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To so many of us, Eric Dane will always and forever be “McSteamy.”
The beloved actor, who died February 19th at the age of 53 after a 10-month battle with ALS, made his first appearance as Dr. Mark Sloan on “Grey’s Anatomy”—where he earned his suggestive nickname—exactly 20 years prior to his death.
But to his friends and family, and especially his young daughters, Billie and Georgia, Dane was so much more than a character or a nickname.
As a longtime “Grey’s Anatomy” fan (I’ve seen every episode at least 20 times, and rewatch the full series at least once a year), my heart dropped when I read the news about his passing.
Nothing could have prepared me for how emotional I would get watching him share his final message to the world—and most importantly, to his daughters—in a moving interview for Netflix’s “Famous Last Words.”
May we all take his message to heart. May we all share ourselves with the world so vulnerably.
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A few highlights:
“Billie and Georgia, these words are for you: I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried. Overall, we had a blast, didn’t we?”
“Live now, right now, in the present. It’s hard, but I learned to do that. For years, I would wander off mentally, lost in my head for long chunks of time, wallowing in worry and self-pity, shame and doubt. I replayed decisions, second-guessed myself. No more. Out of pure survival, I am forced to stay in the present, but I don’t want to be anywhere else. The past contains regrets. The future remains unknown. So you have to live now. The present is all you have. Treasure it. Cherish every moment.”
“Choose your friends wisely. Find your people and allow them to find you, and then give yourselves to them. The best of them will give back to you. No judgement. No conditions. No questions asked…and love your friends with everything you have. Hang on to them. They will entertain you, guide you, support you and some will save you.”
“When something unexpected hits you, and it will, because that’s life, fight and face it with honesty, integrity and grace, even if it feels or seems unsurmountable. I hope I’ve demonstrated that you can face anything. You can face the end of your days. You can face hell with dignity.”
“Billie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words.”
And Dane’s final piece of advice as Dr. Mark Sloan before his character’s untimely death:
“All that matters is people, and whether we walk away leaving them better or worse for having met us. We control that. I want you to promise me something: If you love someone, you tell ’em. Even if you’re scared that it’s not the right thing. Even if you’re scared that it’ll cause problems. Even if you’re scared that it’ll burn your life to the ground, you say it. And you say it loud. And then you go from there.”
~
author: Nicole Cameron
Image: YouTube
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