Does Mark Sloan die in Grey’s Anatomy?

Mark Sloan dies in Grey's Anatomy Season 9 due to a plane crash.

Grey’s Anatomy is a superhit ongoing American medical drama series that premiered in March 2005. It was made by Shonda Rhimes and is the longest-running medical drama on American television. Grey’s Anatomy focuses on medical cases and how doctors handle both their personal and professional lives. The show is set in the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital and has been running for 21 years, and many original cast members have left. Over the seasons, there have been many deaths in the show. The most common method writers use to write off a character is by showcasing their death. Many deaths on the show have been unexpected for the audience, including Mark Sloan's death.

Mark Sloan, played by Eric Dane, is one of the most beloved characters in Grey’s Anatomy. Mark was introduced in the 2nd season. He was Derek Shepherd's best friend from New York. Initially, he was portrayed as a morally questionable character, but his character arc on the show was widely praised. He was called "McSteamy" because of his charming looks. When he first entered the show, Meredith gave him this nickname due to his chiseled physique. His relationship with Lexie transformed his playboy image, giving his character more depth and changing the audience's perception of him. His journey goes through a lot of ups and downs and his exit from the show was emotional.

How does Mark die in Grey’s Anatomy?

In season 9, episode 2, titled “Remember the Time” Mark Sloan passes away, leaving his friends and family devastated.

In the finale of the 8th Season, titled “Flight”, Meredith, Cristina, Derek, Lexie, Mark, and Arizona took a flight to assist with surgery at another hospital. Their plane crashed in the woods and left them stranded and injured. Lexie was badly injured, and her condition was worsening. Mark, heartbroken to see her in such a state, confessed his love for her. He told her that she was the one for him and promised that once they got out of there, they would have a beautiful future together. Lexie couldn’t survive because of her injuries, as they were too severe. Her death left Mark devastated, and he also collapsed at the end of the episode due to his internal injuries.

In season 9, episode 1, titled “Going, Going, Gone”; it is shown that it has been a month since the accident. Mark was put on life support, and later in the episode, it’s revealed that he is in a coma. After losing hope for his recovery, Derek and Callie follow Mark’s wish not to be kept on life support. They bid their best friend farewell, and Richard Webber carries out the procedure. In the next episode, titled “Remember Me”, there were flashbacks to the last memories of Mark and Lexie with their colleagues after the plane crash, while in the present day, everyone is at the hospital grieving their friends' deaths. Mark Sloan and Lexie Grey's story had such a heart-breaking end, to honor them and their love, the hospital's name was changed from the Seattle Grace Hospital to the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Why did Eric Dane leave Grey’s Anatomy?

Eric Dane as Mark Sloan was loved by the audience. The moment he entered the show, viewers were intrigued by his charming looks. After working on Grey’s Anatomy for almost 6 seasons, Eric's departure from the show was a little shocking, both for the audience and for him as well.

In 2024, Eric explained in Dax Shepard’s Armchair Podcast that he did understand why he was written off the show. He said that he became too expensive for the show, and although he was struggling with addiction, that was not the reason for his departure. He understood that it was simply time for his character to go. After leaving the show, he went to a treatment center for his drug addiction, focused on his personal life, and also had time to explore more career options.

Apart from Grey’s Anatomy, Eric has appeared in many projects including X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Marley and Me (2008), Valentine's Day (2010), Grey Lady (2017), Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), Euphoria (2019-Present), etc.