Key Highlights
- In his posthumous memoir, My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments, late actor Eric Dane disclosed an intense on-set altercation with Josh Duhamel while filming the NBC series Las Vegas in 2004.
- Dane detailed that the physical confrontation erupted after Duhamel repeatedly grabbed him by the necktie during a fight scene despite Dane suffering from a severe cervical disc injury.
- Though Dane confronted Duhamel at the time, he expressed regret over his reaction and reaffirmed his apology to his former co-star in the book.
Eric Dane Recounts Tense 2004 Set Altercation with Josh Duhamel
The late actor Eric Dane shared an unvarnished look into his Hollywood career, revealing that he and fellow actor Josh Duhamel nearly came to blows during the filming of the NBC drama series Las Vegas in 2004. Following his death earlier this year at age 53 due to complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Dane’s posthumous memoir, titled My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments, has brought several private behind-the-scenes moments to light.
In a chapter titled “The day I lost my mind on camera,” Dane chronicled a guest appearance on Las Vegas where tension boiled over into an explosive confrontation. Dane wrote: “I’m on set, shooting a guest shot for the show Las Vegas. We’re about to film a fight scene.
“I ask the lead, Josh Duhamel, to please not grab me by the tie during the scene. He promises me he won’t.”
An On-Set Injury Sparks a Fiery Confrontation
At the time of the shoot, Dane was suffering from a painful herniated cervical disc in his neck and had explicitly requested that Duhamel avoid pulling his neckwear. However, once filming commenced, the physical contact resulted in immediate, sharp pain. As the director called ‘Action’, Duhamel pulled the tie regardless of the prior agreement.
“Fire rips through my neck,”
Dane wrote. “I go, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, we have to stop.’ He apologises, I grunt from the pain, and then, take two. He pulls on my tie again.”
Following the second take, Dane asked the director to ‘rein in’ Duhamel. Duhamel offered an apology, explaining that he had gotten ‘caught up in the moment’. However, the situation escalated further on the subsequent take, pushing Dane to his breaking point.
Dane recounted: “Fine. Okay. Take three, and son of a b***h, he grabs my f***ing tie again I whip off my suit coat and I say, ‘Let’s go, you p****-a** actor.’
“I ball my hands into fists and I come at him. Nobody calls ‘Cut’, the camera keeps rolling, and to the world who sees the whole nasty scene, I’m the aggressor, the hothead, I start the fight.”
Regret, Reconciliation, and a Final Apology
Reflecting on the altercation decades later, Dane made it clear that he regretted his volatile outburst. While the two actors eventually crossed paths in subsequent years and were on amicable terms, Dane used the pages of his memoir to formally reiterate his contrition toward Duhamel.
Acknowledging that the two had become ‘cool’ over time, Dane wrote: “I want to say it again. Josh, I was wrong. I should’ve walked away. I’m sorry, dude.”
Why This Matters
Dane’s posthumous reflections shed light on the physical pressures, set protocols, and emotional volatility that can occur during television action sequences. Beyond detailing industry disputes, My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments provides an intimate look at Dane’s career milestones and personal resilience, arriving after his death on February 19 following an ALS diagnosis. Dane, widely recognized for his portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and his role in HBO’s Euphoria, spent his final months advocating for medical research alongside his wife and two daughters, Billie and Georgia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Eric Dane and Josh Duhamel clash on the set of Las Vegas?
The dispute arose during a 2004 fight scene on the NBC show Las Vegas. Dane, who was managing a herniated cervical disc, asked Duhamel not to pull his tie. After Duhamel pulled the tie across three separate takes, Dane reacted furiously and challenged Duhamel to a fight.
Did Eric Dane and Josh Duhamel ever make amends?
Yes. Dane stated that he and Duhamel spoke years after the altercation and established a cordial relationship. In his memoir, Dane explicitly stated that he was in the wrong for not walking away and reiterated his apology directly to Duhamel.
