Eric Dane Is Leaving 'Grey's Anatomy'

In a continued effort to crush the souls of its fans, "Grey's Anatomy" is losing another surgeon next season. Eric Dane, known on the show as Sloan, McSteamy, Shepard's best friends, Torres' best friend, Sophia's dad, and Avery's mentor. His especially long list of identities should give you an idea of which characters will be left emotionally devastated if Dane's departure means Sloan's death, which seems likely since last season left off with the plastic surgeon heartbroken over the death of the woman he loved and actually dealing with a serious heart issue while stranded in the woods. Seattle Grace docs have survived worse, but it seems unlikely Sloan would leave Seattle Grace after narrowly escaping a tree lined death.

Dane explained he's grateful for his time on the medical melodrama while "Grey's Anatomy" creator Shonda Rhimes released a statement similar to the one she gave when Chyler Leigh (Lexie) left at the end of last season saying, "We're a big family here at Grey's with a long history together and Eric will always remain an important part of our family. I wish him the best and I look forward to watching him as he continues to steam up the big and small screen."

Now that the doctors are most likely suffering at least one more causality in the woods, fans are left to speculate if other surgeons are in danger of not making it home. Rhimes has admitted, "just because you saw people alive at the end of the finale doesn't mean they're going to be alive when the season starts up." While Meredith and Cristina seemed to be suffering from minor injuries, Derek's hand took some serious-looking damage, and poor Arizona wasn't getting much attention from her colleagues despite the fact she was coughing up blood. "Grey's Anatomy's" ninth season starts September 27th. Start buying the tissues.