Eric Dane dead after long battle with ALS

Eric Dane has handed away after an extended and brave battle with ALS. He was 53.

Dane’s household launched a press release to Fox Information Digital on Thursday night.

“It’s with heavy hearts that we share that Eric Dane handed away on Thursday afternoon after a brave battle with ALS,” the assertion started.

Eric Dane has handed away after an extended battle with ALS. (Gilbert Flores/Selection through Getty Photos)

It continued: “He spent his ultimate days surrounded by expensive mates, his devoted spouse and his two lovely daughters, Billie and Georgia, who had been the middle of his world. Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric grew to become a passionate advocate for consciousness and analysis, decided to make a distinction for others dealing with the identical struggles. He will likely be deeply missed and perpetually remembered fondly. Eric adored his followers and is perpetually grateful for the outpouring of affection and assist he acquired. The household has requested privateness as they navigate this unimaginable time navigate.”

ERIC DANE PROMISES TO ‘FIGHT UNTIL THE LAST BREATH’ IN ONGOING ALS BATTLE

Born and raised in San Francisco, California, Dane started his profession within the early Nineties with small visitor roles on beloved sitcoms equivalent to “Saved By the Bell” and “The Surprise Years.” It wasn’t till 2000 that he made his breakthrough as Jason Dean in “Charmed,” which he performed through the present’s third season.

Nonetheless, Dane’s skilled life took a dramatic flip when he made his debut as Dr. Mark Sloan (“McSteamy”) on “Gray’s Anatomy”.

However regardless of his success, Dane was coping with one thing a lot greater: an habit to medication and alcohol.

“In the event you take your entire eight years I used to be on ‘Gray’s Anatomy,’ I used to be confused longer than I used to be sober and that is when issues began going sideways for me,” he admitted as host to Dax Shepard throughout an look on the “Armchair expert” podcast in 2024.

Earlier than Dane left the present in 2012, he went to rehab for an habit to painkillers.

“I did not depart [“Grey’s Anatomy”] As a lot as I believe I used to be let go,” he advised Shepard. ‘I used to be having a tough time. So that they did not let me go, though it actually did not assist.”

Eric Dane was first launched on “Gray’s Anatomy” as Dr. Mark Sloan in season 2. He grew to become a daily in season 3. (Bob D’Amico/Disney Common Leisure Content material through Getty Photos)

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Following his function on “Gray’s Anatomy,” Dane took on the lead function of Captain Tom Chandler within the TNT collection “The Final Ship,” from its premiere in June 2014 by means of its ultimate season in 2018.

Eric Dane as Captain Tom Chandler aboard the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Dewey at San Diego Naval Base through the filming of “The Final Ship” on March 19, 2014. (Don Bartletti/Los Angeles Occasions through Getty Photos)

Throughout its run, Dane took one other break from manufacturing for private causes: he was scuffling with melancholy.

“That was scary, whenever you get up and suppose, ‘I do not wish to get away from bed,’” he mentioned throughout an look on the “As we speak” present in 2017. “I noticed these docs considering there was one thing bodily mistaken with me as a result of I had by no means felt that means earlier than.”

“I imply, I’ve handled melancholy my complete life, nevertheless it was all the time manageable,” he mentioned. “I simply felt like, you recognize, everybody’s feeling slightly blue. However this hit me like a truck. I needed to take a while off — I obtained away, I took care of it and I really feel nice.”

Eric Dane together with his two daughters, Georgia Dane and Billie Dane on the premiere of “Dangerous Boys: Trip or Die” on the TCL Chinese language Theater on Could 30, 2024. (Gilbert Flores/Selection through Getty Photos)

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In April 2025, Dane introduced his ALS prognosisalso called Lou Gehrig’s illness.

“I’ve been identified with ALS,” he mentioned in a press release People on the time. “I’m grateful to have my loving household by my aspect as we navigate this subsequent chapter. I really feel lucky to have the ability to proceed working and sit up for returning to the set of ‘Euphoria’ subsequent week. I kindly ask that you just please grant my household and me privateness throughout this time.”

Throughout an interview on “Good Morning America” in June 2025, Dane mentioned he was able to take massive steps to battle ALS.

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‘I am going to fly to Germany and eat the pinnacle of a rattlesnake [doctors] advised me that will assist,” the 53-year-old “Gray’s Anatomy” alum advised Diane Sawyer on the time. “I am going to take the chance.”

WATCH: ERIC DANE CELEBRATES WIN AFTER ALS DIAGNOSIS

Throughout the interview, Dane opened up in regards to the debilitating illness and defined how he discovered hope within the physician who managed his care.

“I am very hopeful. I do not suppose that is the top of my story,” he mentioned. “And whether or not it’s or not, I’ll carry that concept with me.

‘That is the place I come from [Dr. Merit Cudkowicz] after I met her. … There was a way of hope that I did not get from different docs I met,” Dane mentioned of his physician, a neurologist and lead doctor. IF researcher.

Rebecca Gayheart (L) and Eric Dane married in 2004. The 2 separated in 2017. (Lester Cohen/Getty Photos for GLAAD)

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In September 2025, Dane spoke to lawmakers in Washington, DC, about progress in ALS.

“ALS is the very last thing they wish to diagnose somebody with. Loads of instances it takes all this time for these folks to be identified, properly, after which they cannot take part in these medical trials,” he advised Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-California, in a video the lawmaker posted to TikTok.

The “Euphoria” star was on the Capitol to name for Congressional reauthorization of the ACT for ALS regulation, which expands entry to remedy and is ready to run out subsequent 12 months, in accordance with stories WJAR TV.

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“I’ve two daughters at dwelling,” he added. “I wish to see them, you recognize, graduate and get married and possibly have grandkids, you recognize? I wish to be there. So I will battle for this till my final breath.”

Dane married Rebecca Gayheart in 2004. They separated in 2017, however the divorce submitting was withdrawn in April 2025. Simply weeks later, the actor introduced that he had been identified with ALS.

Dane is survived by Gayheart and their daughters, Billie and Georgia.

Janelle Ash of Fox Information Digital contributed to this report.