Ashton Kutcher, Nina Dobrev and More Celebs React to Eric Dane’s Death

by

Hollywood is coming together in the wake of Eric Dane’s death.

Following the news of Eric Dane’s death on February 19th after a struggle with ALS, his wife Rebecca Gayheart and their daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, announced his passing. Many of his friends and former colleagues from Grey’s Anatomy and beyond expressed their sadness.

Nina Dobrev, who worked with Eric on Redeeming Love, shared her sadness about his passing. In an Instagram post with a photo of them together, she described him as a warm, generous, and dedicated person who always led with kindness and made everyone feel valued on set.

The 37-year-old also reflected on his ALS diagnosis, which he revealed in April. 

Nina continued, describing ALS as a devastating illness. She hoped his memory would encourage further research, greater awareness, and ultimately, a cure. He will be greatly missed.

Alyssa Milano, known for her role as Eric’s love interest on Charmed, also shared her thoughts on her friendship with the actor from Euphoria.

Oh my gosh, I just lived for the look in Eric’s eyes right before he said something totally unexpected! Seriously, he could either make you burst out laughing or just completely change how you saw the world. It was amazing. And his humor? So quick, so clever… he just got that life is wonderfully ridiculous, and he embraced it. I miss it so much.

She added, “My heart is with the people who were lucky enough to be his home.”

Eric’s Valentine’s Day costar Ashton Kutcheralso shared his heartbreak. 

Eric Dane, known for his role in That ‘70s Show, shared a message on X expressing sadness about the loss of a member of their fantasy football league. He said the league will miss him, and acknowledged he’ll be watching from the sidelines. Dane ended with a message of support for the fight against ALS.

Eric’s Grey’s Anatomy colleague, Kevin McKidd, posted a photo of him on Instagram Stories, with the message, “Rest in Peace Buddy.”

Eric’s colleagues from Euphoria also expressed their sadness. Creator Sam Levinson told Variety that he was devastated by the loss, describing Eric as both a wonderful person to work with and a cherished friend. He shared that Eric’s family is in their thoughts and hopes his memory will be a blessing.

Read on to learn more about Eric’s journey with ALS. 

Eric Dane revealed he received a diagnosis of ALS, also known as 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.

As a big fan, I was so relieved to hear that Jacob Elordi isn’t slowing down, even with his recent health news. He actually told everyone in April 2025 that he’s still working on the last season of Euphoria, which is amazing! It’s great to know we’ll still be seeing him on screen.

I’ve been so impressed watching Dane lately! It was great to see his new series, Countdown, on Amazon MGM Studios this summer. He even shared that acting has actually helped him stay mentally focused and ‘sharp’ while dealing with his health challenges, and honestly, that’s incredibly inspiring to me.

He told TopMob News in June 2025 that he generally feels good while at work. While he’s faced some challenges, he maintains a positive attitude, and that’s what’s most important to him.

Two months after revealing he had been diagnosed, the former Grey’s Anatomy star openly discussed his experience, including the signs that prompted him to seek medical attention.

In June 2025, Dane shared with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America that he first noticed weakness in his right hand. He didn’t think much of it initially, assuming it was from overuse or tiredness. However, a few weeks later, he realized the weakness was getting worse.

After nine months of doctor’s visits – 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.

He explained how the rare disease has impacted his physical health and also shared his expectations for how it will progress in the future.

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 worries he may lose function in his left hand within a couple of months, which he described as a very 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 asked the court to dismiss the case in March.

Dane told Sawyer that he speaks with Rebecca daily. They’ve grown closer as friends and parents, and she’s his biggest advocate and a constant source of support. He relies on her a lot.

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

The Beverly Hills, 90210 star told TopMob News on April 9, 2025, that they have a strong co-parenting relationship. They’ve found a way to successfully stay a family, which is really benefiting both their children and themselves.

Dane has been celebrating achievements with his daughters, Billie and Georgia, and his wife, Gayheart. However, he’s also shared that he feels guilty about how his ALS is impacting his family’s lives.

The actor shared during an interview with GMA that he’s struggling with the possibility of his daughters experiencing a similar loss to his own. He lost his father to suicide when he was a child, and now faces the potential of being separated from his daughters at a young age. Ultimately, he simply wants to be with his family and continue working when possible.

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 he had to miss the show due to a hospital stay a few weeks prior.

In an interview with The Washington Post published on October 2nd, he revealed he was hospitalized receiving stitches during the Emmys, explaining, “ALS is a terrible disease.”

“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 everything life has to offer.” He explained his motivation by saying, “I have two daughters, and I want to see them grow up, graduate from college, get married, and maybe even have children of their own.”

Dane passed away on February 19th at the age of 53 after a year-long struggle with ALS. According to a statement from his family to TopMob, he was surrounded by loved ones – his wife, daughters, and close friends – during his final days.

Eric’s family shared that throughout his battle with ALS, he dedicated himself to raising awareness and funding research, hoping to help others facing the same challenges. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered. Eric cherished his fans and was incredibly thankful for all the love and support he received. The family requests privacy as they grieve this difficult loss.

Read More

2026-02-20 06:47