Late actor Eric Dane's memoir says Grey's Anatomy exit was about money
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The gist
An excerpt of Eric Dane's posthumous memoir says he was let go from Grey's Anatomy because he became too expensive.
The book, out Nov 3, also details his ALS decline and family life before his death at 53.
Background
Eric Dane was the actor who played Dr. Mark Sloan, nicknamed "McSteamy," on ABC's Grey's Anatomy and Cal Jacobs on Euphoria; he died on Feb. 19, 2026, at 53 of ALS (a progressive nerve disease that causes muscle weakness and loss of movement). He wrote his memoir, "My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments," before his death, and Penguin Random House said he worked on it "right up to the end." People published an exclusive excerpt on Oct. 18, 2026, ahead of the Nov. 3 release, and it is drawing coverage for his account of leaving Grey's Anatomy and of his illness.
How it unfolded
- 2006 -2012Dane played Dr. Mark Sloan on ABC's Grey's Anatomy.
- 2012Toward the end of Season 8, series creator Shonda Rhimes told Dane the show would not bring him back for Season 9.
- Jan 7, 2024Dane noticed the first unmistakable ALS sign: his right hand tingled and went numb while eating sushi with his children.
- Apr 2025Dane publicly disclosed his ALS diagnosis.
- Nov 2025Dane was seen in a motorized wheelchair.
- Feb 19, 2026Dane died at 53; his death certificate lists respiratory failure with ALS as the underlying cause.
- Oct 18, 2026People published an exclusive memoir excerpt, which Page Six also reported on.
- Nov 3, 2026"My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments" is scheduled for release.
Who’s saying what
- Dane
- In the memoir he writes that his Grey's Anatomy exit was "not because of my addiction, although it's safe to say my addiction didn't help," and that "the reason comes down to money … I have become too expensive. I have become expendable."
- Family
- A family statement said he spent his final days surrounded by friends, his wife and his two daughters, and that during his ALS journey he became a passionate advocate for awareness and research.
- Caution
- Shondaland, Shonda Rhimes's production company, did not return The Independent's request for comment on the excerpt.