Eric Dane Misses Emmys’ Planned ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Reunion; Fellow Alum Jesse Williams Presents Solo
As the Emmy producers revealed earlier this week, the 2025 awards show was planning to celebrate America’s longest-running primetime medical drama, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, by reuniting two of its prominent alums — and hottest doctors — Jesse Williams and Eric Dane.
The Grey’s Anatomy tribute didn’t happen as Dane was a no-show for what was going to be the actor’s first major awards show appearance since he revealed his ALS diagnosis in April. Williams ended up presenting solo.
According to sources, Dane pulled out at the last minute, believed to be on Emmy Sunday. The reasons are unknown; Deadline has reached out to Dane’s representatives for comment.
Without Dane, there was no Grey’s Anatomy 20th anniversary celebration, with Williams going straight to presenting the award for Drama Series Directing without a mention of the ABC medical drama.
“I don’t know the details of that,” Emmy producer Jesse Collins told Deadline about D
ane’s pullout. “I just was told that he wasn’t able to make it. And fortunately, Jesse Williams, was able to present for us.”
While Grey’s Anatomy is headed into its 22nd season, the TV Academy was going by calendar year as the medical drama launched as a midseason replacement in March 2005, making 2025 a 20th anniversary year.
Dane played Dr. Mark Sloan aka McSteamy, for 6 seasons, from Seasons 3 to 9. While his character died a tragic death, Dane returned for a guest spot during the Covid-themed Season 17 when Mark, along with Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), appeared in a dream sequence while Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) was in a coma.
Dane also is a series regular on Prime Video’s Countdown and on HBO’s Euphoria, slated to return for a third and final season in 2026.
Williams spent 12 seasons on Grey’s Anatomy, 11 of them as a series regular, playing Dr. Jackson Avery. Following his May 2021 exit, he has remained in the series’ orbit, popping in as a guest star almost every season.