Shonda Rhimes reacts to Eric Dane’s absence from Oscars In Memoriam tribute: ‘He’s not a movie star’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: TV producer Shonda Rhimes responded to the controversy surrounding the late Eric Dane's omission from the 2026 Oscars In Memoriam segment, stating, “he’s not a movie star."
The 'Grey’s Anatomy' creator shared her thoughts at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 15, noting that the actor was "unique to television" and will likely be honored at the upcoming Emmy Awards.
Rhimes explains reason behind Eric Dane's missing Oscars tribute
When asked about the missing Oscars tribute on Sunday night, Rhimes was very direct regarding why the actor was not included.
“Well, he’s not a movie star," the 56-year-old told ET while expressing that the proper time to celebrate his legacy will be during the television awards.
“I feel like when the Emmys come around, he will be immortalized the way he should be," she said.
She defended the Academy's decision by adding, "You can’t fault the Oscars for the fact they’re looking at movies, and there were so many people who are lost. Eric was unique to television and I can’t wait to see what they (Emmys) do with him."
Rhimes remember Dane as an ‘incredible human being’
While the Oscar ceremony featured tributes to movie icons like Rob Reiner and Robert Redford, Dane was most famous for playing Dr. Mark Sloan aka McSteamy.
Even though he had roles in films like 'Marley & Me' and 'X-Men: The Last Stand,' his biggest impact was on the 'Grey’s Anatomy.'
It is to be noted that 'Grey’s Anatomy already paid its own tribute to the actor, who passed away at age 53 on February 19, by airing a 60-second video at the end of the February 26 episode.
Rhimes also shared how hard it is to talk about him in the past tense. "He was an incredible human being, and I still say is because it's very hard for me to believe he's gone," she told ET.
Rhimes mourns a great loss for the ‘Shondaland’ family
The creator of the hit medical drama emphasized that Dane was a beloved figure behind the scenes as well.
"He was an incredible human being and he was a huge loss for us," Rhimes continued. She noted that his kind nature was something his close friends and coworkers appreciated every day.
"He was a huge loss for the Shondaland family, for the Grey's Anatomy family, and honestly, the people that he knew, he was just a wonderful, wonderful, giving guy that I don't know that everybody understands how amazing he was," she said.
