Eric Dane was born on November 9, 1972, and he has a knack for making big characters feel human. Plenty of people first met him as Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy, where “McSteamy” quickly turned into a fan favorite, and then watched him pivot into tougher, command style roles like Captain Tom Chandler on The Last Ship.
In recent years, Dane has drawn a new wave of attention for playing Cal Jacobs on HBO’s Euphoria, a role that pushed him into darker, more complicated territory. He’s also stayed active in films, including Bad Boys: Ride or Die, and he returned to action thriller TV with Prime Video’s Countdown, where he plays Special Agent Nathan Blythe.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Eric William Melvin |
| Profession: | Actor |
| Born: | November 9, 1972 |
| Age: | 53 (as of January 2026) |
| Birthplace: | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy, Capt. Tom Chandler on The Last Ship, Cal Jacobs on Euphoria |
| Notable Films: | X-Men: The Last Stand; Marley & Me; Valentine’s Day; Burlesque; Bad Boys: Ride or Die |
| Awards: | Reported Screen Actors Guild Award (Grey’s Anatomy cast ensemble, 2007) |
| Zodiac Sign: | Scorpio |
| Relationship: | Married to actress Rebecca Gayheart (m. 2004; divorce petition filed 2018 and later requested to be dismissed in 2025) |
| Years Active: | 1991 to present |
Early Life & Education
Eric Dane (born Eric William Melvin) was born in San Francisco on November 9, 1972. He is the older of two brothers, and he was raised in his mother’s Jewish faith. He has described having a bar mitzvah and identifying as a Cohanim.
When Dane was seven years old, his father (an architect and interior designer) died from a self-inflicted gunshot. In school, Dane excelled at water polo, and he discovered acting through a school production of All My Sons, where he played Joe Keller. Not long before graduation, he dropped out and moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue acting full time.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Dane’s early career was a steady climb through TV guest roles and recurring parts. He appeared on shows like Saved by the Bell, The Wonder Years, Roseanne, and Married… with Children, then landed recurring runs on Gideon’s Crossing (as Wyatt Cooper) and Charmed (as Jason Dean).
The breakthrough came in 2005 when he showed up on Grey’s Anatomy as plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan. Audience reaction was strong enough that the show expanded his role, and he became a series regular through seasons 3 to 8. After leaving in 2012, he continued leading television roles, including Captain Tom Chandler on TNT’s The Last Ship (2014 to 2018). In 2019, he stepped into a very different lane on HBO’s Euphoria as Cal Jacobs, a character built for uncomfortable honesty.
Selected film and TV highlights
- Charmed (2003 to 2004)
- Grey’s Anatomy (2005 to 2012, guest 2021)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- Marley & Me (2008)
- Valentine’s Day (2010)
- Burlesque (2010)
- The Last Ship (2014 to 2018)
- Euphoria (2019 to present)
- Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
- Countdown (2025)
Major recognition
- Reported Screen Actors Guild Award win: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, Grey’s Anatomy (cast ensemble, 2007)
- Long running lead roles on major network and cable series (Grey’s Anatomy, The Last Ship)
- Critical attention for HBO drama work (Euphoria)
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Grey’s Anatomy | Won (reported, as part of the cast ensemble) |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 to 2004 | Charmed | TV | Recurring role as Jason Dean. |
| 2005 to 2012 | Grey’s Anatomy | TV | Breakout role as Dr. Mark Sloan (“McSteamy”), series regular (guest return in 2021). |
| 2006 | X-Men: The Last Stand | Film | Played Jamie Madrox (Multiple Man). |
| 2010 | Burlesque | Film | Played Marcus Gerber (club investor). |
| 2014 to 2018 | The Last Ship | TV | Starred as U.S. Navy Captain Tom Chandler. |
| 2019 to present | Euphoria | TV | Plays Cal Jacobs, a complicated father with dark secrets. |
| 2024 | Bad Boys: Ride or Die | Film | Played the film’s villainous antagonist. |
| 2025 | Countdown | TV | Plays Special Agent Nathan Blythe in the Prime Video action thriller series. |
| 2025 | Kabul | TV | Ensemble role in a limited series about the 2021 evacuation of Kabul (role not publicly specified in the fact sheet). |
Net Worth, Income & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2025) | Public estimates vary widely, and no single figure is consistently supported by reliable sourcing. It is safest to treat any specific number as unconfirmed. |
| Income Sources | Primarily acting income from long running television roles and feature films, plus occasional guest appearances and franchise projects. |
| Properties & Assets | Not publicly detailed in a consistent, reliable way. Dane has kept most personal financial specifics private. |
| Lifestyle | Known for a relatively private off-screen profile compared with his on-screen visibility, with most public coverage tied to work, family milestones, and major premieres. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| No clearly verified official account found. Some posts online tag @realericdane, but the handle is not confirmed as official or reliably active. | |
| X (Twitter) | No verified personal account. Updates typically circulate through entertainment news and hashtags. |
| TikTok | No verified account. Clips and edits circulate via fan accounts. |
| No official page confirmed. Fan-run profiles and show pages exist. | |
| YouTube | No personal channel. Official trailers and interviews are available through studios and media outlets. |
| IMDb | Verified filmography at IMDb. |
| Official Website | None listed. Represented by Gersh and Untitled Entertainment (per the fact sheet). |
| Fan Updates | Coming soon – Subscribe to follow Eric Dane updates. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: The accounts listed above are fan-run and are not confirmed to be affiliated with Eric Dane. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- Dane was a standout water polo player in high school before acting took over as his main focus.
- He discovered a passion for acting in a school production of All My Sons, playing Joe Keller.
- He moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue acting, leaving high school shortly before graduation.
- His first Grey’s Anatomy appearance as Dr. Mark Sloan (2005) sparked such a strong reaction that the show expanded his role into a multi-season run.
- He voluntarily entered rehab in 2011 to treat dependency on prescribed pain medication following a sports injury, and he returned to work afterward.
- Dane has spoken openly about being raised in his mother’s Jewish faith, including having a bar mitzvah and identifying as a Cohanim.
- He and actress Rebecca Gayheart married in October 2004 and have two daughters. After a divorce filing in 2018, she later requested to dismiss the petition in 2025.
Quotes
“It doesn’t excuse all of his behaviors, but it opens the door for compassion.”
– Eric Dane, discussing Cal Jacobs in Euphoria (Entertainment Weekly interview)
“I am grateful to have my loving family by my side.”
– Eric Dane, statement reported by People
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Eric Dane’s age?
A: Eric Dane is 53 years old (born November 9, 1972).
Q: What is Eric Dane best known for?
A: He is best known as Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy, Captain Tom Chandler on The Last Ship, and Cal Jacobs on HBO’s Euphoria.
Q: What is Eric Dane’s real name?
A: His birth name is Eric William Melvin.
Q: Is Eric Dane married?
A: He married actress Rebecca Gayheart in 2004. A divorce petition was filed in 2018, and it was later requested to be dismissed in 2025.
Q: Does Eric Dane have children?
A: Yes. He has two daughters.
Q: What role does Eric Dane play in Euphoria?
A: He plays Cal Jacobs, the father of Nate Jacobs, and one of the show’s most complicated adult characters.
Q: What is Eric Dane doing lately?
A: Recent work includes Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) and the Prime Video series Countdown (2025), plus a guest role on Brilliant Minds.
Upcoming Projects
- Countdown (Prime Video, 2025) – Dane plays Special Agent Nathan Blythe in an action thriller series about a task force investigating a murder that reveals a plot threatening millions. Prime Video announced a June 25, 2025 premiere with a three-episode launch, followed by weekly episodes through September 3.
- Borderline (2025) – Darkly comedic thriller scheduled for release on March 14, 2025. Dane portrays Bell, a bodyguard for one of the characters.
- Kabul (2025) – Six-episode international limited series centered on the 2021 evacuation of Kabul. Dane is part of the ensemble cast, and the show premiered at Series Mania in March 2025.
- Family Secrets (TBA) – Film project listed in the fact sheet with role not yet announced.
Interviews & Features
- In 2025, Dane received coverage for a guest role on Brilliant Minds as a firefighter with ALS, tied to public advocacy and awareness efforts reported in entertainment press.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- Bad Boys: Ride or Die premiere (June 2024): Dane attended the premiere with his two daughters, generating mainstream coverage.
Awards & Nominations
- SAG (reported, 2007): Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for Grey’s Anatomy (cast ensemble).
