Mark Sloan

Lore & Background

The defining arc of Mark's life was his relationship with Lexie Grey. Their romance began when Lexie seduced him, despite Derek's request that they keep things platonic. Mark eventually admitted publicly that she was his partner, leading Derek to attack him. Their relationship became increasingly serious; he met her father, Thatcher Grey, and asked her to move in with him at the end of Season 5. Though Lexie initially declined, she agreed early in Season 6. Mark later discovered he had an 18-year-old daughter named Sloan, who arrived pregnant and was evicted by her mother. When Lexie realized Mark would choose his daughter over her, she ended their relationship. Mark and Lexie's fates were sealed in the Season 8 finale, when both sustained critical injuries in an aviation accident. Though Mark initially survived the crash, he succumbed to his injuries in early Season 9. Following their deaths, Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital was renamed Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in honor of Mark and Lexie.

In Their Own Story

In the Season 8 finale, Mark, Lexie, Derek, Meredith, Arizona, and Cristina were involved in a plane crash while on the way to Boise, Idaho, to perform surgery on conjoined twins. Lexie was crushed under debris. After trying and failing to save her, Mark held Lexie's hand, telling her he has always and will always love her. In the Season 9 premiere, it was revealed that Mark was on life support due to extensive injuries from the crash. According to his will, the machines would be turned off if he showed no signs of improvement within 30 days. Flashbacks showed Mark stating that Lexie was the one he wanted to grow old and dance with at their granddaughter's wedding. At 5:00, with Derek and Callie by his side, the machines were turned off, and Mark died shortly after. The following episode revealed that Mark had a brief surge of good health before ultimately succumbing. During this surge, he advised his protégé Jackson, "when you love someone, tell them," reflecting on his own relationship with Lexie. He also ended his relationship with Julia, stating it was not fair to her as he always loved Lexie.

Reader's Guide

Mark Sloan first appeared in Season 2 as a highly respected plastic surgeon specializing in otorhinolaryngology and the childhood best friend of neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd. In his first appearance, he flirted with Derek's girlfriend Meredith Grey, and Derek punched him. Derek explained that Mark had an affair with his wife, Addison, while they lived in New York, causing Derek to leave. Mark traveled to Seattle intending to convince Addison to return with him, but she rejected him. He returned in Season 3 at Addison's drunken behest, but she again rejected him once sober. Undeterred, Mark sold his successful private practice and took over the plastics service at Seattle Grace Hospital. During Meredith's morphine rampage, Mark learned about his nickname "McSteamy." It was later revealed that Mark had slept with all of Derek's sisters. Mark had a brief fling with orthopedic surgeon Callie Torres and developed a friendship with Meredith. After Derek left New York, Mark and Addison continued their relationship for two months, during which she conceived and aborted his child. Addison broke off their relationship after catching him with another woman. Mark entered a sixty-day abstinence pact with Addison, but she broke it by having sex with intern Alex Karev and soon departed for Los Angeles. Mark supported Derek when Meredith nearly died after drowning, and they rekindled their friendship. He formed a friendship with Callie and developed an attraction to cardiothoracic surgeon Erica Hahn, which she did not reciprocate. When Addison returned for a case, Mark attempted to sleep with her again, but she refused. Nurses started a club called "Nurses United Against Mark Sloan." Mark discovered he had an 18-year-old daughter named Sloan, who arrived seeking support after becoming pregnant and being evicted by her mother. Mark allowed her to move in, upsetting Lexie. When Lexie realized Mark would choose his daughter over her, she ended their relationship. Sloan experienced difficulties in her pregnancy, so Mark took her to Los Angeles to be treated. He and Addison once again slept together, but he told Lexie because he didn't want to lie. However, when Lexie revealed she slept with Alex, their relationship ended. When Sloan decided to give her baby up for adoption, Mark and Callie offered to raise it together. Sloan reluctantly agreed but later quietly left Seattle, leaving Mark devastated. He entered a relationship with cardiothoracic surgeon Teddy Altman, despite knowing she was in love with Owen Hunt. Sloan returned unexpectedly and gave birth to a son in Mark's apartment. She reconsidered the adoption, but after Mark reassured her, she gave the baby to an adoptive couple. In the Season 6 finale, a gunman committed mass murder at the hospital. Mark helped Lexie save Alex, her new boyfriend. In the aftermath, Lexie had a nervous breakdown, and Mark had her committed to the psychiatric unit. Their friendship was strained, but Lexie softened when she learned he was still in love with her. As Lexie went to talk to Mark, she saw him kissing Derek's sister, Amelia. When Callie's girlfriend Arizona broke up with her, Mark and Callie had a drunken one-night stand. Shortly after, he reconciled with Lexie but was delighted when Callie discovered she was pregnant with his child. Lexie was dismayed and left Mark again. Mark asked Jackson Avery to find out how Lexie was doing, but Jackson lied and started dating Lexie. Meanwhile, Callie and Arizona got into a car crash. Mark and Callie's daughter was born prematurely, and Callie fought to survive. After recovery, Mark co-parented his daughter Sofia alongside Callie and Arizona. Mark later gave Jackson and Lexie his blessing and told Lexie he would let her go; Lexie replied she still loved him but needed Jackson to be happy. After some tension, Mark acknowledged Jackson's surgical skills and decided to teach him. After a long time without dating, Mark began a relationship with ophthalmologist Julia Canner, making Lexie jealous. This led to her breakup with Jackson. Lexie struggled to express her feelings but finally admitted them, leaving Mark torn between her and Julia. In the Season 8 finale, the plane crash occurred. In the Season 9 premiere, Mark was on life support. According to his will, the machines were turned off after 30 days with no improvement. Mark died with Derek and Callie by his side. Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital was later renamed Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in tribute to Lexie and Mark.

Did You Know?

• Mark's nickname 'McSteamy' was given to him during his first trip to Seattle when he attempted to get Addison back and re-earn Derek's friendship.
• Mark had an 18-year-old daughter named Sloan who arrived pregnant and was evicted by her mother.
• Mark and Callie's daughter Sofia was born prematurely after Callie and Arizona were in a car crash.
• Mark's will specified that life support would be turned off if he showed no signs of improvement within 30 days.
• Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital was renamed Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in tribute to Mark and Lexie.