Eric Dane reveals the real reason behind ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ departure in posthumous memoir

Eric Dane opens up about some of the most difficult chapters of his life in his posthumous memoir, ‘My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments’, including his departure from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and a frightening incident in which his youngest daughter, Georgia, helped save him from drowning. The actor, who died on February 19, aged 53, following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), reflects on his career, addiction struggles and the personal challenges he faced in his final years. 

The memoir, scheduled for release on November 3, offers insight into Dane’s time playing Dr Mark Sloan on the long-running medical drama and his experience living with ALS. In excerpts published by PEOPLE, the actor also recounts how he realised he could no longer swim safely during a family holiday in Antigua, prompting an emotional conversation with his estranged wife, Rebecca Gayheart.

Eric Dane says money, not addiction, led to his ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ exit

Dane played Dr Mark Sloan, popularly known as McSteamy, on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ from 2006 to 2012. His character became a fan favourite, but the actor’s departure from the series came after its creator, Shonda Rhimes, informed him that he would not return for another season.

In his memoir, Dane explains that financial considerations played a decisive role in the decision to write his character out of the show. Although he acknowledges that his struggles with addiction affected his professional life, he says they were not the primary reason for his exit.

“My Grey’s Anatomy ending does come, but not because of my addiction, although it’s safe to say my addiction didn’t help. The reason comes down to money … Despite Mark Sloan’s popularity, I have become too expensive. I have become expendable,” he wrote.

Dane also reflected on his changing relationship with the character, explaining that he had reached a point where he felt ready to move on after spending years portraying Mark.

“I love Mark Sloan, but I need to quit him. I feel as if I’ve squeezed every ounce of life out of that character and have investigated and mined every nuance of his being. I’ve spent eight years living in his skin, and my time has come. I’ve had enough. But I don’t know how to get off that train,” he shared in the book.

‘I go quiet; I stare off at nothing’: Dane recalls addiction struggles

The actor’s memoir also revisits a difficult period during his time on the medical drama, when he struggled with substance addiction and repeated relapses. Dane said he went on hiatus several times while working on the series and entered rehabilitation five times during those years.

He traced one relapse to a neck injury. Two years into the show, a herniated cervical disc sustained while working out led him to return to painkillers. The situation affected his physical health and his behaviour on set.

Recalling his condition in 2008, Dane described how his appearance and demeanour changed as his addiction worsened.

“My body goes to s***. I drop to 170, my face caves in, my eyes cloud, and I look gaunt; s***, I look like a drug addict. You can tell. I can tell. My attitude on set changes. I’m no longer the bubbly, fun guy, a ringleader in laughs. I don’t act out. I don’t throw tantrums or chase. I go the other way. I dissolve. I go quiet; I stare off at nothing. I suffer. I’m suffering without talking about it to anyone.”

Dane also acknowledged that he sometimes arrived at work under the influence. According to the actor, many of his co-stars were aware of what he was experiencing, but he did not feel judged by them.

Reflecting on the period, he wrote, “I call that my dark period. I auditioned for a few roles and got cast in some, but mainly I did drugs. I got high, I got stoned, I got wasted, I shot up, I freebaked, and I did every drug imaginable.”

How Eric Dane’s daughter Georgia saved him from drowning

Beyond his career and addiction, Dane’s memoir recounts a frightening incident during a holiday in Antigua following his ALS diagnosis in 2025. The actor revealed that he found himself unable to swim while in the ocean and struggled to generate enough strength to return to the boat.

His youngest daughter, Georgia, and one of her friends were in the water with him. Georgia helped pull her father back to safety, an experience that made Dane realise how much the disease had affected his physical abilities.

Dane had previously spoken about the incident during an appearance on ‘Good Morning America’ in June 2025, describing the moment he understood that swimming was no longer safe for him.

“When I jumped into the ocean that day and realized I couldn’t swim and generate enough power to get myself back to the boat. I thought, ‘Oh God,’” he told Diane Sawyer.

“And I realized in that moment I’m not safe in the water anymore.”

He credited Georgia with bringing him back to the boat, saying, “She [Georgia] dragged me back to the boat.” Although he was overcome with emotion, he said he made sure his daughter returned to snorkelling and enjoying the holiday with her friend.

Emotional conversation with Rebecca Gayheart after the incident

After reaching safety, Dane’s first call was to Gayheart, his estranged wife and the mother of their two daughters, Billie and Georgia. He recalled how Georgia handed him his phone and he told Gayheart what had happened.

“Georgia hands me my phone,” Dane wrote in his upcoming posthumous memoir, ‘My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments’, according to an excerpt obtained by PEOPLE.

“‘I can’t swim, Rebecca,’ I say. ‘I can’t swim.'” he added.

Dane described an emotional exchange between the two, as the incident brought the reality of his illness into sharper focus for both of them.

“She explodes into tears and I weep with her. We cry together. Finally, the tears slow, become reduced to gasps, and when we’re both cried out, Rebecca says, ‘I was afraid of this day. I knew it would come. I’ve been dreading it.’”

Dane and Gayheart married in Las Vegas in 2004 and welcomed Billie in 2010 and Georgia in 2011. Gayheart filed for divorce in February 2018, but the couple never finalised the proceedings. They continued to maintain a close relationship and holiday together with their children.

Following Dane’s ALS diagnosis, Gayheart formally withdrew the divorce petition. After his death, she paid tribute to him on Father’s Day in June, sharing photographs of the actor with their daughters.

“I hurt for my girls today,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories.

“It’s a ‘first’ of many to come. I know Eric is looking out for them every day,” she added.

Eric Dane’s death and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ legacy

Dane announced his ALS diagnosis in April 2025 and died on February 19, 2026, less than a year later. His death certificate listed respiratory failure as the cause of death.

On ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, Mark Sloan’s storyline ended after the character suffered critical injuries in the plane crash that concluded the eighth season. Mark was placed on life support after slipping into a coma. In the ninth-season premiere, his life support was withdrawn in accordance with his advance directive after he showed no signs of improvement within 30 days. He died in the following episode, with Derek Shepherd and Callie Torres by his side.

Dane went on to reach a new generation of viewers through his role in ‘Euphoria’, while his earlier work on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ remained among his best-known performances.