Three months after Eric Dane’s death, Chyler Leigh is speaking about the grief she experienced after learning of the death of her Grey’s Anatomy co-star and friend.
Speaking on the May 13 episode of the You Might Know Her From podcast, Leigh, who was Dane’s love interest in the medical series, reflected on how the news reached her while she was away from home.
“It had been a while since I had connected with him, and then I got the news. Then, it just hit me. At first, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this happened.'”
Chyler Leigh shared that learning of Eric Dane’s passing was something she “didn’t know how to comprehend,” and it didn’t fully sink in at the time she was notified of his death, not until days later when she was on a flight home to Nashville from Los Angeles.
“All of a sudden, it just hit. I had to keep getting up and going to use the lavatory because I was just sobbing. I didn’t know it was going to hit me that hard and especially that fast. It was definitely a grief.”
Now that it has been three months since Eric Dane’s death, Chyler Leigh, who starred as Dr. Lexie Grey in the long-running drama, confessed that she has finally taken a breather and found time to focus more on the good memories she built with the actor, who gave life to the charming and brilliant Dr. Mark Sloan, also known as McSteamy.
Chyler Leigh also praised Eric Dane as “a wonderful scene partner” who had “one of the kindest hearts.”
“We had a deep relationship, a respect for one another. It was really special working with him. We always were able to laugh even amid the most absurd or devastating circumstances.”
Chyler Leigh’s tribute to Eric Dane after his passing: “Eric had a heart of gold”
Eric Dane passed away on Feb. 19, 2026, after a 10-month battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He was 53.
He first announced his diagnosis in April 2025. By October, he became wheelchair-bound, and his mobility turned increasingly limited. He died of respiratory failure caused by his progressive degenerative neurological disorder.
In the wake of his passing, Leigh opened up on working with Dane. In a statement to E! News, she penned:
“Eric had a heart of gold. His humor and, especially, his laugh was infectious. He was a deeply intelligent man who could carry a philosophical conversation for hours even while we were on set. He was an amazing father and loved his girls FIERCELY. Incredibly passionate about his work and the causes he kept close to his heart.”
The Supergirl actress continued:
“The Universe is undoubtedly holding Eric now, just as I will continue to do within my heart forever.”
Edited by Gladys Altamarino