Quick Answer: Eric Dane, the Grey’s Anatomy star who died in February 2026 after a battle with ALS, was excluded from the Oscars 2026 televised In Memoriam segment. Shonda Rhimes, creator of Grey’s Anatomy, defended the Academy’s decision, saying “he’s not a movie star” and promising he will be properly honored at the Emmy Awards. Eric Dane’s family confirmed they were “saddened” by the omission.
The 2026 Oscars ceremony on March 15 left millions of fans — and several Hollywood insiders — outraged, and it had nothing to do with who won Best Picture. As the emotional In Memoriam segment rolled, viewers noticed something glaring: Eric Dane, the beloved Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria star who died just weeks earlier after a courageous battle with ALS, was nowhere to be seen.
Social media erupted instantly. And then Shonda Rhimes spoke.
Here’s the full story of what happened, what was said, and why this controversy has ignited a bigger conversation about how Hollywood values its television stars.
Who Was Eric Dane? A Career Worth Remembering
Before diving into the controversy, it’s important to understand just how significant a figure Eric Dane was in the entertainment world — because his absence from the In Memoriam felt so jarring to so many people.
Eric William Dane was born on November 9, 1972, in San Francisco, California. After a string of smaller television roles through the 1990s, including appearances on The Wonder Years and Roseanne, he landed the role that would define his career: Dr. Mark Sloan — famously nicknamed “McSteamy” — on ABC’s smash hit Grey’s Anatomy, beginning in 2006.
Dane appeared in 145 episodes across Seasons 2 through 9, becoming one of the show’s most beloved characters. His chemistry with the cast, his magnetic screen presence, and his ability to balance humor with emotional depth made McSteamy a fan favorite the world over.
But Grey’s Anatomy was only part of the story. Dane went on to star in The Last Ship (TNT, 2014–2018), and later took on the challenging role of Cal Jacobs — the secretly bisexual, emotionally volatile father — in HBO’s Euphoria, a role he played across all three seasons right up until his death. He also appeared in major films including X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Marley & Me (2008), and Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024).
In April 2025, Dane publicly announced he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Rather than retreating from public life, he became a fierce advocate for ALS research, traveling to Washington D.C. with the nonprofit I AM ALS, meeting with lawmakers, and using his platform to push for life-saving legislation.
By June 2025, he could no longer use his right arm. By October 2025, he was using a wheelchair. He eventually lost his ability to speak, communicating through an AI voice. He died on February 19, 2026, at the age of 53, from respiratory failure related to ALS. He is survived by his two daughters, Billie and Georgia.
What Happened at the Oscars 2026 In Memoriam?
The 2026 Academy Awards ceremony, held on March 15, 2026, featured an expanded In Memoriam segment — longer than usual, running approximately 15 minutes — due to the sheer number of major losses the entertainment world suffered in the past year.
Eric Dane Excluded from Oscars 2026 In Memoriam: A Controversy Unfolds
The segment opened with a moving tribute to Rob Reiner, featuring his When Harry Met Sally co-star Billy Crystal alongside Kiefer Sutherland, Demi Moore, Meg Ryan, and many others. Diane Keaton was honored by Rachel McAdams, and Robert Redford received a tribute from Barbra Streisand, who performed a portion of The Way We Were live on stage.
But even a 15-minute segment couldn’t include everyone. As the tribute concluded, viewers immediately took to social media to call out several notable omissions from the Oscars 2026 In Memoriam:
- Eric Dane — Grey’s Anatomy, Euphoria (died February 19, 2026, ALS, age 53)
- James Van Der Beek — Dawson’s Creek (died February 11, 2026, colorectal cancer, age 48)
- Brigitte Bardot — legendary French film actress (died December 2025, age 91)
- Malcolm-Jamal Warner — The Cosby Show
- Robert Carradine — Revenge of the Nerds
- June Lockhart — Lassie
- George Wendt — Cheers
- Loretta Swit — MAS*H
- Julian McMahon — Nip/Tuck
All of the above figures were included on the Academy’s official online In Memoriam page, but did not appear during the televised segment watched by millions.
The reaction online was swift and fierce. “What a missed opportunity,” one viewer wrote on X. Another posted: “It was wrong to leave them out.” Fans of Grey’s Anatomy, Dawson’s Creek, and Euphoria were particularly vocal.
What Did Shonda Rhimes Say About Eric Dane Being Left Out?
Here is where the story took a sharp turn.
As fans fumed on social media, reporters caught up with Shonda Rhimes — the creator of Grey’s Anatomy and founder of Shondaland — at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party on March 15. Many expected her to be angry. Instead, she offered a calm, measured defense of the Academy.
Rhimes told Entertainment Tonight:
“Well, he’s not a movie star. I feel like when the Emmys come around, he will be immortalized the way he should be. We can’t fault the Oscars for the fact they’re looking at movies, and there were so many people who were lost. Eric was unique to television, and I can’t wait to see what they do with him.”
Her words, though clearly coming from a place of love and pragmatism, immediately ignited a new wave of debate. Was she right? Or was she letting the Academy off the hook too easily?
Rhimes also spoke warmly about Dane as a person:
“Eric is — was — an incredible human being. I still say ‘is’ because it’s very hard for me to believe he’s gone. He was a huge loss for the Shondaland family, for the Grey’s Anatomy family, and honestly for all the people who knew him. He was just a wonderful, wonderful giving guy.”
How Did Eric Dane’s Family React?
While Shonda Rhimes took a gracious stance, Eric Dane’s family felt differently. Sources close to his ex-wife Rebecca Gayheart confirmed to TMZ that the family was “saddened” by the omission, though they did acknowledge that “it was a year of profound loss for the industry.”
The family took some comfort knowing that Dane is honored on the Academy’s official online In Memoriam page — but for millions of fans, a website listing is a far cry from the on-screen tribute they felt he deserved.
Why Does the Oscars In Memoriam Exclude TV Stars?
This is the core question the controversy has raised — and it’s not a simple one.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which produces the Oscars, focuses exclusively on the film industry. Its In Memoriam segment is intended to honor those who made a significant contribution to cinema. Television, technically, falls under the jurisdiction of the Television Academy, which presents the Emmy Awards.
Oscars producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan acknowledged ahead of the 2026 ceremony that putting together the segment is an incredibly nuanced process. An executive committee made up of members from various Academy branches reviews hundreds of submissions each year and makes final recommendations for the broadcast.
The challenge in 2026 was especially acute: the industry lost an unusually high number of major figures, meaning even an expanded 15-minute segment couldn’t include everyone. Decisions had to be made.
However, critics point out that the line between film and television is increasingly blurry in 2026. Eric Dane appeared in multiple theatrical films. James Van Der Beek had film credits. Brigitte Bardot — a bona fide film icon who was explicitly excluded despite a long movie career — presents perhaps the most baffling omission of all.
Is the Oscars’ TV-versus-film distinction still relevant in the streaming era? Many in the industry say no.
The Bigger Picture: Does Hollywood Undervalue TV Stars?
The Eric Dane controversy has reignited a long-simmering debate: does Hollywood treat television actors as second-class citizens?
For decades, the Oscars were considered the pinnacle of prestige, while TV was seen as a lesser medium. That perception has shifted dramatically in the past 15 years. Shows like Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Succession, and Euphoria are widely considered among the greatest artistic achievements in modern entertainment — rivaling or surpassing anything in cinemas.
Eric Dane’s work in Euphoria as the deeply complex Cal Jacobs was praised by critics as one of the finest performances on television in recent years. His 145-episode run on Grey’s Anatomy touched hundreds of millions of viewers across the globe.
Yet at the most-watched awards ceremony of the year, his name didn’t appear on screen.
Shonda Rhimes’ argument — that Eric was “a TV star” who will be honored at the Emmys — may be technically correct and practically comforting. But it raises a philosophical question: if someone’s work moved millions of people, does the medium it was delivered on really determine whether they deserve to be publicly mourned?
Patrick Dempsey’s Tribute to His Co-Star
One of the most touching responses to Dane’s death came from his longtime Grey’s Anatomy co-star Patrick Dempsey — Dr. McDreamy to McSteamy — who appeared on Virgin Radio UK shortly after Dane’s passing.
“He was the funniest man,” Dempsey said. “He’s such a joy to work with. Anytime he was on set, he brought so much fun to it. He had a great sense of humor, he was easy to work with. We got along instantly. His first scene was him in all his glory coming out of the bathroom with a towel on looking amazing, making me feel completely out of shape and insignificant.”
What Happens Next — Will the Emmys Honor Eric Dane?
All eyes are now on the 2026 Emmy Awards, where Shonda Rhimes has promised Eric Dane will be “immortalized the way he should be.” Given his three-season run on Euphoria right up until his death, his long-celebrated Grey’s Anatomy legacy, and the enormous outpouring of public love since his passing, the expectation is that the Television Academy will give him a prominent, fitting tribute.
The Emmy Awards ceremony, typically held in September, will be watched this year with particular emotional weight — for Dane, for Van Der Beek, and for all the television giants this industry lost in 2025 and 2026.
Quick Facts
| Eric Dane born | November 9, 1972, San Francisco, CA |
| Eric Dane died | February 19, 2026, age 53 (ALS) |
| Famous role | Dr. Mark Sloan “McSteamy” — Grey’s Anatomy |
| Episodes of Grey’s Anatomy | 145 |
| Other major role | Cal Jacobs — Euphoria (HBO) |
| Oscars 2026 ceremony date | March 15, 2026 |
| Shonda Rhimes’ response | Defended omission; said Emmys will honor him |
| Family reaction | “Saddened” by omission |
| Eric Dane on Oscars website? | Yes — included in online In Memoriam page |
Why was Eric Dane not in the Oscars 2026 In Memoriam?
The Academy’s In Memoriam segment focuses primarily on film industry contributions. Eric Dane was predominantly a television star, best known for Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria. Oscars producers also noted it was an especially difficult year of losses, making it impossible to include everyone in the broadcast.
What did Shonda Rhimes say about Eric Dane’s Oscars snub?
Shonda Rhimes told Entertainment Tonight at the Vanity Fair Oscar party that she was not angry about the exclusion. She said Eric was “not a movie star” and predicted he would be properly honored at the Emmy Awards, where he belongs as a television icon.
Who else was left out of the Oscars 2026 In Memoriam?
James Van Der Beek, Brigitte Bardot, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Robert Carradine, June Lockhart, George Wendt, Loretta Swit, and Julian McMahon were all absent from the televised segment, though several appeared on the Academy’s website.
Was Eric Dane on the Oscars website In Memoriam?
Yes. While Eric Dane did not appear in the televised segment, the Academy did include him on their official online In Memoriam page.
When will Eric Dane be honored at the Emmys?
The 2026 Emmy Awards, expected in September 2026, are anticipated to feature a tribute to Eric Dane. Shonda Rhimes has publicly expressed her anticipation for how the Television Academy will honor him.
Did this story stir something in you? Share it with a fellow Grey’s Anatomy or Euphoria fan. Drop your thoughts in the comments — do you think Eric Dane deserved to be in the Oscars In Memoriam? Should the Academy change its rules for the streaming era?
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