‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Pays Tribute to Eric Dane With Video Montage

Eric Dane, who died on Feb. 19 at 53 after a battle with ALS, joined Grey’s Anatomy in Season Two as plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan and quickly became a favorite on the long-running show, earning the nickname McSteamy. The ABC drama paid tribute to the actor during Thursday’s episode, airing a 65-second-long montage set to the Tommee Profitt and Fleurie cover of Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars.”

Different versions of the track have been used throughout the series, and this time, the song soundtracked some of the most iconic moments of Dane’s character on the show. (Dr. Sloan died from injuries in a plane crash during Season Eight.) Highlights included Sloan’s legendary bathroom scene where he walks out of the shower sporting only a towel and Sloan’s advice to Dr. Jackson Avery (played by Jesse Williams) from his deathbed: “If you love someone, you tell them. Even if you’re scared that it’s not the right thing. Even if you’re scared that it will burn your life to the ground, you say it. You say it loud.”

Several of Dane’s Grey’s costars have shared their memories of the actor in the days following his death. In an Instagram post, Kim Raver wrote, “Eric was a light. You’d see it effortlessly shine from him on the set of Grey’s as well as when he was with Rebecca and the girls. During filming he’d get this twinkle in his eye and with a mischievous look, he would deliver with perfect comedic timing, a line of dialogue that would floor you! You will be missed.”

In another tribute, Katherine Heigl quoted Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” and said, “I will never forget Eric’s gold and I will forever be grateful I got to bask in it for even a brief moment in time. Thank you for sharing him with us. God Speed my old friend…here’s to your next great adventure.”