The Real Reason Behind Eric Dane Walking Away From Grey's Anatomy

Most actors are ambitious, so whenever an opportunity arises to advance their career, they eagerly seize it.

Eric Dane portrayed Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy in seasons 2 through 9, making him an integral part of the cast for nearly seven seasons. He probably could have stayed on Grey's Anatomy for years to come, but he chose to leave the show.

Dane's reasons for leaving were straightforward: he wanted to advance his acting career by taking on more complex and demanding roles.

In 2012, such an opportunity presented itself when he was cast as Captain Tom Chandler, the main character in The Last Ship, a post-apocalyptic action-drama series centred around the crew of a US Navy ship searching for a cure to the virus that wiped out more than half of humanity.

The Last Ship ran for five seasons, and as its lead, Eric Dane saw his career get a well-deserved boost. The role allowed him to showcase his physical prowess—a chance he had longed for while on the set of Grey's Anatomy.

“It's a physical challenge. On Grey's Anatomy, I didn't have to move too much. I think I ran through the hospital three times. But this is a more physically demanding role.”

While the stability of working the same job for decades may appeal to some, it didn't cut it for Eric Dane, as he felt he was stuck in a rut. The actor mentioned that he enjoyed his time on Grey's Anatomy and loved guest-starring in season 17 but felt the need to move on and tackle more challenging projects.

Dane's decision to leave Grey's Anatomy ultimately paid off professionally. After adding the action-packed The Last Ship to his résumé, he secured the role of Cal Jacobs in Euphoria, one of HBO's trendiest series in recent years.

Such a diverse range of roles and characters would not have been possible had he remained on Grey's Anatomy. And that appears to be of utmost importance to the actor. He was lucky to achieve exactly what he had hoped for.