Eric Dane Publicly Revealed His ALS Diagnosis

Source: MEGAEric Dane died on February 19 at the age of 53.

Eric Dane spent the final months of his life helping bring visibility to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The Euphoria actor publicly announced his ALS diagnosis in an April 2025 statement to a news outlet."I have been diagnosed with ALS," he said. "I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter."Dane shared two children with his wife, Rebecca Gayheart.

He added, "I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week. I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time."

Eric Dane Opened Up About His Symptoms During a June 2025 Sit-Down Interview

Source: MEGAThe 'Euphoria' actor passed away nearly a year after revealing his ALS diagnosis.

Two months after going public with his ALS battle, Dane appeared in a sit-down interview with Good Morning America aired on June 16, 2025.

In the interview, he confirmed he began experiencing "some weakness" in his right hand before his diagnosis."I didn't really think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I'd been texting too much or my hand was fatigued, but a few weeks later I noticed it got a little worse," he shared.

The Grey's Anatomy alum underwent tests and had consultations with two hand specialists and two neurologists. After nine months, he learned he had ALS."I will never forget those three letters," he told correspondent Diane Sawyer. "It's on me the second I wake up. It's not a dream."In the months after revealing his health condition, Dane reportedly lost function of his right arm - leaving him worried about the loss of his legs, too.

The disease further left him "heartbroken" when he realized he no longer had the strength to swim during a trip with one of his daughters."She dragged me back to the boat," Dane, who was once a water polo star, recalled. "I was just, I was, like, heartbroken."Having lost his father to suicide when he was 7 years old, the Charmed alum expressed his anger that ALS could also take him away from his daughters far too soon."And now, you know, there's a very good chance I'm going to be taken from my girls while they're very young," he continued.

Eric Dane Shared an Inspiring Message Amid His ALS Battle

Source: MEGAEric Dane advocated for ALS awareness and research.

In a video message in September 2025, Dane announced he had partnered with advocacy group I Am ALS."I'm Eric Dane - an actor, a father, and now a person living with ALS," he shared. "For over a century, ALS has been incurable, and we're done accepting the status quo. We need the fastest path to a cure, and that's why I partnered with I AM ALS on the Push for Progress."He continued, "Our goal: a billion dollars over the next three years. Together, we'll renew the landmark law ACT for ALS, get promising treatments to thousands of patients like me, and finally, finally push toward ending this disease. There's so much more to learn, more to do, and we have to do it now."

Eric Dane Vowed to Fight ALS 'Until the Last Breath'

Source: MEGAEric Dane continued working amid his health battle.



MORE ON:eric daneEric Dane's Dying Wish: Actor Wanted to 'Go Out Helping Somebody' Before Untimely Passing From ALSEverything to Know About 'Euphoria' Actor Eric Dane's ALS BattleEric Dane Breaks Down Over ALS Battle, Reveals He Has '1 Functioning Arm' Want OK! each day? Sign up here!Dane shared his determination to fight ALS for as long as he could while speaking with California congressman Eric Swalwell regarding federal funding for the incurable neurological disease's research."I wanna ring every bell," he told Swalwell. "I have two daughters at home. I wanna see them graduate college, get married, maybe have grandkids. You know I want to be there for all that so I'm going to fight until the last breath on this one."

Eric Dane Missed the 2025 Emmys

Source: MEGAEric Dane was set to present at the 2025 Emmys.

After missing the 2025 Emmys, Dane called ALS a "nasty disease" in an October 2025 interview with The Washington Post."So I was in the hospital during the Emmys getting stitches put in my head," he said. "I was a really upset about it. But you know, there was nothing I could do about it."

Eric Dane Revealed How He Was Feeling Months Before His Death

Source: MEGAHe is survived by his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters.

Two months before his death, Dane appeared on Giving Tuesday at a virtual panel featuring I AM ALS and Synapticure co-founders Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya.

During the panel, the Countdown star opened up about his Brilliant Minds role as he discussed how he was feeling.

According to Dane, he was willing to take on any "ALS-centric" roles