Since making his acting screen debut in an episode of NBC’s Saved by the Bell, American actor Eric Dane has had a successful career in movies and TV shows. Dane’s journey into acting began as far back as High School, after landing a role in his school’s production of Arthur Miller‘s All My Sons. Eric Dane moved to Los Angeles two years after his graduation to pursue an acting career.
The San Francisco-born actor has had relative success ever since. With the year packed full of sequels, Eric Dane plays the villain in one of 2024 most anticipated movies, Bad Boys: Ride or Die. However, playing James McGrath, a former military intelligence leader, wasn’t Eric Dane’s first popular role in his career. Here are other Eric Dane movies and TV shows where you probably recognize him.
Charmed
Charmed was one of the biggest and most successful The WB TV series of the late 1990s to mid-2000s. With its ever-growing audience and cult following, Charmed is one of Eric Dane’s most recognizable TV roles of his early acting career. Dane joined the fantasy drama series, led by a trio of sisters (known as The Charmed Ones), in season 5, episode 15 (“Baby’s First Demon”), in 2003.
Dane was cast as Jason Dean, the new multimillionaire owner of Phoebe Halliwell’s (Alyssa Milano) workplace, The Bay Mirror. Later, Dean and Phoebe start a romantic relationship, and Phoebe moves with Dean to Hong Kong for business. Eric Dane exited the show in season 6, after his character breaks up with Phoebe, having found out she was a powerful witch.
X-Men: The Last Stand
X-Men: The Last Stand was the third installment in the X-Men film series released in May 2006. For those unfamiliar with the series, it is the original film adaptation series with Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Halle Berry as Storm, as well as the Ian McKellen/Patrick Stewart cast as Magneto and Professor Charles Xavier. Eric Dane was cast in a minor role portraying Jamie Madrox/Multiple Man.
As a mutant and thief, he was recruited by the Brotherhood. His super ability is self-duplication, giving him the ability to create a very large number of copies of himself. As of 2004, Eric Dane is the only actor to have portrayed the Marvel Comics character in a movie. With Box Office earnings of $460.4 million, X-Men: The Last Stand has been Eric Dane’s highest-grossing movie of his career.
Grey’s Anatomy
The ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy has been Eric Dane’s longest-running character of his career. Cast as Dr. Mark Sloan/McSteamy, it is the role he is most known for by television audiences. Dane joined Grey’s Anatomy in season 2 after showrunner Shonda Rhimes created his character. Besides his work as Seattle Grace Hospital’s plastic surgeon, Dr. Mark Sloan/McSteamy’s storyline often revolved around his romantic relationships.
First introduced as Derek Shepherd’s (Patrick Dempsey) best friend, Dane’s characters end Shepherd’s marriage after Dr. Sloan sleeps with Shepherd’s wife, Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh). However, his romantic relationship with one of his interns, Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), played out more during Eric Dane’s time on the show. The character’s exit was after he succumbed to his extensive injuries from the plane crash. Dr. Sloan’s death, as well as that of Lexie Grey, stayed etched forever in the series, with Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital being renamed Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital as a tribute to their deaths.
Marley & Me
Eric Dane played the best friend and colleague in the Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston-led 2008 comedy-drama Marley & Me. Dane was cast as Sebastian Tunney, the character who advises John Grogan (Wilson) to adopt a dog to test their readiness to start a family. Marley & Me was a commercial success, grossing $247.8 million on a $60 million budget. Marley & Me is one of Dane’s most notable works in movies.
Valentine’s Day
Eric Dane was part of the ensemble cast of Garry Marshall’s romantic comedy Valentine’s Day. As the name suggests, Valentine’s Day centered around different couples and their love stories on Valentine’s Day. Dane was cast as Sean Jackson, a closeted gay professional football player. He later comes out on national television, which causes his lover, Holden (Bradley Cooper), who had left him, to return. Valentine’s Day’s other star-studded cast included Jessica Alba, Patrick Dempsey, Kathy Bates, Jamie Foxx, Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner, George Lopez, Anne Hathaway, Héctor Elizondo, Queen Latifah, Emma Roberts, and Julia Roberts. The movie was also Taylor Swift’s film debut.
Burlesque
Eric Dane also joined the star-packed cast of Steven Antin’s 2010 backstage musical movie Burlesque. The movie was Christina Aguilera’s first lead role, as well as Cher’s last major role on the big screen. Both performers headlined Burlesque, with Eric Dane cast as Marcus Gerber, a supporting character. Marcus is a wealthy clubgoer who becomes infatuated with Ali (Christina Aguilera). When she thinks of giving him a chance, Ali discovers Marcus is interested in buying the “air rights” above Tess Scali’s (Cher) club to be able to build a skyscraper.
The Last Ship
In his first lead role on television, Eric Dane played Tom Chandler in TNT’s action-drama series The Last Ship. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic world where over 80% of the world’s population is wiped out by a viral pandemic. The unaffected crew members of the USS Nathan James (DDG-151) warship are tasked with the mission to save humanity by finding a cure. In the 5-seasons series, Dane’s character begins as a Commander, is promoted to Captain, and ends the series as an Admiral. As the shoe progressed, it enjoyed generally favorable reviews from critics.
Euphoria
Today’s television audiences will more likely know Eric Dane from playing Cal Jacobs on HBO’s teen drama series Euphoria. Dane plays a closeted bisexual realtor who’s the father of Jacob Elordi’s character, Nathaniel “Nate” Jacobs. Cal Jacobs’ storyline revolves around his dark past and dangerous double life. The Zendaya-led series has been a critical success, having received 25 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning 9. If you recognize Eric Dane from any of these movies and TV shows, also read 6 Things You Didn’t Know About Bad Boys’ Martin Lawrence.
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