Costar Shares Emotional Tribute to Eric Danes Support

Transgender actress and activist Alexandra Billings shared a of working alongside on  back in 2006.

In a moving tribute video posted following Dane's death, Billings, 63, reflected on their time together filming the season three episode 'Where the Boys Are,' in which she portrayed Donna Gibson, a navigating a breast diagnosis while in the midst of transitioning.

Billings recalled opening up to Dane, who starred opposite her as Dr. Mark Sloan, on set about her real-life experience transitioning in the 1980s, explaining how her doctor would show quiet, grounding support during difficult conversations.

'[The doctor] would let me know he saw me, no matter what we were talking about,' she explained.

Moved by the story, Dane made a spontaneous choice during their scene to hold Billings' hand to mirror the compassion she had described. 

According to Billings, she was later told that her emotional monologue would be cut for time. That's when Dane stepped in.

'[Eric] turns to me and he says very quietly, he says, "What are the five most important things you say in that monologue?"' she recalled. 'And I told him! … one of them was about my wife.'

Dane then suggested they improvise.

Fighting back tears, Billings praised Dane as 'one of the kindest, most empathetic humans' she had ever worked with (seen in April 2022)