Eric Dane's Brilliant Minds role pulled from his actual life as his character learned to lean on his family amid a deteriorating battle with ALS. During the Monday, November 24, episode of the NBC series, Dane, 53, played a patient named Matthew, who struggles as his ALS progresses and his symptoms make day-to-day life more difficult. Matthew initially refused to tell his ex-wife and daughter what was going on, though he eventually revealed he was struggling. After denying the changes he would have to make to adjust to his health issues, Matthew chose to move back in with his family.