The bestEric Danemovies and TV shows have mostly come on the small screen, with some major roles in significant television shows. While Dane was a high school athlete, he moved into acting after working in a school production of Arthur Miller’sAll My Sons. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles and started taking on smaller roles in television shows. He finally got his first major role after appearing inThe Wonder Years,Saved by the Bell,Roseanne, andMarried… with Children.
This was in a medical drama calledGideon’s Crossing. Whilethat show didn’t last over one season,it was a big reason he got cast as Dr. Sloan inGrey’s Anatomy, which made him a star. That show brought him a lot of attention from critics and award ceremonies, and it helped him move on to other starring roles on television and a handful of movies along the way.With starring roles inEuphoriaandThe Last Shipin recent years, it seems his career is still on the rise.
After a series of smaller roles for Eric Dane as he got his foot into the door in Hollywood, he got his biggest opportunity when he signed on for the recurring role of Dr. Wyatt Cooper in the medical drama seriesGideon’s Crossing. The show is based on the real-life experiences of Jerome Groopman and his bookThe Measure of Our Days.That book followed case studies of Groopman’s patients, and Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) played Dr. Ben Gideon, the fictionalized version of Groopman.
On top of Dane and Braugher, Rubén Blades and Rhona Mitra also appeared in the series. For Dane, he was Dr. Wyatt Cooper, and he only had a small recurring role. Dane only appeared in four episodes of the series as one of the doctors at Gideon’s hospital. While he didn’t do too much, he turned some heads, and fans can see what would become Dr. Mark Sloan when he signed on withGrey’s Anatomya few years later.
X-Men: The Last Stand
Cast
X-Men: The Last Stand is the third film in the X-Men series, featuring the conflict between mutants over a newly discovered cure for mutations. The film showcases the X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier, opposing the Brotherhood, led by Magneto, as tensions escalate within the mutant community.
The biggest movie Eric Dane ever appeared in was Fox’s third entry in the originalX-Menfranchise run. While it was his biggest role, it was minor, and he only played a small part in the film.X-Men: The Last Standtried to tell two comic book stories in one film, with the Dark Phoenix Saga and the Mutant Cure storyline. Sadly, that was too much of a story for one movie. It received poor reviews and audience scores and was the lastX-Menteam movie until it was rebooted with a prequel series.
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Dane played a mutant villain named Jamie Madrox, The Multiple Man. In the movie, he had a big moment when the government was closing in on Magneto’s base, thinking they had all his mutants rounded up, only to realize it was Multiple Man and all his copies. It was a small role, but it was an important one for the plot, and Dane showed he had what it takes to play in a major Hollywood release, although he hasn’t had many opportunities since then.
Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a 2010 Comedy and Romance film by director Garry Marshall. The movie stars Bradley Cooper, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, and Kathy Bates. The premise revolves around multiple couples during Valentine’s Day.
For a time, Hollywood made several movies based on holiday themes, including the 2010 Garry Marshall ensemble releaseValentine’s Day. This film featured a huge cast of stars in several different love stories around the romantic holiday. One of the biggest things to note about the film was that it was Taylor Swift’s first acting credit. However, the cast included many stars, including Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Patrick Dempsey, and Eric Dane.
Dane plays Sean Jackson, a closeted gay professional football playernearing the end of his career. When he finally comes out to the public on national television, he finds his true love when former lover Holden (Bradley Cooper) returns to him. The film was noted, at the time, for the appearance of both McDreamy (Dempsey) and McSteamy (Dane) fromGrey’s Anatomy, and while it was a fun turn for Dane in the film, it was a small role that only true fans remember to this day.
Burlesque
Burlesque is a musical drama directed by Steve Antin, featuring Christina Aguilera as Ali, a woman pursuing her dreams in Los Angeles. She finds a job at the Burlesque Lounge, where she aspires to perform and play a role in restoring the theater’s former grandeur.
In 2010,Burlesquebrought pop star Christina Aguilera to the big screen and paired her with icon Cher for a musical surrounding the burlesque club scene.Burlesquetells the story of a young woman named Ali (Aguilera) who wants to be a dancer and moves to Los Angeles to discover her dreams. She ends up at a Burlesque club and starts working there as a waitress until she earns a chance to join the entourage of dancers when the lead dancer (Kristen Bell) walks out.
As a minor antagonist, he provides just enough of an obstacle for the women to stand up and fight for their survival.
Eric Dane stars in the movie as Marcus Gerber, a wealthy man who frequents the cluband develops an infatuation with Ali. However, he also plans to buy the building the club is in and build a skyscraper there, effectively shutting it down. As a minor antagonist, he provides just enough of an obstacle for the women to stand up and fight for their survival. Released the same year asValentine’s Day, it seemed Dane would become a major movie star, but it mostly resulted in his return to television as a leading man.
Marley & Me
Marley & Me follows the life of a journalist couple, John and Jenny Grogan, portrayed by Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, as they adopt a mischievous Labrador retriever named Marley. The film explores their journey through marriage, career challenges, and the ups and downs of pet ownership, highlighting the profound influence Marley has on their lives.
Based on the novelMarly & Meby John Grogan, this film stars Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston as newlyweds John and Jenny Grogan. They relocate to Florida and get jobs at rival newspapers, with Jenny getting front-page stories and John being forced to write obituaries and small news articles. However, when they buy a dog named Marley, who is mostly untrainable, John gets the job of writing his own column, one where he writes about the misadventures of his dog.
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The movie is about John and Jenny’s struggles as a couple, including her suffering through postpartum depression and him questioning his own career. However, it is mostly about their life with their dog, Marley.Eric Dane plays Sebastian, John’s mentorand the person who suggested they buy Marley at the start. It is a great supporting role for Dane as the best friend and confidant, and he delivers a great performance in his small moments throughout the film.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Bad Boys: Ride or Die continues the action-packed saga of Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. The film follows the duo as they face new threats and personal challenges, blending intense action scenes with the camaraderie fans have come to love in the Bad Boys series.
In 2024, Eric Dane enjoyed his biggest movie role in over a decade when he joined thecast of the sequel,Bad Boys: Ride or Die. The film brought Will Smith and Martin Lawrence back together as Mike and Marcus. They end up on the run from the police after someone frames their beloved late captain for crimes he never committed, whih leads to a giant conspiracy and the duo’s biggest adventure to date.Eric Dane took on a rare role as a villain in the movie.
Seeing Dane as a villain was unusual, but he pulled off the role perfectly.
Dane plays the main antagonist, James McGrath. He is a former DEA agent who became a cartel ally and smuggler. He was also responsible for Captain Howard’s death inBad Boys for Lifebecause Howard was close to uncovering McGrath’s illegal doings. Knowing Mike and Marcus were close to Howard. McGrath realized he needed to target them, which set up this film. Seeing Dane as a villain was unusual, but he pulled off the role perfectly and showed he was as good of a bad guy as a hero.
Charmed
Charmed is a television series centered on three sisters—Prue, Piper, and Phoebe—who discover their powers as the Charmed Ones, destined to fight evil forces. Set in modern-day San Francisco, the series explores their evolving magical abilities while they juggle personal lives and combat demons and warlocks.
Before taking his role onGrey’s Anatomy, Eric Dane had a recurring role on the fantasy seriesCharmed. The series is about the Halliwell sisters, also known as the Charmed Ones, who protect the world from demons and other supernatural creatures with the Power of Three. There are a lot of magical and supernatural characters in the series, but when it comes to Eric Dane, the actor plays one of the rare human supporting characters on the show.
He was a great romantic partner for Phoebe and was someone that many fans wanted to see work, but at least it ended on good terms.
Dane plays Jason Dean, a businessmanwho buys The Bay Mirror newspaper in 2003. This is where Phoebe Halliwell (Alyssa Milano) works as an advice columnist. The two ended up dating each other, which lasted for over a year before he broke off their relationship when he learned that she was a witch. He was on the show in seasons five and six. He was a great romantic partner for Phoebe and was someone that many fans wanted to see work, but at least it ended on good terms.
The Last Ship
The Last Ship centers on the crew of a naval destroyer who struggles to deal with a new world in which a pandemic has wiped out a huge portion of the population. The series was created by Steven Kane and Hank Steinberg and aired on TNT for a total of five seasons before ending in 2018.
After leavingGrey’s Anatomy,Eric Dane’s biggest TV role came as a leading character in the military action seriesThe Last Ship. The series takes place in a world where a viral pandemic wiped out 80% of the world’s population (this aired from 2014 to 2018, so years before COVID-19). The main action takes place on a 2018-person crew of a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, the USS Nathan James. This crew has to find a cure that can save humanity.
With Dane in the lead role, it proved he could carry a big-budget action series.
The original leads in this series were Rhona Mitra as Dr. Rachel Scott andEric Dane as Commander Tom Chandler. However, after a behind-the-scenes dispute,Mitra left after the second season, and Dane was the main lead after that, alongside Adam Baldwin. The series received critical praise, with an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and with Dane in the lead role, it proved he could carry a big-budget action series.
Euphoria
Euphoria is a teen drama created by Sam Levinson and starring Zendaya, Maude Apatow, and Angus Cloud. The series deals with the dark reality of a drug-addicted teen on her road to recovery as she faces a multitude of challenges and issues.
Eric Dane took on the most risqué role of his career when he joined the cast ofEuphoria. The series stars Zendaya as Rue Bennett, a teenage drug addict who tries to get sober but struggles with her everyday life in school. The entire series is about drug addiction, sexual promiscuity, violence, and assault in the lives of high schoolers.That makes Eric Dane’s role all the more intriguing in a show that is mostly mired in controversy.
Dane plays Cal Jacobs, the closeted bisexual father of Nate (Jacob Elordi), who himself is a star football player and an abusive boyfriend to Maddy (Alexa Demie). It is Cal’s closeted bisexuality that pushes his son’s anger issues, as his son is also hiding his sexual insecurities.When Cal comes out to his familywhile humiliating them all in season 2, the wholesome Dane shows how despicable of a character he can play and proves he has range some might not have suspected before this.
Grey’s Anatomy
Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama series revolving around surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show features the professional and personal lives of these medical professionals, led initially by Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series highlights the complexities of medical cases while delving into the interpersonal relationships among the hospital staff.
The most important role in Eric Dane’s career came when he was cast inGrey’s Anatomy. He made his debut on the show in season 2, and fans loved him so much thatDr. Mark Sloan became a main character in season 3. He was Derek Shepherd’s (Patrick Dempsey) best friend who helped end his marriage to Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh). However, they reconciled and began working together again, and they remained on-again and off-again friends throughout his run on the show.
Along with Derek’sGrey’s Anatomynickname of McDreamy, Sloan got his own nickname of McSteamy. He eventually began dating Lexie Grey, Meredith’s younger sister, and the two had a tragic ending, where they died within two episodes of each other, sending one of the show’s most popular couples out after a terrible plane crash.Grey’s Anatomyis by farEric Dane’smost popular role, and it is still the one that most fans connect him to all these years later.
