Actor Eric Dane has died.
The former Grey’s Anatomy star passed away Thursday, 10 months after publicly revealing his diagnosis with ALS. He was 53.
In a statement to People, Dane’s family said, “With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS.”
Dane’s family shared in a statement to People that the actor — pictured here during a June 2025 news conference at the Department of Health and Human Services — will be “deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always.”
“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight,” the statement continued. “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 family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
In a separate statement to Page Six, I AM ALS said it was “heartbroken” over the death of Eric Dane.
“Eric brought humility, humor, and visibility to ALS and reminded the world that progress is possible when we refuse to remain silent,” the organization said in part. “Eric was more than a supporter of our mission — he was part of our family. His impact will live on in the research being funded, the policies being advanced and the community he helped grow through his honesty, bravery and belief in a better future for anyone facing this diagnosis.”
Dane had been candid about his health battle after revealing in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with ALS.
According to the Mayo Clinic, ALS is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to a gradual loss of muscle control.The Grey’s Anatomy alum, seen attending the Countdown premiere in June 2025, revealed he was diagnosed with ALS in April 2025.
Eric Dane, who was all smiles at an HBO Max event for Euphoria in April 2022, later revealed that his first ALS symptom was weakness in his right hand during a June 2025 interview on Good Morning America.
There is currently no cure for ALS.
Speaking to Diane Sawyer on “Good Morning America” in June 2025, Dane recalled when he first noticed something was wrong.
“I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand, and I didn’t really think anything of it at the time,” he said. “I thought maybe I had been texting too much or my hand was fatigued. But a few weeks later, I noticed it had gotten a little worse.”
In September 2025, Dane was seen using a wheelchair at an airport in Washington, D.C. and appeared to struggle to speak while briefly interacting with a paparazzo.
Still, Eric Dane — seen having dinner at Sushi Park in October 2025 — offered words of encouragement to fans at the time, urging them to “keep the faith.”
“Keep the faith, man,” he said in a halting voice when asked if he had a message for concerned supporters.
In December 2025, Dane said he hoped to continue acting despite the progression of his illness.
“I still have my brain, and I still have my speech,” he said during a panel hosted by I AM ALS and the team behind Brilliant Minds, adding that he was “willing to do just about anything.”
Late last month, he abruptly withdrew from an ALS event due to health complications. A spokesperson said he canceled “due to the physical realities of ALS” and not being “well enough to attend.”
Dane and his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, called off their divorce in March 2025 — one month before he publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis.
Eric Dane was married to Rebecca Gayheart, and the couple shared two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14. The family is pictured here in an Instagram photo from August 2022.
One of Eric Dane’s most beloved roles was Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy, where he starred opposite Ellen Pompeo.
Dane and Rebecca Gayheart married in 2004 and share two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14.
In an emotional essay for The Cut published in December 2025, Gayheart clarified that she and Dane “haven’t lived in the same home for eight years,” explaining that while their relationship evolved, their bond remained strong.
“Our love may not be romantic, but it’s a familial love,” she wrote.
Gayheart also noted that Dane had “dated other people, [and she has] dated someone” — 78-year-old billionaire Peter Morton — since she filed for divorce in 2018.
“Eric knows that I am always going to want the best for him,” she added. “That I’m going to do my best to do right by him. And I know he would do the same for me.”
He also starred in Euphoria and is set to appear in the show’s upcoming third season. Cast members Hunter Schafer, Barbie Ferreira and Zendaya are pictured alongside him with creator and director Sam Levinson (far left) in May 2019.
Eric Dane appeared on Season 2 of NBC’s Brilliant Minds, portraying a firefighter diagnosed with ALS. He is pictured here with co-star Zachary Quinto.
“So whatever I can do or however I can show up to make this journey better for him or easier for him, I want to do that,” a family member said. “And I want to model that for my girls: ‘That’s what you do. That’s the right thing to do.’”
Dane was best known for his role as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy, appearing in Seasons 3 through 9 from 2006 to 2012.
His film credits included roles in Marley & Me, Burlesque, and Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
Dane later returned to television, playing Cal Jacobs in Euphoria. He was a main character in the series’ first two seasons and reprised the role for its upcoming third season, set to premiere in April.
He also appeared on Season 2 of Brilliant Minds, portraying a firefighter living with ALS.
