Grey’s Anatomy actor Eric Dane dies aged 53 after ALS battle
The US actor died less than a year after publicly revealing he had been diagnosed with the disease.
Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria star Eric Dane has died aged 53 following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The US actor died less than a year after publicly revealing he had been diagnosed with the progressive neurodegenerative disease.
His passing was confirmed by his representatives in a statement to the Associated Press, who said he had been surrounded by friends and family.
The statement said: “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world.
“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. 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.”
Dane’s career took off when he joined long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy as fan-favourite Dr Mark “McSteamy” Sloan.
He played the suave surgeon from 2006 until 2012, returning to the show for a guest appearance in 2021.
Dane later reached a new generation of viewers when he was cast as Cal Jacobs, the volatile antagonist of the HBO hit Euphoria.
Other screen credits include roles in Charmed, Burlesque, Marley and Me and Valentine’s Day.
Dane married actress Rebecca Gayheart in 2004 and the pair share two children.
Ashton Kutcher, Nina Dobrev, Robert Patrick, Maria Shriver and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson were among the celebrity names who paid tribute to Dane.
“The Franklin strip fanatics fantasy football league will miss Mr. Eric Dane,” Kutcher wrote in a post on X.
“We know you’ll be watching from the booth. Miss you, buddy. Let’s keep fighting the fight to solve ALS.”
Kevin McKidd, who portrays Owen Hunt on Grey’s Anatomy, posted a picture of Dane to his Instagram stories, writing “Rest in Peace, Buddy”.
In 2025, Dane went public with the news he had been diagnosed with ALS, later using his platform to advocate for greater awareness of the disease.
ALS is the most common form of motor neurone disease, a terminal condition that progressively robs people of muscle control.
Most people live three to five years after diagnosis.
Charmed actress Alyssa Milano told her Instagram followers she could not stop thinking about the “spark in Eric’s eye right before he’d say something that would either make you spit out your drink or rethink your entire perspective”.
She wrote: “He had a razor-sharp sense of humor. He loved the absurdity of things. He loved catching people off guard.
“And 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. You could see it in the way his voice changed when he said their names. A breathtakingly beautiful family.”
