Actor Eric Dane is taking a hiatus from his show to battle depression.

ONE of the best loved stars from Greys Anatomy Eric Dane has taken an indefinite hiatus from his new show The Last Ship to battle depression.

A representative for the actor announced the US navy show would take a brief production hiatus to allow Dane, who is the star of the show, to recover.

Eric asked for a break to deal with personal issues, a representative for the actor told People. He suffers from depression and has asked for a few weeks of downtime and the producers kindly granted that request. He looks forward to returning, he added.

Eric Dane on his TNT show The Last Ship.Source:Alamy

Dane shot to fame for his role as the good looking doctor McSteamy on Greys Anatomy. He starred on the hit medical drama until the shows ninth season in 2012.

The actor has been very open about his struggles in the past.

He announced he was going to rehab in 2011 for an addiction to painkillers from a sports injury and he and his wife Rebecca Gayheart made headlines in 2009 when they became the victims of a leaked, nude video with former Miss Teen USA Kari Ann Peniche.

Dane married Gayheart, who is also an actor, in 2004 and they have since had two girls Billie, seven, and Georgia, five.

Dane with his wife Rebecca Gayheart in 2010. (Picture: Frazer Harrison)Source:AFP

Since his stint in rehab, the actor seemed to be doing well.

I honestly think Im exactly where Im supposed to be at this moment in time, the actor, 44, told PEOPLE in 2014. And Im really happy.

Weve all made mistakes. My one regret is that I got the person I love most wrapped up in all that: Rebecca, Dane added.

The fourth season of The Last Ship is set to premiere in a few months and the show has already been renewed for a fifth season.

The navy drama is a hit for the US cable channel TNT with an average of more than 7 million viewers per episode.

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Production halts on 'The Last Ship' while its star Eric Dane battles depression - NEWS.com.au