You know that guy from Grey’s Anatomy, Dr. Mark Sloan, aka McSteamy? That’s Eric Dane, the actor with the compelling stubble and the confident swagger. But before he was handing out life-or-death surgeries, he was just another kid trying to get a tan on the set of Saved by the Bell: The New Class. Yes, really. Eric Dane made his very first TV appearance in 1993 as a character named Todd Murphy in the show’s spin-off.
It’s like finding out your favorite high school quarterback once fumbled a football in gym class. It’s a humble beginning. In that episode, he’s basically a handsome guy who shows up wearing a denim jacket and either says something about a pool party or a test—honestly, it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. Imagine scrolling through your own old high school yearbook and seeing a picture of your future boss or a celebrity you now adore. That’s what this is.
