Eric Dane Reveals ALS Diagnosis, Says he’s Returning to "Euphoria" Set Next Week
by J. Kim Murphy
April 10, 2025


Eric Dane has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The 52-year-old actor shared his diagnosis with People, while stating that his health has not impacted his plans to return for “Euphoria” Season 3. He will be on the HBO series’ set in the coming days.

“I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” Dane said. “I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of ‘Euphoria’ next week. I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”

https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/eric-dane-als-diagnosis-1236366684/

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Eric Dane says he was in the hospital during the Emmys (https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/greys-anatomy-star-reveals-why-he-couldnt-attend-emmys/)

The Grey’s Anatomy alum, who was scheduled to present with Jesse Williams in honor of Grey’s 20th anniversary, told The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2025/10/02/eric-dane-als-sick-research-congress/) he had a hard fall in his kitchen due to his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis that led to him pulling out of last month’s ceremony. “ALS is a nasty disease… So I was in the hospital during the Emmys getting stitches put in my head,” Dane said.

Eric Dane Has '24/7 Nurses' amid ALS Diagnosis, Ex Rebecca Gayheart Covers Shifts When Needed (https://people.com/eric-dane-has-24-7-nurses-amid-als-diagnosis-11876910)

The actress shared how she “locked in” to spearhead her ex’s care, and do battle with insurance companies

By Cara Lynn Shultz Updated on December 29, 2025 03:00PM EST

Rebecca Gayheart went to battle with insurance companies to make sure her ex, Eric Dane, has round-the-clock care amid his ongoing struggle with ALS.

The Jawbreaker actress, 54, wrote about her caregiving experience in a deeply personal essay for The Cut, where Gayheart — who separated from the Grey’s Anatomy alum in 2018 — shared that “Eric has 24/7 nurses now.”

Dane told PEOPLE in April that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), aka Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive degenerative disease that affects the nerve cells and leads to eventual paralysis of the muscles, per the Mayo Clinic. While there are medications that can slow its progression, there is no cure, and those with ALS slowly lose their ability to speak, eat, walk and breathe independently because the disease specifically affects nerve cells, or motor neurons, in the spine and brain.

Gayheart has taken charge of Dane’s medical care, sharing that “just figuring out the health-care system is its own thing — the health-insurance company will deny you what you’re asking for and you have to appeal and then you have to apply again.”

She wrote that when she was trying to get home nursing care, “the woman from his insurance said to me, ‘You can keep applying, and I’ll keep denying,’ I was like, ‘Oh? F that.’ I made it my mission. I was ‘locked in,’ as the kids would say. I crashed out, and then I locked it in.”

Gayheart — who previously described her and Dane’s dynamic as “super complicated” — refused to give up, explaining that “we got it approved after two appeals.”

The actress, who shares daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, with the Euphoria actor, said that his care is divided into 21 shifts. “There are times that shifts aren’t covered, so I cover them. There was a 12-hour shift recently that I could not cover. I could only do four hours because of all the stuff that the kids are doing,” she explained.

“I had to call on two of Eric’s friends, one of them who had never really taken care of him in that way. I thought, ‘I can’t believe I had to ask someone to do this.’ And of course when I asked for help, they said, ‘Yeah, anything, what do you need? What’s going on?’ And they both showed up and did a wonderful job.”

That hasn't been the case with everyone, Gayheart explained: "There are a lot of people who used to be more present in my life who I think about and wonder, 'Where’d they go?' She shared that she's "talked to my therapist about it a lot," and realized that "most people are not great in this situation because it’s so heavy."

"It’s not easy for people," Gayheart explained. "So I don’t hold any grudges toward [anyone] who hasn’t shown up."

Eric Dane Dead at 53 Nearly 1 Year After Announcing ALS Diagnosis
by Victoria Edel and Julie Jordan
February 19, 2026


Eric Dane has died at the age of 53, PEOPLE confirms. Dane became a star with his role as Dr. Mark Sloan — a.k.a. McSteamy — in "Grey’s Anatomy". Dane's death comes 10 months after he went public with his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Dane died Thursday, Feb. 19, the actor's family confirms to PEOPLE. "With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS," reads a statement from Dane's family. "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.”

https://people.com/eric-dane-dead-greys-anatomy-star-was-53-11717334

Very sad :(

"Grey’s Anatomy" Family Remembers Eric Dane’s “Remarkable Talent and Unforgettable Presence”
by Nellie Andreeva
February 19, 2026


“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Eric Dane,” the network and series producer 20th Television said in a joint statement Thursday night.

“His remarkable talent and unforgettable presence on Grey’s Anatomy left a lasting impact on audiences around the world, and his courage and grace during his battle with ALS inspired so many. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and colleagues, as well as the many fans whose lives were touched by his work.”

"Grey’s Anatomy" is expected to pay tribute to Dane in the upcoming episode next week when the medical drama returns after a break.

https://deadline.com/2026/02/greys-anatomy-family-cast-tribute-eric-dane-dead-mark-sloan-1236730410/

In Just 3 Seasons, Eric Dane's ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Arc Became the Drama’s Most Crucial Character Turn (https://collider.com/eric-dane-mark-sloan-lexie-slexie-greys-anatomy-crucial-character-turn/)

This hospital heartthrob needed only three seasons to completely change his chart.

He went fast. Sad.

Actress claims that she's the reason Eric Dane was fired from "Grey's Anatomy"; says he bullied her on the set (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/actress-claims-that-shes-the-reason-eric-dane-was-fired-from-greys-anatomy-says-he-bullied-her-on-the-set.6082469/)

Now the press are onto it:

'Grey’s Anatomy' Actress Calls Eric Dane ‘True Evil,’ Says She Got Him Fired (https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/bernadette-giacomazzo/eric-dane-bully-claims-greys-anatomy-star)​

A comment under a viral post about Eric Dane’s death is drawing attention after a former Grey’s Anatomy background actress claimed the late actor played a role in her career unraveling—and didn’t hold back in how she described him.

Posting on Threads in response to a Variety announcement about Dane’s passing (https://www.threads.com/@lauraanntull/post/DU9yZyoEQhj), Laura Ann Tull wrote bluntly that he “was a bully and an a-hole,” immediately sparking pushback from other users.

When challenged by fans, Tull doubled down—repeatedly.

In a series of follow-up posts, she alleged that Dane had mistreated her during her time working as an extra on Grey’s Anatomy, where she says she spent three years on set. “He was a coward who abused me. Bullied me. Made fun of me,” she wrote in one reply. In another, she claimed, “He just died. I only wish he’d apologized & admitted what he did.”

Tull also suggested she played a role in his exit from the show, writing, “I am why he was fired from Grey’s,” while alleging she had contacted production prior to his departure. She did not provide evidence supporting that claim.

Elsewhere in the thread, her posts expanded beyond on-set allegations. She accused Dane of interfering with her ability to work and claimed long-term consequences tied to that experience. “His dying doesn’t change [the] destruction he caused me,” she wrote, adding that she intended to pursue legal action at one point.

The comments echo themes Tull previously shared in a 2018 Medium post (https://lauraanntull.medium.com/i-am-weird-but-what-does-that-mean-5989e7c92792), where she described her time working in Hollywood and referenced Dane by name. In that essay, she said she never directly spoke to him on set but believed he had spoken negatively about her to others.

“I worked on set of Grey’s Anatomy for three years as an extra, but I never spoke to Dane once directly,” she wrote. “But I did hear him talk about me.”

She also described being labeled “weird” through a third party and said the experience contributed to her feeling pushed out of the industry.

There is no public record supporting Tull’s claim that she influenced Dane’s departure from Grey’s Anatomy. According to The Hollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/eric-dane-fired-greys-anatomy-mcsteamy-1235935534/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20think%20I%20was%20let,came%20with%20it%20very%20well.), Dane’s 2012 exit from the show was driven by budget and creative decisions, as long-running cast members became more expensive for the network.

Dane himself acknowledged he was also dealing with personal issues, including struggles with prescription medication, but maintained that those were not the primary reason for his departure.

Dane rose to prominence as Dr. Mark Sloan—nicknamed “McSteamy”—before later taking on a major role in HBO’s Euphoria. He died on February 19 at age 53, nearly a year after revealing he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease (https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/bernadette-giacomazzo/gofundme-eric-dane-daughters-hold).

In the months leading up to his death, Dane became an advocate for ALS awareness, using his platform to speak openly about the condition.

His family later said he passed “following a courageous battle with ALS,” surrounded by loved ones.

Grey’s Anatomy remembers Eric Dane with powerful tribute (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/greys-anatomy-eric-dane-tribute-mcsteamy-1236517011/)

Oscars viewers left shocked as Eric Dane, James Van Der Beek and Brigitte Bardot are LEFT OUT of In Memoriam segment (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15649265/oscars-viewers-shocked-eric-dane-james-van-der-beek-brigitte-bardot-snubbed-memoriam.html)

Eric Dane’s family is planning a public memorial (https://www.tmz.com/2026/03/17/eric-dane-to-be-honored-with-public-memorial/)

TMZ reports the public event will celebrate the life of the Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria alum, who died Feb. 19 from complications from ALS.

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