Eric Dane, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Euphoria’ Star, Dead at 53 After ALS Battle
Eric Dane will leave a lasting impression on those who loved him.
The actor known for his roles on Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria died on Feb. 19 after a long battle with ALS. He was 53.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” his family, including wife Rebecca Gayheart, said in a statement to E! News. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.”
“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight,” the statement continued. “He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
Eric shared he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in April 2025, telling People at the time, “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
And he was excited to keep working as long as he could.
“I feel great when I’m at work,” he shared with E! News in June 2025. “Of course, there have been some sort of setbacks, but I feel pretty good. My spirit is always pretty buoyant, so at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
And despite his difficult health battle, Eric did what he could to remain positive.
“I wanna ring every bell,” he told California congressman Eric Swalwell in a TikTok video shared by the politician in September. “I have two daughters at home. I wanna see them graduate college, get married, maybe have grandkids.”
Eric added, “I wanna be there for all that. So, I’m gonna fight until the last breath on this one.”
The fight in him was also fueled by hope to be there for his daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, especially as his own father died when Eric was 7 years old.
“I’m angry because my father was taken from me when I was young, and there’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls while they’re very young,” the actor, whose wife filed to dismiss their divorce last March, tearfully said in an interview with Good Morning America in June. “At the end of the day, I just want to spend time with my family and work a little bit if I can.”
While Eric had a long and varied career, it was his role as Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy that gave him a whole new fan base. And while the character was known as McSteamy, Eric didn’t quite see himself the same way.
Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images
“My exterior did not match my interior,” he shared on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert in 2024. “That was weird for me because I never saw myself as that. It was a real source of self-doubt. I felt fraudulent.”
After leaving Grey’s Anatomy at the end of season nine in 2012, he starred in several films and TV shows like the series The Last Ship and on the HBO series Euphoria.
The latter of which he continued to work on after his devastating diagnosis. “I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working,” he said in April 2025, “and am looking forward to returning to the set of Euphoria.”
However, more recently, his health began to decline. Last month, he was forced to miss the ALS Network’s Champions for Cures and Care Gala, where he was recognized as Advocate of the Year.
Soon after, Grey’s costar Patrick Dempsey shared an update on his friend’s health. “Unfortunately, the progression of his disease made it virtually impossible,” he told People in January. “It’s very hard for him, but I do try to stay in touch and see how he’s doing.”
For a look at what Eric shared about his battle with ALS before his death, keep reading.
(VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
Opening Up About His Private Health Battle
Eric Dane shared that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in April 2025.
“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” Dane told People at the time. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
Todd Williamson/January Images/Shutterstock
Returning to Set
The Euphoria star made it clear that he wasn’t stepping away from the screen amid his diagnosis, sharing in April 2025 that he was continuing to film the final season of the HBO series.
And Dane, whose Amazon MGM Studios series Countdown debuted over the summer, admitted that acting has kept him “sharp” has he navigates his health battle.
“I feel great when I’m at work,” he explained to E! News in June 2025. “Of course, there have been some sort of setbacks, but I feel pretty good. My spirit is always pretty buoyant, so at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
Detailing His First Symptoms
Two months after sharing his diagnosis, the Grey’s Anatomy alum spoke candidly about his journey, including the symptoms that led to his diagnosis.
“I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand,” Dane told Diane Sawyer in a sit-down on Good Morning America in June 2025. “I didn’t really think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I’d been texting too much or my hand was fatigued, but a few weeks later I noticed it got a little worse.”
After nine months of appointments, which involved visiting two hand specialists and two neurologists, Dane was told he had ALS.
“I will never forget those three letters,” the father of two explained. “It’s on me the second I wake up. It’s not a dream.”
John Salangsang/Shutterstock
“Sobering” Road Ahead
While sharing how the rare degenerative disease has affected him physically so far, he also detailed where he sees the progression headed.
“My left side is functioning, my right side has completely stopped working,” Dane shared during his interview with Sawyer. “I feel like maybe a couple more months, and I won’t have my left hand either. It’s sobering.”
Rob Latour/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images
A Close-Knit Support System
As Dane goes through this health battle, his wife of over 20 years, Rebecca Gayheart, who filed to dismiss their 2018 divorce in March, has been by his side.
“I call Rebecca. I talk to her every day,” Dane shared during his interview with Sawyer. “We have managed to become better friends and better parents, and she is probably my biggest champion and my most stalwart supporter, and I lean on her.”
According to Gayheart, she and Dane are the “best of friends.”
“We are really close. We are great co-parents,” the Beverly Hills, 90210 star explained to E! News April 9, 2025. “We really figured out the formula to staying a family and I think our kids are benefiting greatly from it and we are as well.”
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Prioritizing Family Time
While Dane has been marking milestones with his and Gayheart’s daughters Billie and Georgia, he’s admitted he resents how his ALS is affecting the lives of his family members.
“I’m angry, because my father was taken from me when I was young,” the actor, whose father died by suicide when he was a young boy, said during his GMA interview. “And now there’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls while they’re very young. At the end of the day, all I want to do is spend time with my family and work a little bit, if I can.”
Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images & VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images
Emmys Absence
Dane was set to present at the 2025 Emmys alongside his Grey’s Anatomy costar Jesse Williams on Sept. 14 but ended up missing the award show. A few weeks after his absence, Dane shared that he had to skip the show because of a hospital visit.
“ALS is a nasty disease,” he said during an interview with The Washington Post published on Oct. 2. “So I was in the hospital during the Emmys getting stitches put in my head.”
“I was a really upset about it,” Dane added. “But you know, there was nothing I could do about it.”
Chelsea Lauren/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images
His Hopes for the Future
Dane met with doctors and representatives from the I Am ALS organization in September, 2025, and spoke with California congressman Eric Swalwell about federal funding towards research for the currently incurable neurological disease.
“I wanna ring every bell,” Dane told Swalwell in a TikTok video posted by the politician on Sept. 29. “I have two daughters at home. I wanna see them graduate college, get married, maybe have grandkids.”
SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
His Tragic Passing
Dane died on Feb. 19 at age 53 following his yearlong battle with ALS. His family confirmed in a statement to E! that he “spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters.”
“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight,” his family’s statement continued. “He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
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