‘I was let go’: Truth behind Eric Dane’s exit from Grey’s Anatomy

The actor who played a doctor famous for his good looks on the iconic series Grey’s Anatomy has revealed why he actually left the show.

Eric Dane believes he was fired from Grey’s Anatomy.

The Euphoria star, 51, opened up about his exit from the long-running ABC series after starring as Dr Mark Sloan for six seasons from 2006 to 2012.

“I didn’t leave so much as I think I was let go,” Dane admitted on Friday’s episode of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Page Six reported

When Shepard noted the actor was “struggling” with drug and alcohol addiction toward the end of his run on the series, Dane responded, “I was struggling. They didn’t let me go because of that, although it definitely didn’t help”.

Erin Dane has opened up about his exit from Grey’s Anatomy. Picture: Supplied

Dane clarified that he believes he was let go due to financial reasons.

“I was starting to become – as most of these actors who have spent significant time on the show – you start to become very expensive for the network,” he said.

“And the network knows that the show is going to do what it’s going to do irrespective of who they keep on it – as long as they have their Grey they were fine.”

Eric Dane and his daughters Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Dane pictured on May 30, 2024. Picture: Frederic J. Brown/AFP

He went on to explain that he “wasn’t the same guy they had hired” so he understood when the producers decided to let him go.

Dane also praised the show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes, for being “really great” throughout the ordeal.

“She protected us fiercely. She protected us publicly, she protected us privately … I love Shonda Rhimes and she protected me but I was probably fired,” Dane recalled.

“It wasn’t ceremoniously like, ‘You’re fired,’ it was just like, ‘You’re not coming back,’” he said.

This story originally appeared on Page Six and was republished with permission.