Family confirms actor died surrounded by wife and daughters after ALS diagnosis
Eric Dane, the actor best known for his roles on Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, has died at the age of 53, less than a year after revealing he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
His family confirmed that he passed away on Thursday afternoon following what they described as a courageous battle with the disease.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” a statement from his family said.
They said he spent his final days surrounded by friends, his wife Rebecca Gayheart and their two daughters, Billie and Georgia, whom they described as “the centre of his world”.
“He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received,” the statement added.
Dane was widely recognised for his portrayal of Dr Mark Sloan, known to viewers as ‘Dr McSteamy’, on the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. The role brought him international fame and established him as a household name.
More recently, he starred as Cal Jacobs, the family patriarch in the HBO teen drama Euphoria, a performance that introduced him to a new generation of viewers.
The California-born actor was diagnosed last year with ALS, the most common form of motor neurone disease. The condition is a rare degenerative illness that causes progressive paralysis of the muscles. It affects nerve cells in the brain and spine that control muscle movement, gradually leading patients to lose their ability to speak, eat, walk and breathe independently.
Last summer, Dane spoke about his diagnosis in an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America. He admitted that the news had made him feel “angry”.
“Because, you know, my father was taken from me when I was young,” he said. “And now, you know, there’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls while they’re very young.”
His father died by suicide when Dane was seven years old.
Over the course of his career, Dane also appeared in the fantasy drama series Charmed and the action drama The Last Ship. His film credits included Marley & Me, Valentine’s Day and Burlesque.
Born in San Francisco in 1972, Dane made his television debut in The Wonder Years in 1993.
In the months after his diagnosis, he spent time raising awareness about ALS and the challenges faced by those living with the disease.
He is survived by his wife Rebecca Gayheart and their two daughters. Authorities have not released further details.
The actor’s death marks the end of a career that spanned more than three decades across television and film, during which he became one of the most recognisable faces on American television.