Eric Dane’s Official Cause of Death Confirmed

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New information about Eric Dane‘s passing has come to light.

According to his death certificate obtained by People magazine, the official cause of death for the Euphoria actor, who passed away on February 19th after a battle with ALS, was respiratory failure. It’s been over a week since his passing.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined that Eric died from ALS, a disease he was first diagnosed with last April.

This news follows a tribute to the former Grey’s Anatomy star at the 2026 Actor Awards on March 1st. They were remembered alongside other celebrated figures who recently passed away, including Rob Reiner, James Van Der Beek, and Catherine O’Hara.

As Sarah Paulson explained while honoring those we’ve lost, actors are like a family – connected by the difficulties and joys of a creative life, and by the support and love we share. This year, we’ve sadly lost some incredibly talented and influential people – mentors, colleagues, inspirations, and friends – who have all enriched our lives and careers.

She added that they’ve made us happier and more understanding, broadening our perspectives, and we should always appreciate the positive impact they’ve had on our lives.

The touching tribute at the award show is just one of many honors Eric has received since he passed away. These gestures especially reminded his former wife, Rebecca Gayheart – who shares 15-year-old Billie and 14-year-old Georgia with the Grey’s Anatomy star – how deeply loved he was by those in the acting community.

She shared on Instagram February 22nd that she and Eric were incredibly touched by the amazing support from their community. She said they were deeply grateful and that everyone’s kindness was helping them through a tough time.

Oh my gosh, it’s just so heartwarming to see all the support for Eric’s family! And can you believe how many of his Grey’s Anatomy family are reaching out? It means so much! Kate Walsh, especially, shared such sweet memories of working with him during his six seasons on the show. It’s just… everything!

After learning of his passing, she shared on Instagram that she initially wondered if he had the talent to match his good looks, but he quickly proved himself as an actor. She fondly remembered their time together during the early seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, explaining that the cast and crew spent so much time together they became like a family, and Eric was a constant source of kindness and support.

Kate also shared that she’s been thinking about the well-being of his daughters and Rebecca, in addition to reflecting on his involvement in the show.

It wasn’t just his co-stars who were totally heartbroken for Eric’s daughters, you know? He was so brave, sharing everything about his battle with ALS ever since they found out in April 2025. And before he passed, he actually recorded a final message just for them. It absolutely wrecked me when I heard that. It was like he wanted to make sure they always knew how much he loved them, even after he was gone.

Fighting back tears on the Netflix show Famous Last Words, which debuted on February 20th, Eric addressed Billie and Georgia, saying, “I did my best. I made mistakes along the way, but I always tried.” He continued, reflecting on their time together, “We really had fun, didn’t we? I don’t just want you to hear my words, but truly understand them. My biggest advice is to live in the moment, right now. It takes effort, but I learned how to do it.”

In a deeply emotional farewell, he told her, “You mean the world to me. Good night, and I love you.”

To see more stars who paid tribute to Eric, keep reading.

The Euphoria actress posted a clip from Eric’s Netflix special, Famous Last Words, and wrote, “Forever will love you.”

Shonda Rhimes shared a heartfelt message on February 20th remembering Eric Dane as a cherished part of the Shondaland and Grey’s Anatomy teams. She praised his talent as an actor, noting that his portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan had a lasting impact on the show and its viewers. Rhimes expressed gratitude for his artistry, kindness, and friendship over the years, and extended her condolences to his family, friends, and fans.

The Grey’s Anatomy alum remembered his former costar during an appearance on Virgin Radio UK. 

Patrick described him as incredibly funny. He was a delight to work with, and Patrick wanted to remember him that way. Whenever he was on set, he brought a lot of energy and laughter. He was naturally funny and easygoing, and they clicked immediately. Patrick recalled his first scene vividly: the man emerged from the bathroom looking fantastic with a towel around him, which hilariously made Patrick feel self-conscious.

The creator of Grey’s Anatomy, shown here with actress Debbie Allen, recounted how they brought back the character Eric for an episode in season 19 as a tribute, even during the challenges of the pandemic.

In an Instagram post, she remembered calling Eric, who picked up right away. She asked if he’d be willing to come back to work, acknowledging the challenges of filming during a pandemic. She explained they would shoot outdoors, maintaining social distancing, because ‘the world needs joy, and Mark and Lexie are joy.’ He simply asked for the location and time. When she arrived on set, he playfully said they were going to ignore the rules and hug. She shared that she’ll always remember Eric’s hugs – ‘the best hugs’ – and expressed her wishes for his peace and well-being.

The actress from The White Lotus shared the news of Eric’s passing on her Instagram Story, expressing her sadness with a sad face and a broken heart emoji.

Eric’s co-star from Euphoria, who played his wife on the show, posted a touching selfie of them together on her Instagram, along with the message, “RIP MR. DANE.”

Kim, who had a romantic connection with Eric on Grey’s Anatomy, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. She remembered Eric as a radiant person, both on and off the set of Grey’s, and especially when he was with his family. She described how he would light up while filming, delivering lines with perfect timing and a playful glint in his eye. She ended by saying he would be deeply missed.

Although the actress and Eric didn’t work on Grey’s Anatomy at the same time, she fondly remembered that she passes his character’s nameplate in the hospital hallways every week.

She shared on Instagram on February 20th that Eric had a huge and undeniable impact on the show and everyone who watched it. She described him as an incredibly talented person who will be deeply missed, and expressed her sympathy to his family.

The actor from I, Tonya, who appeared with Eric in the 2023 movie Americana, shared some thoughts about his friendship with the Grey’s Anatomy actor.

Paul shared on Instagram that the band worked hard to find performances, cope with difficulties, and avoid substance use. He also expressed happiness that they were able to perform together in the film Americana.

He expressed his love and regret that they didn’t have more time together, offering a blessing of faith and promising to meet again.

The journalist shared she was “heartbroken” by the “devastating news” of Eric’s death.

She praised his bravery in facing his diagnosis, sharing on X how he openly discussed his experiences with ALS and helped others understand the condition.

Regarding his upcoming memoir, which her publishing company will release, she said he wanted to express his love for his family and create a legacy they could cherish.

The actress from Cruel Intentions, who starred alongside Dane in the 1990s TV series Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane, shared her sympathy by posting a tribute to him on Instagram. She wrote, “I love you. And yours.”

Actor from That ’70s Show shared fond memories of playing Fantasy Football with Eric Dane, posting on X, “The Franklin strip fanatics Fantasy Football league will really miss Eric. We know you’ll be cheering us on, and we’re sending our love as you continue to battle ALS. Keep fighting, buddy!”

The creator of Euphoria described his friendship with Eric Dane, who played Cal Jacobs on the show, as a wonderful blessing, especially after Dane’s recent death. In a statement to Variety, he expressed his deep sadness, calling it heartbreaking to lose such a dear friend. He said working with Eric was a privilege and that Eric’s family is in his thoughts and prayers, hoping his memory will be cherished.

The actor from Grey’s Anatomy announced the passing of a former colleague on his Instagram Story on February 19th, simply writing “Rest in Peace.”

Sarah, who also appeared on Grey’s Anatomy with Eric, shared the news on her Instagram Story, posting “Rest in peace” along with several crying emojis.

His Redeeming Love co-star shared on Instagram how saddened she was to hear about Eric’s death, posting a photo of them together from the set. She described him as a warm, generous, and dedicated person who was truly passionate about his work. She added that he was kind to everyone and made sure everyone felt valued.

She expressed her sadness, describing ALS as a devastating illness. She hopes his memory will encourage further research, greater awareness, and ultimately, a cure. He will be greatly missed.

The actress from Charmed celebrated her friendship with Eric, who played her romantic partner on the show.

I’ll always remember the look Eric would get right before he said something truly wild – something that would either make you burst out laughing or completely change how you saw the world. He was just so funny, with this incredible wit. He had a knack for finding the humor in everything, and he absolutely loved surprising people.

And she credited him with her daring 2003 look.

Alyssa went on to say that he encouraged her to get a pixie cut and a nose piercing. He was also there when she found Lucy, her cherished chihuahua rescue. He playfully called her ‘Milano,’ acting as if it was the most important part of her name.

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

Kevin McKidd, known for his role on Grey’s Anatomy, posted a tribute to his former costar, Dane DeHaan, on Instagram. He shared a photo of DeHaan with the message, “Rest in peace buddy.”

Former Real Housewives of Atlanta star recalled the nickname for actor Eric Dane on Grey’s Anatomy, jokingly posting on Instagram, “Oh my goodness, not McSteamy!”

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2026-03-02 22:48