Eric William Dane (born November 9, 1972)[1] is an American actor. After multiple television roles in the 1990s and 2000s, which included his recurring role as Jason Dean in Charmed, Dane was cast as Dr. Mark Sloan on the ABC medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy. Following this, he made appearances in films such as Marley & Me (2008), Valentine's Day (2010), and Burlesque (2010). Dane has since played Captain Tom Chandler in the post-apocalyptic drama The Last Ship and currently stars as Cal Jacobs in the HBO series Euphoria.

Eric Dane
Dane in D.C. to support the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), March 2015
Born (1972-11-09) November 9, 1972 (age 51)
OccupationActor
Years active1991–present
Known for
Spouse
(m. 2004; sep. 2018)
Children2

Early life

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Dane was born in San Francisco, California,[1] to William Melvin.[2][3] When Dane was 7 years old, his father died of a gunshot wound.[4][5] Dane has a younger brother.[6] They were raised in their mother's Jewish faith, and Dane had a bar mitzvah ceremony.[7][8][9] He attended Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California, from 1987 to 1990, and San Mateo High School in San Mateo, California, from 1990 to 1991, where he graduated. Dane was an athlete in high school, playing on the boys' varsity water polo team,[10] but pursued a career in acting after appearing in a school production of Arthur Miller's All My Sons.[11][12]

Career

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In 1993, Dane moved to Los Angeles,[10] where he played small roles in the television series Saved by the Bell, The Wonder Years, Roseanne, and Married... with Children, among others. But in 2000, he was signed for a recurring role in Gideon's Crossing, and followed this with a two-season run as Jason Dean in Charmed. His made-for-television film credits included two biopics, Serving in Silence (about Margarethe Cammermeyer's experiences in the military), and Helter Skelter, in which he portrayed Charles "Tex" Watson, a member of the Manson family.

Dane's first major feature film appearance was in The Basket. He also appeared in Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane, Sol Goode, Feast, X-Men: The Last Stand, and starred in Open Water 2.In 2005, Dane guested as Dr. Mark Sloan in "Yesterday", the eighteenth episode of the second season of the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Positive audience reaction to the character led to Dane's becoming a regular in the show's third season. His first appearance in the season, in which he walked out of the bathroom soaking wet and wearing only a strategically placed towel, was labeled a "watercooler moment".[13] Dane resigned from the show after the end of season 8 but appeared in the first two episodes of season 9.[14] In 2021, Dane reappeared on the show for the first time in nine years since his character was killed off.[15]

In December 2006, he starred in the A&E television film Wedding Wars as the brother of a gay man (played by John Stamos) who goes on strike in support of same-sex marriage.Dane, alongside Patrick Dempsey, appeared in the same big-screen project, the 2010 romantic comedy Valentine's Day. The Garry Marshall-directed film followed five interconnecting stories about Los Angelenos anticipating (or in some cases dreading) the holiday.[16]

In October 2012, Dane joined the main cast of the Michael Bay-produced TNT drama series The Last Ship.[17] He is also credited as a producer on the show.

In 2023, he described his experience on being in a show like Euphoria where he had to regularly wear a prosthetic penis.[18] He stated, "Those scenes are very difficult to shoot," and that the scenes were "pretty intense."[18]

Personal life

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Dane married actress Rebecca Gayheart on October 29, 2004. They have two daughters together.[19] In February 2018, Gayheart filed for divorce from Dane after 14 years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences".[20]

In 2009, Dane made headlines when he was in a video that featured Dane, his wife and Kari Ann Peniche, nude and using drugs.[21]

In June 2011, Dane entered a California treatment center to recover from a dependency on prescription drugs he had developed after suffering a sports injury.[22]

In April 2017, The Last Ship halted production through Memorial Day to allow Dane to deal with the depression he was battling.[23]

Filmography

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Film

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1999The BasketTom Emery
2003Sol GoodeOverly Dramatic Actor
2005FeastHero
2006X-Men: The Last StandJamie Madrox / Multiple Man
Open Water 2: AdriftDan
2008Marley & MeSebastian Tunney
2010Valentine's DaySean Jackson
BurlesqueMarcus Gerber
2017Grey LadyDetective James Doyle
2021The RavineMitch Bianci
2022Redeeming LoveDuke
American CarnageEddie
2023Little DixieGovernor Richard Jeffs
AmericanaDillon MacIntosh
Dangerous WatersDerek Stipes[24]
2024Bad Boys: Ride or DieJames McGrath[25]
TBAInto the BeautifulTom
TBABorderlineBell
TBAOne Fast MoveTBA
TBAFamily SecretsTBA

Television

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1991Saved by the BellTad PogueEpisode: "The Game"
1992RenegadeJimmyEpisode: Mother Courage
1993The Wonder YearsBrettEpisode: "Nose"
1995Married... with ChildrenOliver ColeEpisode: "Radio Free Trumaine"
Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer StoryMattTelevision film
1996Seduced by Madness:The Diane Borchardt StoryNick
Silk StalkingsJustin WhalenEpisode: "Private Dancer"
RoseanneBellhopEpisode: "Disney World War II"
2000Zoe, Duncan, Jack & JaneAlecEpisode: "Kiss of Death"
2001Gideon's CrossingDr. Wyatt Cooper4 episodes
Ball & ChainJackTelevision film
2002The American EmbassyRob Goodwin3 episodes
2003–04CharmedJason Dean9 episodes
2004Las VegasLeo Broder2 episodes
Helter SkelterCharles "Tex" WatsonTelevision film
2005Painkiller JaneNick Pierce
2006Wedding WarsBen Grandy
2006–12, 2021Grey's AnatomyDr. Mark Sloan/McSteamyMain role (seasons 3–9); Special guest star (season 2); Guest star (season 17); 140 episodes.
Satellite Award for Best Cast – Television Series
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
2009–10Private PracticeSpecial Guest Star; 2 episodes
2014–18The Last ShipCapt. Tom ChandlerMain role; 56 episodes
2015The FixerCarterMiniseries[26]
2018Family GuyHimself (voice)Episode: "Veteran Guy"
2019–presentEuphoriaCal JacobsMain role; 13 episodes
2020WirelessOfficer T.C. KirschnerEpisode: "100%"

References

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