Chyler Leigh reveals her biggest regret following Eric Dane’s death
The actress says her biggest regret is never filming alongside Eric Dane during their 'Grey’s Anatomy' reunion
Actress Chyler Leigh has opened up about the emotional regret she carries following the death of her former Grey’s Anatomy co-star Eric Dane.
Leigh, 44, revealed that one of the most difficult aspects of returning to the long-running medical drama during its Season 17 dream-sequence storyline was not being able to share the set with Dane, who portrayed fan-favorite surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan.
The actress reprised her role as Dr. Lexie Grey in the emotional episodes, which reunited several beloved characters with Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey.
However, strict COVID-19 protocols prevented Leigh and Dane from filming together in person.
At the time, Leigh was working in Vancouver on Supergirl, making travel difficult amid pandemic restrictions.
As a result, the actors filmed their scenes separately using green-screen technology, and their performances were then combined on screen.
Looking back on the experience, Leigh admitted she was disappointed that she never had the chance to perform the highly anticipated reunion face-to-face with Dane.
Her comments have taken on added significance following Dane’s death earlier this year.
The actor, who was also widely recognized for his role as Cal Jacobs in the HBO drama Euphoria, remained one of Grey’s Anatomy’s most beloved cast members long after his departure from the series.
Mark Sloan and Lexie Grey's romance, affectionately known by fans as “Slexie,” remains one of the show's most memorable storylines.
Viewers were left heartbroken when both characters died following the devastating plane crash that concluded Season 8.
Despite her regret over their final on-screen reunion, Leigh spoke warmly about her former co-star, remembering him as a kind and generous person whose humor and infectious laugh left a lasting impression on everyone around him.
The actress also acknowledged the deep grief she felt after learning of Dane’s passing, revealing that the loss hit her particularly hard once the reality of it set in.
While the sadness remains, Leigh said she is choosing to focus on the positive memories they created together throughout their years on Grey’s Anatomy.
Rather than dwelling on what might have been, she finds comfort in celebrating the friendship and experiences they shared, both on and off screen.