Shonda Rhimes Defends Oscars' Exclusion of Eric Dane

Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey's Anatomy, defended the Academy Awards' decision to exclude the late actor Eric Dane from its televised In Memoriam segment during the 98th Oscars ceremony on March 15, 2026, attributing the omission to Dane's primary legacy in television rather than film.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party later that evening, Rhimes, 56, addressed the backlash over Dane's absence. "Well, he's not a movie star," she said. "You 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." She expressed optimism that Dane would receive fitting recognition at the upcoming Emmys, adding, "I feel like when the Emmys come around, he will be immortalized the way he should be."

Dane, best known for his role as Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on Grey's Anatomy from 2006 to 2012, died on February 19, 2026, at age 53 following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. He had publicly shared his diagnosis in April 2025 and continued working, including a guest appearance on the medical drama Brilliant Minds, where he...