Eric Dane Biography

Eric Dane (born Eric T. Melvin, November 9, 1972) is an American actor. After appearing in television roles throughout the 2000s such as Charmed, he became known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan on the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy, as well as films, co-starring in Marley & Me (2008), Valentine's Day (2010), and Burlesque (2010). He stars as Captain Tom Chandler in the apocalyptic drama The Last Ship.

Early life

Dane was born in San Francisco, California, to a homemaker mother and an interior designer/architect father, William Melvin. When Dane was 7 years old, his father died of a gunshot wound. Dane has a younger brother, and they were raised in their mother's Jewish religion (Dane had a Bar Mitzvah ceremony). He attended Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California, from 1987 to 1990, and San Mateo High School in San Mateo, California, from 1990 to 1991, where he graduated. Dane was an athlete in high school, playing on the boys' varsity water polo team, but pursued a career in acting after appearing in a school production of Arthur Miller's All My Sons.

Career

In 1993, Dane moved to Los Angeles, where he played small roles in the television series Saved by the Bell, The Wonder Years, Roseanne, and Married... with Children, among others. But in 2000, he was signed for a recurring role in Gideon's Crossing, and followed this with a two-season run in Charmed. His made-for-television film credits included two biopics, Serving in Silence (about Margarethe Cammermeyer's experiences in the military), and Helter Skelter, in which he portrayed Charles "Tex" Watson, a member of the Manson family.

Dane's first major feature film appearance was in The Basket. He also appeared in Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane, Sol Goode, Feast, X-Men: The Last Stand, and starred in Open Water 2. In 2005, Dane guested as Dr. Mark Sloan (nicknamed "McSteamy" by Meredith Grey) in "Yesterday", the eighteenth episode of the second season of the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Positive audience reaction to the character led to Dane's becoming a regular in the show's third season. His first appearance in the season, in which he walked out of the bathroom soaking wet and wearing only a strategically placed towel, was labeled a "watercooler moment". Dane resigned from the show after the end of season 8, but appeared in the first two episodes of season 9.

In December 2006, he starred in the A&E television film Wedding Wars as the brother of a gay man (played by John Stamos) who goes on strike in support of marriage equality. Dane, alongside Patrick Dempsey, appeared in the same big-screen project, the 2010 romantic comedy Valentine's Day. The Garry Marshall-directed film followed five interconnecting stories about Los Angelenos anticipating (or in some cases dreading) the holiday.

In October 2012, Dane joined the main cast of the Michael Bay-produced TNT drama series The Last Ship. He is also credited as a producer on the show.

Personal life

Dane married actress Rebecca Gayheart on October 29, 2004. They have two daughters together: Billie Beatrice Dane (born March 3, 2010) and Georgia Geraldine Dane (born December 28, 2011). In February 2018, Gayheart filed for divorce from Dane after 14 years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences".

Dane made headlines when he participated in a nude tape with his wife and Kari Ann Peniche.

In June 2011, Dane entered a California treatment center to rectify a dependency on prescription drugs he had developed after suffering a sports injury.

In April 2017, The Last Ship halted production through Memorial Day to allow Dane to deal with the depression he was suffering.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1999	The Basket	Tom Emery
2001	Sol Goode	Overly dramatic actor
2005	Feast	Hero
2006	X-Men: The Last Stand	Jamie Madrox / Multiple Man
2006	Open Water 2: Adrift	Dan
2008	Marley & Me	Sebastian Tunney
2010	Valentine's Day	Sean Jackson
2010	Burlesque	Marcus Gerber
2017	Grey Lady	Doyle

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1991	Saved by the Bell	Tad Pogue	Episode: "The Game"
1992	Renegade	Jimmy	Episode: Mother Courage
1993	'	Brett	Episode: "Nose"
1995	Married... with Children	Oliver Cole	Episode: "Radio Free Trumaine"
1995	Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story	Matt	Television movie
1996	Seduced by Madness: The Diane Borchardt Story	Nick	Television movie
1996	Silk Stalkings	Justin Whalen	Episode: "Private Dancer"
1996	Roseanne	Bellhop	Episode: "Disney World War II"
2000	Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane	Alec	Episode: "Kiss of Death"
2001	Gideon's Crossing	Dr. Wyatt Cooper	4 episodes
2001	Ball & Chain	Jack	Television movie
2002	'	Rob Goodwin	3 episodes
2003-04	Charmed	Jason Dean	Recurring role, 9 episodes
2004	Las Vegas	Leo Broder	2 episodes
2004	Helter Skelter	Charles "Tex" Watson	Television movie
2005	Painkiller Jane	Nick Pierce	Television movie
2006	Wedding Wars	Ben Grandy	Television movie
2006-12	Grey's Anatomy	Dr. Mark Sloan	Main role, 138 episodes Satellite Award for Best Cast - Television Series Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated"?Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
2009-10	Private Practice	Dr. Mark Sloan	2 episodes
2014-present	The Last Ship	Capt. Tom Chandler	Lead Role -46 Episodes
2015	The Fixer	Carter	Upcoming; television miniseries