By MARIA SHERMAN
NEW YORK (AP) — Eric Dane, the celebrated actor greatest identified for his roles on “Gray’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria” and who later in life turned advocate for ALS consciousness, died Thursday. He was 53.
His representatives mentioned Dane died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, identified additionally as Lou Gehrig’s illness, lower than a 12 months after he introduced his analysis.
“He spent his last days surrounded by expensive buddies, his devoted spouse, and his two lovely daughters, Billie and Georgia, who had been the middle of his world,” mentioned a press release that requested privateness for his household. “All through his journey with ALS, Eric turned a passionate advocate for consciousness and analysis, decided to make a distinction for others dealing with the identical struggle. He shall be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered all the time. Eric adored his followers and is without end grateful for the outpouring of affection and help he’s obtained.”
Dane was born on November 9, 1972 and raised in California. His father, a Navy man, died of a gunshot wound when he was 7. After highschool, he moved to Los Angeles to purse appearing, touchdown visitor roles on reveals like “Saved by the Bell,” “Married…With Kids,” “Charmed” and “X-Males: the Final Stand,” and one season of the short-lived medical drama “Gideon’s Crossing.”
His large break arrived within the mid-2000s, when he was solid as Dr. Mark Sloan, a.okay.a. McSteamy, on the ABC medical drama “Gray’s Anatomy,” a job he would play from 2006 till 2012 and reprise in 2021. In 2019, he did a whole 180 and have become Cal Jacobs, a troubled married man, in HBO’s provocative drama, “Euphoria,” a job he continued in up till his demise.
Dane additionally starred as Tom Chandler, the captain of a U.S. Navy destroyer at sea after a worldwide disaster worn out a lot of the world’s inhabitants, within the TNT drama “The Final Ship.” In 2017, manufacturing was halted as Dane battled melancholy.
In April 2025, Dane introduced he had been recognized with ALS, a progressive illness that assaults nerve cells controlling muscle groups all through the physique.
ALS steadily destroys the nerve cells and connections wanted to stroll, discuss, communicate and breathe. Most sufferers die inside three to 5 years of a analysis.
Dane turned an advocate for ALS consciousness, talking a information convention in Washington on medical health insurance prior authorization. “A few of chances are you’ll know me from TV reveals, corresponding to “Gray’s Anatomy,” which I play a health care provider. However I’m right here right this moment to talk briefly as a affected person battling ALS,” he mentioned in June 2025. In September of that 12 months, the ALS Community named Dane the recipient of their advocate of the 12 months award, recognizing his dedication to elevating consciousness and help for folks residing with ALS.
A memoir by Dane is scheduled to be printed in 2026. “E-book of Days: A Memoir in Moments” shall be launched by Maria Shriver’s The Open Area, a Penguin Random Home imprint. Based on Open Area, Dane will look again upon key moments in his life, from his first day at work on “Gray’s Anatomy” to the births of his two daughters and studying that he has ALS.
“I need to seize the moments that formed me — the attractive days, the arduous ones, those I by no means took as a right — in order that if nothing else, individuals who learn it is going to keep in mind what it means to stay with coronary heart,” Dane mentioned in a press release across the e-book’s announcement. “If sharing this helps somebody discover which means in their very own days, then my story is price telling.”
