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Eric Dane, Grey's Anatomy alum and ALS advocate, has passed away. He was 53.
According to People, Dane's family confirmed in a statement that the Euphoria actor died Thursday (February 19), nearly one year since revealing his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis.
"With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS," the statement reads. "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."
The statement continued, "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."
Dane, best known for his role as Mark Sloan, a.k.a. McSteamy, on Grey's Anatomy, revealed in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, a rare progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, gradually leading to loss of muscle control, per the ALS Association.
In the moths after going public with his diagnosis, Dane shared candid updates on his health, from "sobering" changes to some of the first signs that made him realize something could be wrong.
In late 2025, he returned to TV in his first acting role since his diagnosis, playing a firefighter on Brilliant Minds who was struggling to tell his family about his ALS diagnosis. He called the role "cathartic" during a panel discussion with the organization I Am ALS despite how difficult it was to portray a character experiencing something so close to his own life.
"I've never played a character who's going through something and something I'm dealing with in real time, in real life as well. So it was hard and there were moments where it was very difficult for me to even get the lines out," he said, adding, "But overall, I was really grateful for the experience."