Eric Dane absent from Emmys as Grey's Anatomy tribute is canceled

Eric Dane did not appear at the 77th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, where he had been scheduled to join former Grey's Anatomy co-star Jesse Williams for a planned tribute to the longrunning medical drama. Williams instead presented the award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series solo, and the onstage reunion that had been announced ahead of the ceremony did not take place.

People familiar with the evening said Dane pulled out at the last minute. The reasons for his absence were not disclosed and his representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Organizers canceled the two-person segment after Dane did not appear, and Williams proceeded directly to the presenting duties without mentioning the series.

Earlier on the red carpet, Williams had spoken warmly of his former co-star, calling him "my guy" and saying "he's solid" while praising the emotional impact of the show. Those comments were made before Dane's absence was known and reflected a reunion that many attendees had expected, since the awards were marking what television producers regarded as a milestone year for the series.

Dane announced in April that he had been diagnosed with...