AceShowbiz - Veteran actor Eric Dane passed away in February at the age of 53 after a long battle with ALS. A day following his death, Netflix aired an episode of Famous Last Words featuring a heartfelt message from Dane himself. Known for his breakout role in the medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, Dane had recently enjoyed a career resurgence with notable roles in the HBO hit series Euphoria and the blockbuster film Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which earned over $400 million worldwide.

Before these recent successes, Dane starred in a popular TV series executive-produced by famed director Michael Bay. That series, The Last Ship, is currently available on HBO Max but is scheduled to depart the streaming platform on April 11.

The Last Ship was created by Hank Steinberg and Steven Kane, adapting William Brinkley’s book of the same name. The series aired for five seasons from 2014 to 2018 on TNT. Set in a post-pandemic world where a virus has wiped out 80% of the global population, the story follows the crew of a U.S. Navy vessel that remains mysteriously unaffected. Dane’s character rises through the ranks, ultimately becoming an admiral by the series’ conclusion.

The cast also included Rhona Mitra, Adam Baldwin, Charles Parnell, and Hiroyuki Sanada of Sh?gun fame. Behind the camera, the series featured Lost alum Jack Bender directing several episodes, while the pilot was directed by Jonathan Mostow, known for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

Upon its debut, The Last Ship received a 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which grew to 86% by its second season. In a review for Collider, Amanda M. Castro praised the show for deserving a second look and highlighted Dane’s performance. She noted that Dane, often typecast as a charming foil, brought a new depth to his role as Chandler. “He wasn’t witty or sexy — he was tired, angry, and burdened by violent instincts. That vulnerability gave the series an emotional core,” Castro wrote.