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‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Creator Shonda Rhimes Says Eric Dane Was Excluded From Oscars In Memoriam Because ‘He’s Not a Movie Star’: ‘We Can’t Fault the Oscars’

What happened

Shonda Rhimes publicly defended the Academy Awards' puts-yen-160-watch-in-focus-analysts-say.html" class="story-link" title="Bank of Japan Decision Puts Yen-160 Watch in Focus, Analysts Say">decision to exclude Eric Dane from the televised In Memoriam segment at the 2024 Oscars. The Grey's Anatomy creator, who worked with Dane for years, stated that he wasn't included because 'he's not a movie star' and said he would be properly honored at the Emmys instead. Dane passed away in February 2024 at age 53 after battling ALS.

Why people care

Eric Dane was beloved by millions as Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy, making his exclusion from the Oscars tribute segment particularly painful for fans. The decision to leave out recognizable TV actors from the ceremony's most solemn moment raises questions about how the film industry values different types of performers, especially when they've touched so many lives.

The takes

Fans say

Eric Dane deserved recognition regardless of whether he was primarily known for television work. His impact on popular culture and the lives he touched through his performances should have earned him a place in the tribute, and the distinction between 'movie stars' and 'TV stars' feels outdated and unnecessarily exclusionary.

Rhimes says

The Oscars ceremony is specifically for film, so the exclusion makes sense from an institutional perspective. Dane will receive proper recognition at the Emmys, which is the more appropriate venue to honor his television legacy and contributions to the medium where he made his biggest impact.

Sources