Eric Dane, best known for his roles on the hit medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy” and the teen drama “Euphoria,” died Friday. He was 53 years old.Dane, who spoke publicly about his battle with ALS and became an advocate for awareness over the past few years, reportedly died of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
News of his death comes less than a year after he announced his diagnosis of the disease.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Eric Dane’s loved ones issue a touching message after the actor’s death
Eric Dane announces his death in a statement
“He spent his final days surrounded by his dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world,” his family’s privacy request statement said. “Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric has become a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same battle.
He will be greatly missed and always remembered with love. Eric loved his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he has received.
Eric Dane’s battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
In April 2025, Dane announced that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells that control muscles throughout the body.He became an advocate for ALS awareness, speaking at a news conference in Washington about prior authorization for health insurance.
“Some of you may know me from TV shows, like ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ in which I play a doctor,” he said in June 2025. “But today I’m here to speak briefly as a patient battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.”
Eric Dane talks about his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis
The 52-year-old actor appeared in a teaser clip for a segment on Good Morning America where he said: “I wake up every day and I’m instantly reminded that this is happening.
“It’s not a dream.”Dane even broke down during the show, saying, “I don’t think this is the end of my story. I don’t feel like this is the end of me.”
Eric Dane’s memoir arrives in April
Dane’s memoir is scheduled for publication in 2026. The Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments will be published by Maria Shriver Open Field, an imprint of Penguin Random House. According to Open Field, Dane will remember key moments in his life, from his first day on the job on “Grey’s Anatomy” to the birth of his two daughters and learning he had ALS. “I want to capture the moments that shaped me — the good days, the hard days, and the ones I never took for granted — so that people who read it will remember, if nothing else, what it means to live with heart,” Dane said in a statement about the book’s announcement. “If sharing this helps someone find meaning in their special days, then my story is worth telling.”Dane is survived by his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, and their two teenage daughters, Billie Beatrice and Georgia Geraldine. Gayheart and Dane married in 2004 and separated in September 2017. Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018, but later filed to dismiss the petition. In December, she revealed that they never got divorced, but had dated other people and lived separately.
