Dax Shepard Reveals Troubled History With ‘Bully’ Eric Dane

During a new interview, Dax Shepard revealed he had a troubled start to his relationship with "bully" Eric Dane. The Dax Shepard Reveals Troubled History With ‘Bully’ Eric Dane first appeared on The Blast

Dax Shepard and Eric Dane were close friends; however, things weren’t always great between them. In fact, Shepard recently revealed that he initially “hated” the “Grey’s Anatomy” star after having an intense interaction with him during a recovery meeting. Once the dust between them had settled, though, the actors realized they were more alike than they realized.

Dax Shepard ‘Hated’ Eric Dane … Described Him As A ‘Bit Of A Bully’

Speaking with Anderson Cooper at the New Orleans Book Festival, Shepard recalled the first time he bumped heads with Dane.

“Eric Dane, I can now say I met in recovery and we hated each other. I hated him,” Shepard said. “I thought he was a bit of a bully.”

Shepard went on to reveal that things had reached a boiling point between them when he noticed Dane allegedly exerting his power over a younger guy.

Shepard said he’d had enough by that point and said to Dane, “Let’s go. Outside. Right now.” Shepard explained that the pair made their way to the parking lot to throw down, but others intervened.

How Dax Shepard Found Himself Relating To Eric Dane After Almost Getting Into A Physical Fight

And while the pair almost came to blows, Shepard said Dane chose to return to their recovery meetings.

From there, the pair formed a friendship over the “course of the next two years.” Shepard said he “found myself starting to kind of relate to him. I heard his story.”

Shepard revealed that Dane allegedly opened up about the hardships in his life, such as losing his father by suicide and being forced to suppress his grief.

“So that little boy held onto that. And then that little boy grew up without a dad, like I grew up without a dad, and he was so in search of masculine validation, and it took all these shapes that I hated. That I’m sure he hated in me,” Shepard said.

Eric Dane Relapsed While Filming ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Dane has been open about his struggles with addiction. In the past, he said he was sober for years before joining the cast of “Grey’s Anatomy”; however, he relapsed in 2007.

“If you take the whole eight years I was on Grey’s Anatomy, I was f—ed up longer than I was sober and that was when things started going sideways for me,” he said, according to PEOPLE.

Dane was let go from the series in 2012 when his character, McSteamy, was killed in a crash. And despite relapsing while filming, Dane said his drinking was not the reason he was let go.

“I was struggling. They didn’t let me go because of that, although it definitely didn’t help,” he said. “I was starting to become — as most of these actors who have spent significant time on the show — you start to become very expensive for the network.”

Eric Dane Passed Away In February 2026 After A Years-Long Battle With ALS

According to a previous report from The Blast, Dane passed away in February 2026 after a years-long battle with ALS. He was 53.

ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is a nerve-system disease that causes loss of muscle control, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Dane’s family released a statement to TMZ after his passing, confirming the actor was surrounded by family at the time of his death.

In addition to his role on “Grey’s Anatomy,” Dane also starred in “The Last Ship,” “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” “X-Men,” and “Euphoria.”

Shonda Rhimes Pays Tribute To Dane Following His Sudden Passing

Several of Dane’s former co-stars paid their respects to the late actor, according to The Blast. “Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes also gave her condolences before remembering him with a moving social media post.

“Eric Dane was a beloved member of the Shondaland and Grey’s Anatomy families. He was truly a gifted actor whose portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan left an indelible mark on the series and on audiences around the world. We are grateful for the artistry, spirit, friendship, and humanity he shared with us for so many years. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, and all who were touched by his work,” Rhimes captioned a photo of them on Instagram.

The Dax Shepard Reveals Troubled History With ‘Bully’ Eric Dane first appeared on The Blast