American actor Eric Dane, widely known for his performances in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, has died at the age of 53, less than a year after publicly revealing he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
His family confirmed that he passed away on Thursday following what they described as a courageous battle with the disease. In a statement, they said he was surrounded by loved ones, including his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters, Billie and Georgia.
Born in San Francisco in 1972, Dane began his television career in 1993 with an appearance on The Wonder Years. He later gained recognition for his role as Jason Dean in Charmed before rising to international fame as Dr. Mark Sloan — famously nicknamed “Dr. McSteamy” — in Grey’s Anatomy. He first appeared in the series in 2006 and quickly became a central cast member.
In recent years, Dane portrayed Cal Jacobs, the complex family patriarch in HBO’s Euphoria. He also starred as Captain Tom Chandler in The Last Ship, and appeared in films including Marley & Me, Valentine’s Day, and Burlesque.
Dane publicly disclosed his ALS diagnosis in April 2025. Over the following months, he became an active advocate for research and awareness around the disease, the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND). He joined the board of Target ALS and supported fundraising initiatives that raised significant sums for research efforts.
Earlier this month, he was named among the 100 most influential people in health by Time magazine in recognition of his advocacy. In interviews, he spoke candidly about his determination to fight the illness and his desire to contribute to progress toward effective treatments.
Tributes poured in from colleagues and friends across the entertainment industry. His Grey’s Anatomy co-star Patrick Dempsey described him as “a joy to work with,” praising his humor and intelligence. Euphoria creator Sam Levinson said working with Dane was “an honor,” while actress Alyssa Milano and actor Ashton Kutcher were among others who shared messages of remembrance.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare neurodegenerative condition that leads to progressive muscle paralysis. There is currently no cure. Most patients live between three and five years after diagnosis, although survival times can vary.
Eric Dane is remembered not only for his memorable screen performances but also for his efforts to raise awareness about a devastating illness during the final chapter of his life.
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