Eric Dane, Grey’s Anatomy Star, Dead at 53 After ALS Battle

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Eric Dane will leave a lasting impression on those who loved him. 

The actor, famous for his work on the TV shows Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, passed away on February 19th after a battle with ALS. He was 53 years old.

The family of Eric Dane announced with great sadness that he died on Thursday after a fight with ALS. In a statement to TopMob News, they said he was surrounded by loved ones – his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, close friends, and his daughters, Billie and Georgia, who meant everything to him – during his final days.

Eric dedicated himself to raising awareness and funding research for ALS, hoping to help others battling the disease. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered. He deeply appreciated the love and support from his fans and asked for privacy for his family during this difficult time.

Eric revealed in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with ALS, a disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He told People magazine, “I’m thankful to have the support of my family as we face this new challenge.”

And he was excited to keep working as long as he could.

He told TopMob News in June 2025 that he genuinely enjoys his job. While he’s faced some challenges, he maintains a positive attitude, and that’s what’s most important to him.

And despite his difficult health battle, Eric did what he could to remain positive. 

In a TikTok video shared by Congressman Eric Swalwell in September, the individual said, “I want to experience all of life’s milestones.” He explained he has two daughters and hopes to see them graduate college, get married, and potentially have children of their own.

Eric added, “I wanna be there for all that. So, I’m gonna fight until the last breath on this one.”

For a look at what Eric shared about his battle with ALS before his death, keep reading.

Eric Dane revealed he received a diagnosis of ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, in April 2025.

Dane shared with People magazine that he has been diagnosed with ALS. He expressed gratitude for the support of his family as they face this new challenge together.

Despite his diagnosis, the Euphoria actor confirmed he wasn’t retiring from acting. He announced in April 2025 that he was still filming the last season of the HBO show.

Dane, who recently starred in the Amazon MGM Studios series Countdown, shared that acting has helped him stay mentally focused while dealing with health challenges.

He told TopMob News in June 2025 that he generally enjoys his job. While there have been challenges, he maintains a positive attitude, which he feels is the most important thing.

Two months after revealing he was diagnosed with a health condition, the former Grey’s Anatomy star openly discussed what he’s been going through, including the signs that first led him to seek medical attention.

In a June 2025 interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, Dane explained that he first noticed weakness in his right hand. “I didn’t think much of it at first,” he said, “I figured I’d been using my phone too much or my hand was just tired. But after a few weeks, it started to get a little worse.”

After nine months of doctor’s appointments – seeing two hand specialists and two neurologists – Dane received a diagnosis of ALS.

The father of two said he’ll never be able to erase those three letters from his mind. They’re the first thing he thinks about when he wakes up, and it feels all too real – not like a dream at all.

I’ve been opening up about my journey with this rare degenerative disease, and it’s been important for me to share not just how it’s impacting me right now physically, but also what I anticipate as the condition progresses. It’s about being honest about the future, as difficult as that can be.

During his interview with Sawyer, Dane explained that the left side of his body is still working, but the right side has completely stopped. He added that he’s concerned he might lose function in his left hand within a couple of months, which he described as a serious and humbling realization.

After more than 20 years of marriage, Rebecca Gayheart has been supporting her husband, Dane, through his recent health challenges. The couple had previously filed for divorce in 2018, but Rebecca requested the case be dismissed in March.

During his interview with Sawyer, Dane explained that he speaks with Rebecca daily. He said they’ve grown closer as friends and parents, and she’s his biggest supporter – someone he truly relies on.

According to Gayheart, she and Dane are the “best of friends.”

As a longtime fan, I was so happy to hear that Tori and Dean are doing so well! Tori recently told TopMob News that they’ve become amazing co-parents and really found a way to keep their family strong. She said it’s making a huge difference for their kids, and honestly, for both of them too. It’s just wonderful to see them prioritizing their family like this.

As Dane celebrates achievements with his daughters, Billie and Georgia, he’s also shared that he struggles with how his ALS impacts his family.

It really struck me during his interview on GMA. He talked about how losing his own father so young still affects him, and now he’s facing the possibility of his daughters experiencing that same pain. It’s heartbreaking. All he wants, he said, is to be there for his girls and maybe continue working a bit if he can. It just feels so unfair that he’s facing this, especially given his own history.

Dane was scheduled to present at the 2025 Emmys with his Grey’s Anatomy co-star, Jesse Williams, on September 14th, but he couldn’t make it. He later revealed that he had to go to the hospital, which is why he missed the awards show.

He described ALS as a terrible disease in an interview with The Washington Post on October 2nd, explaining that he was in the hospital receiving stitches to the head during the Emmys.

“I was a really upset about it,” Dane added. “But you know, there was nothing I could do about it.”

In September 2025, Dane met with doctors and advocates from the I Am ALS organization, and discussed the need for more federal funding for ALS research with California Congressman Eric Swalwell. ALS is a currently incurable neurological disease.

In a TikTok video shared by Representative Swalwell on September 29th, Dane said, “I want to experience all of life’s milestones.” He explained he has two daughters and hopes to see them graduate college, get married, and perhaps even have children of their own.

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2026-02-20 05:47