Katherine Heigl breaks silence on Eric Dane’s death after ‘days of debate’ with heartbreaking tribute

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Katherine Heigl honored her former Grey’s Anatomy colleague, Eric Dane, on Instagram. Dane passed away at 53 after a courageous fight with ALS, and Heigl’s post came three days after his death.

Okay, so she finally posted about it, but honestly, it took her days to work up to it! Apparently, she’s always been super private and just… doesn’t like showing her sadness to the world. It’s so relatable, but also, I’ve been waiting for anything from her, so it’s a big deal she even acknowledged it!

I usually keep my deepest feelings, experiences, and memories private, sharing them only with a select few or with God. But I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone misinterpreting that silence as indifference, so I decided to speak up.

Oh my gosh, it just broke my heart to read the letter she wrote to Dane’s family. She was speaking directly to Rebecca, his wife, and their sweet little girls, Billie and Georgia, and she said something so beautiful about how no words can ever really explain how awful this is. It just felt so…genuine, you know? Like she really understood the depth of their pain.

She continued, saying it’s hard to find the right words after such a terrible loss. She explained that typical expressions of sympathy can feel empty when someone is experiencing so much pain and grief.

Katherine Heigl found solace in literature, posting Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” She also shared that she has the poem tattooed on her skin, written in her parents’ handwriting.

She shared the entire poem, using it to think about how quickly life and beauty pass. She wrote that she would always remember ‘Eric’s gold,’ a phrase that clearly held special meaning for her.

Heigl expressed deep gratitude for the chance to have known Dane, even if only for a short time. She also thanked his family for sharing him with everyone.

She ended the tribute with a heartfelt goodbye: ‘Godspeed, my old friend… I wish you all the best on your next journey.’

Dane’s family confirmed his passing earlier this week in a statement to People magazine, just under a year after he shared his diagnosis with ALS, a progressive nervous disease.

The actor became famous for playing Dr. Mark Sloan, nicknamed ‘McSteamy’, on the TV show Grey’s Anatomy. He started on the show in 2006 and quickly won over viewers.

Heigl starred on the show as Dr. Izzie Stevens during its early seasons.

Katherine Heigl’s touching message is one of many from Dane’s former colleagues and friends. They’ve been sharing how talented he was, but also how kind and warm, and how much of a positive influence he had on everyone he worked with and knew.

Kate Walsh, known for her role as Dr. Addison Montgomery on Grey’s Anatomy, recently expressed deep sadness on social media about the death of Eric, saying she couldn’t find the words to describe how she felt.

My first thoughts are with his daughters and Rebecca, and I’m keeping them in my prayers and close to my heart. I vividly remember the very first scene I did with Eric – it was an elevator scene on ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ages ago.

Walsh recalled that it was also the actor’s first time on set, and he seemed quite nervous. She admitted to initially wondering if his good looks meant he could actually perform, but he quickly proved himself as a talented actor, and the rest, as they say, is history.

She remembered Dane being both sensitive and vulnerable on set – and incredibly intelligent, naturally – along with a remarkable maturity and depth.

The actress also wrote about how the cast got to know each other well while filming the first few seasons.

‘So we became a family of sorts and Eric was such a source of support and love.’

Walsh finished by saying that ALS is a terrible disease and many families have been affected by it. He shared that Eric was dedicated to finding a cure and suggested people consider donating to @targetals in his memory.

McKidd shared a photo of Dane DeHaan as Dr. Mark Sloan on his Instagram story, writing ‘Rest in Peace Buddy’ as a tribute.

He had joined the cast of Grey’s Anatomy back in 2008 to play the character of Dr. Owen Hunt.

Sarah Drew, known for her role as Dr. April Kepner, shared the same image and wrote ‘Rest in peace’ with crying emojis.

Following the news of Dane’s death, 20th Television, the studio behind ABC, released a statement to Deadline on Thursday.

I was so heartbroken to hear about Eric Dane’s passing. It really hit me, and I immediately thought about how much he brought to the show. He truly made a difference, and we’re all feeling the loss deeply.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen how certain personalities truly resonate with people, and this actor’s work on Grey’s Anatomy was definitely one of those moments. He wasn’t just talented; he had a presence you wouldn’t forget. Beyond that, watching him face his battle with ALS with such courage and grace was incredibly moving and truly inspired so many of us. It’s a reminder of how we can face challenges with dignity.

We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, coworkers, and all those who enjoyed his work.

As a longtime fan of Shonda Rhimes’ work, I was so saddened to hear her words about Eric Dane. She always spoke so highly of him, and it’s clear he was a really valued part of the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ family. She said he was a truly talented actor, and I completely agree – his performance as Dr. Mark Sloan was unforgettable and had a huge impact on the show and all of us who watched it.

Next week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, airing February 26th, will include a special tribute to Dane, according to Deadline.

Dane joined the cast as Dr. Sloan in 2006, but his character was killed off in a plane crash during the ninth season, marking his departure from the show.

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2026-02-23 01:49