Well, folks, the Grim Reaper finally came knocking for Eric Dane, but not before he got a chance to sit down for Netflix’s delightfully morbid Famous Last Words series. Yes, that’s right—Netflix is out here playing chess while the rest of us are still trying to remember our Netflix passwords. The actor, best known for being so steamy he literally earned the nickname “McSteamy,” recorded his final thoughts before ALS took him from us. Spoiler alert: He didn’t say, “I wish I’d done more shirtless scenes.”
For those of you who haven’t heard of this gem of a show (and honestly, who can blame you?), Famous Last Words is Netflix’s latest attempt to make us all confront our mortality while binge-watching. Inspired by some Danish series called Det Sidste Ord (which Google Translate tells me means “The Last Words,” so they really went out on a limb with that title), the show features celebrities giving their final interviews. And by “final,” they mean “we’re not airing this until you’re dead.” Yikes.
The first episode starred Dr. Jane Goodall, who probably had some profound things to say about saving the planet. Eric Dane, on the other hand, had some profound things to say about losing his dad and grandma at a young age. Heavy stuff, but hey, at least he didn’t spend the whole time reminiscing about his glory days on Grey’s Anatomy. (Although, let’s be real, we all would’ve watched that.)
According to Netflix, these interviews are conducted in “extreme discretion.” Translation: No crew, no audience, just the interviewer and the soon-to-be-dead celebrity. It’s like a podcast, but with higher stakes. And the best part? The interviews are presented in their entirety, unedited, and feature moments where the subject stares directly into the camera like they’re about to reveal the secrets of the universe. Spoiler alert: They don’t.
Dane’s career was a rollercoaster of TV gems, from Saved by the Bell (yes, really) to The Wonder Years to Roseanne. But let’s be honest, his crowning achievement was playing Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy. That’s right, the guy was so hot they literally called him “McSteamy.” He was supposed to be a guest star, but fans loved him so much they wrote him into the show full-time. Take that, Shonda Rhimes.
In his Famous Last Words interview, Dane opened up about his past emotional trauma, including losing his father and grandmother at a young age. He also addressed his two daughters, which is sweet, but also makes us wonder if they’ll ever be able to watch Euphoria the same way again. (Side note: Can we talk about how he went from McSteamy to Cal Jacobs? Talk about range.)
Brad Falchuk, the creator of the series, had nothing but glowing things to say about Dane. “There was no self-pity in Eric,” he said. “He refused to complain. He was brave, soulful, charming, joyful, grateful, and hilarious.” And then, just to make us all cry, he added, “When he flashed that smile, he was undeniably still a leading man.” BRB, sobbing into my McSteamy body pillow.
While the whole concept of Famous Last Words might seem a little morbid (okay, a lot morbid), it’s important to remember that these interviews are conducted with the subjects’ full approval. So, if you’re a celebrity reading this, maybe start thinking about what you’d say in your final interview. Just don’t say, “I wish I’d done more shirtless scenes.” We’ve already got Eric Dane on that.
And there you have it, folks. Eric Dane’s final words are out, and they’re just as heartfelt and introspective as you’d expect. So, grab some tissues, queue up Famous Last Words on Netflix, and prepare to ugly-cry over McSteamy one last time. Just don’t blame us when you’re sobbing into your popcorn.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
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