Why was Eric Dane written off from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?

Eric Dane talked about why he felt he was fired from 'Grey's Anatomy ' and how his addiction affected him during his tenure on the show from 2006 to 2012. (YouTube)

Eric Dane’s memoir, ‘My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments,' is being released posthumously after the beloved actor passed away earlier this year following his diagnosis of ALS. In the book, Dane opened up about his struggles over the years and how he spent time in his career battling addiction.

He also discussed his departure from the beloved show ‘Grey’s Anatomy,' where he played the popular Dr Mark Sloan.

Why Eric Dane was written off ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

The actor was a part of the show from 2006 to 2012, after which the show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes, told him that he would not be returning for another season. He shared that he often went on hiatus while working on the show and was admitted into rehab five times during these years. In ‘My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments,' which is going to be released on November 3, Dane touched upon his addiction, his struggles with relapsing while working on ‘Grey’s Anatomy,' and how he ultimately ended up getting written off the show.

In an excerpt from the book published by PEOPLE, Dane revealed that he had relapsed right around the height of his career while working on the hit medical drama.“I love Mark Sloan, but I need to quit him. I feel as if I’ve squeezed every ounce of life out of that character and have investigated and mined every nuance of his being. I’ve spent eight years living in his skin, and my time has come. I’ve had enough. But I don’t know how to get off that train," he shared in the book, providing more context that things changed over the years.

He also talked about how while his addiction and other problems did not help his case, it was not the entire reason why his character was killed off from the show. “My Grey’s Anatomy ending does come, but not because of my addiction, although it’s safe to say my addiction didn’t help. The reason comes down to money … Despite Mark Sloan’s popularity, I have become too expensive. I have become expendable," he wrote.

Eric Dane on his addiction struggles while working on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

He recalled a moment of his life in 2008, sharing, “My body goes to s***.

I drop to 170, my face caves in, my eyes cloud, and I look gaunt; s***, I look like a drug addict. You can tell. I can tell. My attitude on set changes. I’m no longer the bubbly, fun guy, a ringleader in laughs. I don’t act out. I don’t throw tantrums or chase. I go the other way. I dissolve. I go quiet; I stare off at nothing. I suffer. I’m suffering without talking about it to anyone.

” Two years into the show, Dane relapsed with his painkiller addiction following a herniated cervical disc in his neck while working out.He further mentioned in the book that he would sometimes show up to work under the influence, and most of the time his co-stars knew what was going on; however, they never judged him for it. He added, “I call that my dark period. I auditioned for a few roles and got cast in some, but mainly I did drugs. I got high, I got stoned, I got wasted, I shot up, I freebaked, and I did every drug imaginable.”

How did his character, Mark Sloan, die?

Dane’s character, Mark, was critically injured during the season 8 finale when many of the main cast members got into a plane crash. He slips into a coma and is placed on life support. In the season 9 premiere, per his advance directive (will), his life support machines were turned off after he showed no signs of improvement within 30 days, and in the second episode, he passes away with Derek Shepherd and Callie Torres by his side.‘Grey’s Anatomy’ is currently streaming its 23rd season on Hulu.