The star of Euphoria and The Last Ship has died, aged 53, less than a year after reporting his diagnosis
Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria star Eric Dane has died aged 53 following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – a foirm of Muscular Neurone Disease. 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 conflicted antagonist of the HBO hit Euphoria. Other screen credits include roles in Charmed, Burlesque, Marley and Me and Valentine’s Day.
Between 2014 and 2018 he played Tom Chandler in post-apocalyptic action series The Last Ship. Dane married actress Rebecca Gayheart in 2004 and the pair share two children. Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018 but later filed to have the petition dismissed.
In December, she wrote for US magazine The Cut that while the two lived separately and dated other people, they shared “a very complicated relationship, one that’s confusing for people. Our love may not be romantic, but it’s a familial love”.
Dane later drew on his own experience for a guest role on the TV series Brilliant Minds in November 2025, portraying a firefighter diagnosed with ALS who struggles to share the news with his family.
According to the NHS, early symptoms of motor neurone disease (MND) often begin gradually and include weakness, stiffness, or cramping in limbs (particularly hands, legs, and feet), along with slurred speech. These symptoms often start on one side of the body, such as a weak grip, tripping, or difficulty climbing stairs.
Common Early Symptoms:
- Weakness or Stiffness: Muscle weakness, especially in the hands causing difficulty gripping, or weak legs causing trips and “foot drop”.
- Muscle Issues: Twitching, cramps, or spasms.
- Speech and Swallowing: Slurred speech (dysarthria) and swallowing difficulties.
- Mobility: Difficulty lifting arms (shoulder weakness) or dragging a leg.
- Physical Changes: Unexplained weight loss, often due to muscle wasting.
These symptoms are initially subtle and may be mistaken for other conditions. The NHS advises seeing a GP if you experience these symptoms, especially if they are getting worse, to secure a prompt referral to a specialist.
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