<p id=”par-1_53″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/eric-dane-and-rebecca-gayhearts-complicated-love-story-support-separation-and-family-resilience.html/”>Eric Dane</a> is best known for his role as <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/greys-anatomy-eric-danes-posts-memento-return-as-mark-sloan-and-fans-loving-it.html/”>McSteamy on <em>Grey’s Anatomy</em></a>. Before he took the part, though, this was not the kind of role that should have defined his career. Shonda Rhimes only intended for his character to appear in one episode of the medical drama. She shared why this changed.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-eric-dane-was-only-going-to-be-on-grey-s-anatomy-for-1-episode”>Eric Dane was only going to be on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ for 1 episode</h2>
<p id=”par-2_22″>Dane made his appearance as Mark Sloan in the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/best-greys-anatomy-episode-from-every-season.html/”>second season of <em>Grey’s Anatomy</em></a>. Rhimes said his character was originally a one-off.</p>
<p id=”par-3_45″>“When Mark Sloan first appeared on <em>Grey’s Anatomy</em> in season 2, the original idea was to have him do one episode. Goodbye, Mark Sloan,” Rhimes wrote for <a target=”_blank” href=”https://ew.com/article/2012/11/29/best-of-2012-behind-the-scenes-shonda-rhimes-pens-mcsteamys-obituary/” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Entertainment Weekly</a> in 2012. “But none of us planned on what would happen once we cast Eric Dane.”</p>
<p id=”par-4_13″>Rhimes said Dane brought the character to life in ways she couldn’t imagine.</p>
<p id=”par-5_54″>“His Mark Sloan wasn’t just flirty and handsome — Eric’s Mark Sloan was dirty and hot but also completely self-aware of what he was lacking in emotion and self-control,” she wrote. “Eric’s Mark Sloan was smart enough to know he was a man-whore and sexy enough to make the audience believe in him anyway.”</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio” id=”emb-1″><div class=”wp-block-embed__wrapper”>
<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”Eric Dane Reacts to MCSTEAMY Nickname On Set of Grey’s Anatomy | ET Vault Unlocked” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/hDH420GuukQ?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>
<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
<p class=”related-article__title”>
<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/eric-danes-4-life-lessons-daughters-final-interview-death.html/”>
Eric Dane’s 4 Life Lessons for His Daughters in Final Interview Before His Death </a>
</p>
</div>
<p id=”par-6_19″>Almost immediately, people — including her own mother — began begging to see more of him on the show.</p>
<p id=”par-7_52″>“From the moment ABC aired the scene in which Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) dubbed him McSteamy, I began to get letters from fans,” she wrote. “And emails from friends. And phone calls from my mother. It was clear that we were going to need to see Mark Sloan back at Seattle Grace again.”</p>
<p id=”par-8_21″>Danes remained on the show <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/greys-anatomy-eric-dane-leaving-cast-mark-sloan-behind.html/”>until season nine</a>. After his <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/eric-dane-finding-cure-als-before-death.html/”>death on Feb. 19</a>, Rhimes shared a statement in his honor.</p>
<p id=”par-9_77″>“Eric Dane was a beloved member of the <em>Shondaland</em> and <em>Grey’s Anatomy</em> families. He was truly a gifted actor whose portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan left an indelible mark on the series and on audiences around the world,” she told <a href=”https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/eric-dane-dead-hollywood-tributes-1236510352/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Hollywood Reporter</a>. “We are grateful for the artistry, spirit, friendship and humanity he shared with us for so many years. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, and all who were touched by his work.”</p>