Q and A: Week of Oct. 15

Eric Dane (photo courtesy ABC/Danny Feld)

Q: I watched the season premiere of “Grey’s Anatomy” and saw that Mark Sloan died. Did the person who played him die in real life? I noticed at the end they gave a birth year and a death year. — Wayne M., via e-mail

A: Eric Dane, who played the medical drama’s Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan since the show’s second season, is alive and well, unlike his character. He currently is in preproduction on the feature film “Sweet Spot,” which also stars Salma Hayek and Kurt Russell. The film is about a former New York Yankees pitcher past his prime who tries to revive his career in the Mexican Baseball League, and will be released in 2013.

Q: I am so happy that “Scandal” was renewed and has started its second season. Can you please give me any spoilers for what’s coming up? — Tina A., Hartford, Conn.

A: If you’re familiar with Shonda Rimes’ other shows (“Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice”), you know you’re in for drama, for sure. I spoke with series star Bellamy Young (who plays first lady Mellie Grant), and she gave me a little tease of what to expect this year.

“We’ll have government agents gone rogue, college students gone missing and sex scandals. Olivia will get more complicated this season, which is fun to watch because Kerry (Washington) does it so well. And it’s just so human. Mellie will get up to no good at all. But Shonda plays it very close to the vest with the story line. Getting the script for the next episode is a big deal. And we’re all texting each other: 'What page are you on?’ And it’s all so shocking! We all just can’t wait to see what’s next.”

Come back here tomorrow for my full interview with this lovely and engaging actress, who is nothing like her alter ego ... I promise!

Sean Bean (photo courtesy HBO)

Q: I really like Sean Bean, especially in “Troy” and “Game of Thrones.” What else can I see him in? — Helen S., Virginia Beach, Va.

A: The British thespian, 53, first entered my radar when he played Bond bad guy Alec Trevelyan in 1995′s “GoldenEye.” He’s done tons of stuff before and since, but nowadays he is best known as the doomed Eddard Stark. Last season, he co-starred with Ashley Judd in “Missing,” and in 2010 he played Zeus in “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” and will reprise that role in next year’s “Sea of Monsters.” From 2008-2010, Sean played the title character in “Crusoe,” he tried to foil Nicolas Cage’s treasure hunt in 2004′s “National Treasure,” and he played Boromir in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The list goes on and on.

Q: I think that Jimmy Kimmel did a bang-up job hosting the Emmy Awards. Any chance he’ll host the next Academy Awards ceremony? — Bob K., via e-mail

A: While Jimmy might have an Oscar-hosting gig in his future, the 85th annual Academy Awards ceremony, which will take place Feb. 24, will be hosted by “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane.