Eric Dane wanted to ensure his queer character on Euphoria was represented respectfully

Eric Dane, the actor best known for playing Dr Mark ‘McSteamy’ Sloan in Grey’s Anatomy and complex queer patriarch Cal in Euphoria, has died aged 53.

In a statement, Dane’s actress wife Rebecca Gayheart and their two daughters confirmed that Dane died on 19 February less than a year after revealing that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” the family said in a statement. He spent his last days surrounded by his loved ones.

“He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received.”

While the actor’s screen career began 25 years ago with a 1991 appearance in Will Smith’s Saved by the Bell, his most talked about role in recent years was that of Cal Jacobs, the complicated, domineering father of Jacob Elordi’s Nate Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria.

Despite marrying his childhood sweetheart Marsha (Paula Marshall) after they began dating at 17, Cal leads a double life away from his wife and kids. He’s bisexual, and had longed to be with his childhood best friend Derek before Marsha told him that she was pregnant with their first child. 

Terrified of his own homophobic father, Cal stayed in the closet and married to Marsha, opting to have secret hook-ups with men and young trans women, including Hunter Schafer’s character Jules, and filming the encounters.

His secret life came tumbling down in Euphoria’s second season when he drunkenly revealed all of his secrets to his family. His son Nate – with whom he had a particularly dysfunctional relationship – phoned the police on his father, saying he had seen evidence of all of his father’s wrongdoing on his hidden hard drive. The last fans saw of Cal was as the police rocked up at his home. 

Despite the shock turn of events, Eric Dane had confirmed that he had filmed scenes for season three of Euphoria, which returns to screens in April.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in 2022, Dane, who was straight, explained how “important” it was to him to get the morally knotty character of Cal correct for the gay community.

“I’m acutely aware that I’m a straight actor playing a [queer] character,” he told the publication.

“The gay community has been super supportive. I think I’ve lent them a voice in portraying this character, and I hope that everything I do is sincere because I wouldn’t want to misrepresent something that’s so important.”

In a conversation with LGBTQ+ publication Out magazine that same year, Dane explained that he “didn’t have to do any research” into Cal’s experience, as he knew the experience of having to put up a facade in high school. 

“I know what it’s like to live a double life. The circumstances weren’t precisely the same, but it doesn’t matter,” he shared. “When you put up a facade, you’re putting up a facade, and when you’re being a certain way with certain people and another way with other people that transcends the specifics of the circumstances.”

Cal wasn’t Dane’s first time playing a role with links to the queer community. In 2006, he appeared in groundbreaking queer romcom Wedding Wars, which was one of the first films to broach the subject of same-sex marriage. Starring alongside John Stamos, Dane played Ben, the brother of gay character and wedding planner Shel (Stamos).

While Shel is planning Ben’s wedding to Maggie (Bonnie Somerville), he learns that Ben, Ben’s boss and Maggie’s father are planning a political speech against same-sex marriage. He goes on strike from his role as Ben’s wedding planner, fighting for equal rights.

Prior to Euphoria, Eric Dane was best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan – aka McSteamy – in long-running medical series, Grey’s Anatomy. He first appeared on the show on 19 February 2006, 20 years to the day before his tragic death. He went on to appear in 135 episodes over six years. 

A versatile and charismatic acting force, Dane was also known for roles in major hits including Charmed, X-Men: The Last Stand, Valentine’s Day and Burlesque.