The Drop 40 continues to deliver this month with the death of Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane. He first appeared as Dr. Mark Sloan in a guest role at the end of Season 2, then became a regular following positive fan opinion. The “McSteamy” to Patrick Dempsey’s “McDreamy”, he played the role for six seasons before being killed off in a plane crash alongside his romantic interest Lexie Grey.
Much like fellow turn-of-the-Millennium hot guy and Drop 40 co-star James Van Der Beek, his movie career ranged from bang average to crap but he had several other notable small screen roles in series such as Charmed, The Last Ship and Euphoria.
Dane went public with an ALS diagnosis in 2025, eighteen months after first experiencing symptoms. His health decline over the next six months was a rapid one, being wheelchair bound before the end of the year and securing a spot on the Drop 40 as a result. He’s also the subject of Netflix’s second episode of Famous Last Words after it opened with Jane Goodall last year, where he gave a frank account of life battling the disease and a truly poignant farewell to his daughters at the end.
As for the leaderboard, Pretty Noose retains the top spot by a solitary point, having picked all five of the Drop 40 deaths so far and being the only team to do so having jokered one of the two youngest in James Van Der Beek.
How’s my heart supposed to be without you…
Eric Dane, Drop 40 #26
November 9 1972 – February 19 2026
48 Teams 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀+40 = 12 Points
9 Teams 🃏 = 24 Points