Laura Ann Tull Breaks Silence After Eric Dane’s Death, Alleges Bullying and Claims Role in His Exit
Days after actor Eric Dane’s death, former Grey’s Anatomy background actress Laura Ann Tull published a series of social-media posts accusing the late star of long-term bullying and saying she played a decisive role in his 2012 departure. The posts and Tull’s reminder of a prior 2018 essay have reopened debate about workplace behavior, accountability and how claims are handled after a prominent figure dies.
Laura Ann Tull’s allegations and what she says happened on set
Laura Ann Tull said in multiple social-media messages that Eric Dane was a bully who mocked and mistreated her during her years on the show. She characterized him as a narcissist and wrote that his behavior continued even while she faced significant health challenges, including a battle with cancer and an autoimmune disease. Tull said those interactions caused long-term professional and personal harm and that Dane’s death does not erase the pain he caused her.
Claims about contacting show leadership and the 2012 exit
Tull further alleged she contacted the show’s leadership and said she called an assistant to the creator two weeks before the public announcement of Dane’s exit in 2012. She stated plainly that she believes her report contributed to his departure, and she expressed doubt that the creator would ever publicly acknowledge that connection.
Background: Tull’s earlier essay and her time on the series
Tull has raised similar complaints before. In a 2018 essay she reflected on working as a background performer on the series for three years, stating she never spoke directly with Dane but heard him talk about her. In that writing she identified herself as a member of the performers’ union and said she wanted justice for the bullying she described. She has repeatedly framed her actions as coming from a position of someone who sought to be an actor and to work seriously on set.
Eric Dane’s death, role on the show and differing accounts of his departure
Eric Dane died on February 19, 2026 (ET) after a year-long battle with ALS. He was 53. Dane was best known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy from 2006 to 2012, a role that became closely associated with his public persona. At the time of his departure in 2012, statements framed the exit around creative and storyline decisions. Years later, Dane said in an interview in 2024 that he believed he had been let go and suggested rising cast costs may have been a factor.
Reaction, disputed details and the public divide
Responses to Tull’s recent posts have been sharply divided. Some commentators defend Tull’s decision to make the allegations public, arguing background performers occupy a disadvantaged position on set and that workplace bullying should be exposed even after a person has died. Others criticize raising unverified personal grievances when the subject is deceased and cannot respond, warning such revelations can be damaging to the deceased’s reputation and to those mourning.
Observers have also noted that evidence directly substantiating Tull’s claim that her complaint led to Dane’s termination has not been confirmed, and some are questioning whether the timeline and causal link are being presented accurately. That line of questioning has produced debate over whether the claims might be exaggerated.
Where things stand now and what may follow
At present, there has been no public confirmation from the primary production entities connected to the series, and no public comment from Eric Dane’s representatives or his family addressing Tull’s newest statements. The nation’s conversation about workplace culture in entertainment has again turned to how allegations should be handled when they surface after a prominent person’s death, and whether newly public claims can be reconciled with earlier accounts of personnel decisions.
Recent updates indicate these matters remain contested and developments may evolve as more people respond or as further information emerges.
