Chyler Leigh remembers Eric Dane's 'heart of gold'

Chyler Leigh is remembering her former Grey's Anatomy co‑star Eric Dane following his death at the age of 53 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Leigh told E! News, "The last 48 hours have been devastating." She added, "I never thought I would be using the term 'had or was,' but here we are.

And I hate it. Eric had a heart of gold. His humor and, especially, his laugh was infectious." Leigh also said 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." Dane played plastic surgeon Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy from Season 2 until the start of Season 9. His character had an on‑off relationship with Leigh's Lexie Grey, who joined the series during the Season 3 finale; the onscreen couple died after a plane crash at the end of Season 8 and later reunited for a cameo in Season 17's dream sequence in 2020.

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