Eric Dane Looks Back On His ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Exit, Praises Creator Shonda Rhimes | Eric Dane, Greys Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes | Just Jared: Celebrity News and Gossip

Eric Dane is reflecting on being let go from Grey’s Anatomy.

The 51-year-old actor joined the show in season two as a guest, then starred on the medical drama for eight seasons as Dr Mark Sloan, aka McSteamy. He also returned for a special appearance in season 17.

The hospital in the long-running ABC series was even renamed after his character – Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, after his character and another died in a plane crash.

Now, several years later, Eric is looking back on his departure from the show and why he believes he was let go.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I didn’t leave so much as I think I was let go,” Eric said on a recent episode of the Armchair Expert podcast.

When it was pointed out that he was struggling with drug and alcohol addiction at the point he was let go, Eric noted, “I was struggling. They didn’t let me go because of that, although it definitely didn’t help.”

The real reason he thinks he was let go? He got too expensive.

“I was starting to become — as most of these actors who have spent significant time on the show — you start to become very expensive for the network,” he shared. “And the network knows that the show is going to do what it’s going to do irrespective of who they keep on it—as long as they have their Grey they were fine.”

I wasn’t the same guy they had hired, so I had understood when I was let go and Just Jared Shonda [Rhimes] was really great,” Eric added. “She protected us fiercely. She protected us publicly, she protected us privately… I love Shonda Rhimes and she protected me but I was probably fired. It wasn’t ceremoniously like, ‘You’re fired,’ it was just like, ‘You’re not coming back.’”

If you missed it, a former Grey’s Anatomy star is returning to the show in season 21 as a series regular after years away!

Eric will next be seen on screen in the upcoming Prime Video movie One Fast Move and the first look photos were revealed, including one of Eric. He will also be starring in a new show for the streamer…