Eric Dane died at the age of 53 on February 19
Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane died on Thursday afternoon (February 19) at the age of 53. The actor had previously gone public with his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), using his platform to raise awareness of the incurable disease and to share the subtle first symptom he initially dismissed.
At first, Dane brushed off weakness in his right hand as simple “hand fatigue” from texting. ALS is the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND) and often begins with gradual muscle weakness.
Other early symptoms may include:
- Tripping or difficulty walking
- Dropping objects
- Fatigue in the arms or legs
- Slurred or slowed speech
- Muscle cramps or twitching
- Episodes of uncontrollable laughing or crying
What was Eric Dane’s first symptom of ALS?
Speaking on Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer, the dad of two said that a few months after first revealing his diagnosis to the public, he lost the function of his right arm.
Dane, who shot to fame on the medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy, where he played Doctor Mark Sloan aka ‘McSteamy’, also shared one key symptom which began over one year ago in 2024, when he began experiencing weakness in his right hand.
“I didn’t really think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I’d been texting too much or my hand was fatigued,” he recalled. “But a few weeks later, I noticed it had gotten a little worse, so I went and saw a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist.”
Dane was sent to two different neurologists before he received the diagnosis of ALS. “I’ll never forget those three letters,” he recalled.
Dane said he truly understood how serious his ALS had become a few months ago during a boat trip with his 13-year-old daughter. He used to be a competitive swimmer and water polo star, but when he jumped into the ocean with her, he realised he no longer had the strength to swim.
“She dragged me back to the boat,” Dane said, adding that he broke down in tears on the boat. “I was just, I was, like, heartbroken.”
Born in California, Dane announced his ALS diagnosis in April 2025. In the months that followed, he worked to raise funds and awareness for the progressive disease. In November, he portrayed a firefighter grappling with an ALS diagnosis in an episode of Brilliant Minds.
Eric Dane’s death statement
His family confirmed in a statement: “With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS. He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center 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. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
