Eric Dane, the actor best known for his roles on Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, has died less than a year after revealing he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was 53.
Dane starred as family patriarch Cal Jacobs on hit HBO teen drama Euphoria. Before that, he was perhaps best known as Dr Mark Sloan, or « Dr McSteamy », on medical drama Grey’s Anatomy.
The California-born actor shared his ALS diagnosis in April 2025 and spent his final months raising funds and awareness for the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND).
His family said in a statement: « With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS. »Dane first appeared in the second series of Grey’s Anatomy in 2006 before returning as a main cast member
Dane was married to fellow actress and model Rebecca Gayheart, with whom he had two children.
The statement said he spent his final days surrounded by friends and his devoted wife, and his two daughters, Billie and Georgia, « who were the center 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 mystery of why some people develop ALS
The actor was born in San Francisco in 1972 and made his television debut in the Wonder Years in 1993.
He went on to star as Jason Dean in fantasy drama series Charmed, and Captain Tom Chandler in action drama show The Last Ship, while appearing in films such as Marley & Me, Valentine’s Day and Burlesque.
‘A joy to work with’
Dane’s Grey’s Anatomy co-stars led tributes to the late actor. Patrick Dempsey, who played Dr. Derek Shepherd, described him as being « a joy to work with ».
« He was the funniest man – he was such a joy to work with and I want to just remember him in that spirit because any time he was on set, he brought so much fun to it. He had a great sense of humour, » Dempsey told Virgin Radio.
He added that Dane was « wickedly intelligent », and also did « an incredible job at bringing awareness to this horrible disease ».
Dane spent his final months advocating for ALS research and awareness
Euphoria creator Sam Levinson told Variety: « I’m heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend. »
« Working with him was an honor. Being his friend was a gift, » he said.
His Charmed co-star Alyssa Milano meanwhile wrote that her « heart is with the people who were lucky enough to be his home ».
« When it came to his daughters and Rebecca, everything in him softened. He carried them with him even in rooms where they weren’t present… A breathtakingly beautiful family. »
Ashton Kutcher, who starred alongside Dane in 2010’s Valentine’s Day, also paid tribute on social media: « Miss you, buddy. Let’s keep fighting the fight to solve ALS. »
Nina Dobrev separately said he « led with kindness and made everyone on our set feel seen ». The pair starred together in 2022’s Redeeming Love.
« He was warm, generous, prepared, and so passionate about what he did, » she wrote on Instagram. « ALS is a cruel and unforgiving disease. May his memory inspire more research, awareness, and progress toward a cure. »
Eddy Chen/HBO Eric Dane in a still image from HBO drama EuphoriaEddy Chen/HBO
Dane played the father of Oscar-nominee Jacob Elordi’s Nate in Euphoria, which debuted in 2019
Since sharing his diagnosis 10 months ago, Dane advocated for research and awareness surrounding the progressive condition.
In November, he appeared on screen as a firefighter struggling to accept support following an ALS diagnosis in an episode of NBC medical drama Brilliant Minds.
Earlier this month, he was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in health for his advocacy work.
« I’m trying to save my life, » Dane told the publication, « and if my actions can move the needle forward for myself and countless others, I’m satisfied ».
In December, he had joined the board of directors of Target ALS, an organisation dedicated to research for effective ALS treatments and a cure – who said he had helped one of its campaigns surpass a fundraising target of $500,000 (£371,000).
He also appeared in a video for a separate fundraising campaign in September in which he said he was « an actor… a father and now a person living with ALS », and spoke about « finally, finally push toward ending this disease ».
In June, he told ABC’s Good Morning America that the diagnosis had made him « angry » because he had lost his father, who died by suicide, as child: « There’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls while they’re very young. »
What is ALS?
According to the NHS, MND « encompasses several different conditions whose common feature is the premature degeneration of motor nerves (known as neurons or sometimes neurones) ».
It says nearly 90% of patients with MND have the mixed ALS form of the disease.
Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare degenerative disease that causes progressive paralysis of the muscles.
There is no cure for ALS, and, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, people usually live for three to five years after diagnosis although some can live for decades.
Correction 20 February 2026: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Kim Raver played Eric Dane’s on-screen wife in Grey’s Anatomy. Their characters had a short-lived romance but were not married.
