at his request, following his death, where he spoke about the disease in order to raise awareness and opened up about his marriage with Rebecca Gayheart.
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