Eric Dane Felt It Was &x27;Imperative&x27; to Openly Share His ALS Journey Before His Death Julia MooreFri, February 20, 2026 at 2:56 AM UTC 0 Eric Dane in 2022 AFFUSA/Shutterstock Eric Dane died on Thursday, Feb. 19, his family confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. He was 53. Dane revealed in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and had vowed to fight the disease During a panel appearance in December, the Grey's Anatomy star reflected on his diagnosis and his journey with the disease as he shared why he felt it was "imperative" for him to share as m...
Eric Dane Felt It Was 'Imperative' to Openly Share His ALS Journey Before His Death
Julia MooreFri, February 20, 2026 at 2:56 AM UTC
0
Eric Dane in 2022
AFF-USA/Shutterstock
Eric Dane died on Thursday, Feb. 19, his family confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. He was 53.
Dane revealed in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and had vowed to fight the disease
During a panel appearance in December, the Grey's Anatomy star reflected on his diagnosis and his journey with the disease as he shared why he felt it was "imperative" for him to share as much as possible
Eric Dane was intentionally candid about his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) journey.
The actor died on Thursday, Feb. 19 at age 53, his family confirmed to PEOPLE. In a statement, the family confirmed that Dane died "following a courageous battle with ALS" and "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," 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."
Dane revealed that he had been diagnosed with ALS in April 2025, and during a panel late last year with I AM ALS and Synapticure co-founders Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya, he said that being open about the diagnosis — and his experience with the disease — was "imperative."
"It's imperative that I share my journey with as many people as I can because I don't feel like my life is about me anymore," he said.
"I have no reason to be in a good spirit at any time, on any given day, I don't think anybody would blame me if I went upstairs in my bedroom, crawled under the sheets, and spent the next two weeks crying," Dane admitted. "And I was a little bit pleasantly surprised when I realized that I wasn't built like that, because I thought for sure that was gonna be me."
Eric Dane attends a screening of One Fast Move at Culver Theater on August 06, 2024
Michael Tullberg/Getty
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The panel was held days after he appeared in an episode of Brilliant Minds — where he played Matthew, a firefighter and 9/11 hero who is struggling to tell his wife he's been diagnosed with ALS — and Dane called himself a "pretty selfish person," but said he no longer could have his life be "all about me."
Advertisement
"You know, obviously, I have a family at home, and they're the priority. But this is such a big deal to me," he said. Dane was married to, but separated from, Rebecca Gayheart and shared two daughters with her, Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13.
"I make sure that people are aware of what ALS is and what it's about, and more importantly, what we can do to combat it and improve the landscape, because it's so rocky and littered with hurdles and bureaucracy and all this other nonsense that we're trying to sift through so we can get to a place where we go, start working on solution."
In June 2025, Dane teared up during a Good Morning America interview with Diane Sawyer as he opened up about his diagnosis.
"I wake up every day, and I'm immediately reminded that this is happening," he said. "It's not a dream."
But he was adamant about his fight. "I don't think this is the end of my story. I don't feel like this is the end of me," he said.
When Dane first shared his diagnosis exclusively with PEOPLE, he said in a statement, "I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter."
"I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time," he said.
on People
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: February 20, 2026 at 05:09AM on Source: MARIO MAG
#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle