Katherine Heigl Remembers 'Grey's Anatomy' Costar Eric Dane

The actress shared a heartfelt tribute to her late friend and colleague following his death from ALS.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Katherine Heigl posted a lengthy tribute to her former 'Grey's Anatomy' co-star Eric Dane, who passed away last week at the age of 53 after a battle with ALS. Heigl recounted fond memories of working with Dane on the hit medical drama and shared a poignant poem about the fleeting nature of life's 'golden' moments.

Why it matters

Dane's death has sparked an outpouring of grief and remembrance from his 'Grey's Anatomy' castmates, who are honoring his legacy as a talented actor and beloved friend. Heigl's heartfelt message provides a personal perspective on Dane's impact both on and off the screen.

The details

In her Instagram post, Heigl acknowledged her discomfort with grieving publicly but felt compelled to share her memories of Dane. She recited the poem 'Nothing Gold Can Stay' by Robert Frost, which she has tattooed in her parents' handwriting, as a way to capture the fleeting nature of life's precious moments. Heigl expressed gratitude for the time she got to 'bask' in Dane's 'gold' and the impact he had on those around him.

  • Eric Dane died last week at the age of 53.
  • Dane was diagnosed with ALS in April 2025 and passed away less than a year later.

The players

Katherine Heigl

An American actress who co-starred with Eric Dane on the hit medical drama 'Grey's Anatomy'.

Eric Dane

An American actor best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan on the long-running television series 'Grey's Anatomy'.

Rebecca

Eric Dane's ex-wife.

Billie

One of Eric Dane's daughters.

Georgia

One of Eric Dane's daughters.

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What they’re saying

“I debated this post for days. I have never been comfortable grieving publicly. I share my tears, my stories and my memories with those I'm closest to and more times than not I share them only with the heavens alone. But that silence can often look like a lack of care which I could not abide here.”

— Katherine Heigl (Instagram)

“Rebecca, Billie, Georgia... There is so little, if in fact anything, one can say about a tragic loss like yours. All the 'I'm sorries' and 'my prayers are with you' ring a bit hollow in the midst of so much pain and grief. So I will say the only thing that has ever brought me peace when I've lost someone I love. It is Robert Frost's poem 'Nothing Gold Can Stay' of which I have tattooed on my body in my parent's handwriting so I will never forget that the moment of gold was worth it.”

— Katherine Heigl (Instagram)

“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.”

— Katherine Heigl (Instagram)

“I spoke to him about a week ago, and some friends of ours went in to see him, and he was really starting to lose his ability to speak. He was bedridden, and it was very hard for him to swallow. So the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly.”

— Patrick Dempsey (The Chris Evans Breakfast Show)

“He did an incredible job at bringing awareness to this horrible disease in those remaining days, which was really brave of him to do, and it just reminds us that we all have to celebrate every day like it's our last day.”

— Patrick Dempsey (The Chris Evans Breakfast Show)

The takeaway

Heigl's heartfelt tribute to her former 'Grey's Anatomy' co-star Eric Dane serves as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing the 'golden' moments we share with loved ones, even in the face of devastating loss.