Eric Dane is full of gratitude.
“I’ve been under a lot of pressure,” the actor told me Tuesday morning via Zoom while promoting his new indie drama “One Fast Move.” “But I’m having a lot of fun right now.”
For years, Danny's private life has been the subject of tabloid scrutiny. He recently revealed on Dax Shepard's “Armchair Expert” podcast that his character Dr. Mark Sloan, known as McSteamy, on “Grey's Anatomy,” was killed off on the hit ABC series, in part due to his real-life drug problems.
But that was then.
Dan has been very busy over the past few years. In addition to One Fast Move, in which he plays a slacker father and former motorcycle racing champion whose estranged son (Abba) returns to his life, the actor appeared this summer in Bad Boys: Ride or Die with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
Eric Dane and KJ Apa in “One Fast Move”.
Frank Massey/Prime
There’s also “Euphoria.” Danny has won critical acclaim for his role as Cal Jacobs, the deeply troubled and extremely reserved father of Jacob Elordi’s character. It was announced in July that “Euphoria” would return for a third season after controversy and production delays led many to believe Zendaya and company were done with the HBO show.
“I was optimistic about the show coming back, so I’m very happy,” Dan says. “I know there’s a huge appetite for it in the market. There’s a huge audience, and I love making it. I love the people I work with. I love working with Sam Levinson. I’m having a great time. HBO is supporting us and letting us do whatever we want.”
He talked to Levinson about Cal's future. “The first thing I said to Sam when we finished season two was, 'I don't want to be behind bars,'” Dan says. “So I'm almost 100 percent sure I'm not behind bars… Whatever comes after that, I don't mind.”
His work on “Euphoria” is dark. And it’s not always easy to let go of that feeling after filming is over. “Sometimes you take it with you on the car ride home,” he says. “Sometimes, and it’s rare, you bring it home with you. But mostly, that too will pass and there’s nothing like a good night’s sleep.”
Now, back to Grey’s Anatomy. Danny laughs when asked what his daughters thought of their father’s portrayal of McSteamy. “When my 12-year-old daughter started watching the show a couple of years ago, she looked at me and said, ‘Dad, where did your abs go?’ She was serious, she wasn’t kidding,” Danny recalls.
The 51-year-old insists his abs are back. “I just need to work harder,” says Dan. “I have a climbing device but I don't use it as much. I'll get back to using it.”
As Grey's Anatomy enters its 21st season, Danny wonders if his character is still alive and could return to the show. (He appeared in a dream sequence in 2020 when Meredith Grey was in a coma due to COVID.)
“No,” he says without hesitation. “I think I did exactly what I was supposed to do on this show. I think I was on this show exactly as long as I was supposed to be on this show, and no matter how or why or how I left, I think everything happened exactly as it was supposed to happen.”
“I don't watch Grey's Anatomy,” he continues. 1722976696 I didn't see a lot of the scenes during the filming, but I definitely had a lot of fun filming it. The relationship between the actors was so great. I remember going to the set and thinking, “I love spending time with these people.”
Danny had a similar experience with One Fast Move. He and Aba became very close during filming. “He’s someone to keep around,” Danny says.
The film, directed by Kelly Blatz, includes several intense scenes between Danny and Aba. Danny recalls, “There was a scene where after we shot the scene, KJ pulled me aside and said, 'I really feel like hitting you, Eric.' I said, 'I understand. I think that's how you were supposed to feel.'”
“One Fast Move” will premiere on Prime Video on August 8.
