Eric Dane snubbed for posthumous 'Euphoria' Emmy nomination
"Euphoria" star Eric Dane was snubbed for what would have been his first Emmy nomination – five months after the actor's death at age 53.
"Grey's Anatomy" alum Dane, who died on Feb. 19 after a battle with ALS, did not receive the widely expected nomination for best guest actor in a drama series for his Season 3 appearance on HBO's "Euphoria."
Dane is most famous for playing Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on "Grey's Anatomy" from 2006-12. On "Euphoria," the HBO series led by Zendaya, Dane played Cal Jacobs, the controlling father of Nate (Jacob Elordi). Though Dane missed out on getting a nod, costar Zendaya did receive a nomination for her role as lead character Rue Bennett.
"Euphoria" creators submitted Episode 3, "The Ballad of Paladin," for Dane's Emmy nomination consideration. In that episode, Cal attends Nate and Cassie's (Sydney Sweeney) emotionally charged wedding with his wife, Marsha (Paula Marshall) and gives a drunken wedding speech. Cal also reconciles with his nefarious past, apologizing to Jules (Hunter Schafer) for filming their encounter when she was underage, and shares that he's now a registered sex offender following a past arrest.
"This has been the most profound experience of my career," Dane said in an interview that aired after the Season 3 episode. "I really got on well with all the people I work with, and it's great to see them all again … This show was a very stress-free environment for me, and seeing all those familiar faces was such a treat. It's been a fun ride."
With a nomination, Dane would've joined a short list of actors who received posthumous bids, including Treat Williams, who died in 2023 at age 71, for best supporting actor in a series for "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans" (2024), and Ray Liotta, who died in 2022 at age 67, for best supporting actor in Apple TV's "Black Bird" (2023).
Chadwick Boseman, who died in August 2020, was also nominated for, and won, a posthumous Emmy Award at the 2022 Creative Arts Emmys for his role as Star-Lord T'Challa in the Disney+ series "What If...?"
On July 8, Rob Reiner joined the list with a posthumous Emmy nomination for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for his role in "The Bear." Reiner and his wife, producer Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Brentwood home on Dec. 14, 2025. Their son Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested later that evening for their murders. He pleaded not guilty in February, and his next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 15, the day after the Emmys.
What awards did Eric Dane win in his life?
During his career, Dane won a 2007 Screen Actors Guild Award (now an Actor's Award) as part of the "Grey's Anatomy" ensemble cast. The cast received another SAG nomination in 2008.
When are the 2026 Emmy Awards?
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will take place live on Sept. 14, airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). Mariska Hargitay will host the show.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eric Dane snubbed for posthumous 'Euphoria' Emmy nomination
Reporting by Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 11:29 AM.