Eric Dane, widely recognised for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, has died at the age of 53, less than a year after revealing he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Dane portrayed Cal Jacobs, the family patriarch in HBO’s teen drama Euphoria. He was also well known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan, nicknamed “Dr. McSteamy” , on the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy.
Born in California, Dane was diagnosed last year with ALS, the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND). In the months following his diagnosis, he worked to raise awareness about the condition.
In a statement, his family said: “With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS.” They added that he spent his final days surrounded by loved ones, including his wife, actress and model Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters, Billie and Georgia, whom they described as “the center of his world.”
“He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and was forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he received,” the statement continued.
Eric Dane’s career
Throughout his career, Dane also appeared as Jason Dean in Charmed, Captain Tom Chandler in The Last Ship, and in films including Marley & Me, Valentine’s Day, and Burlesque.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare and progressive neurological disorder that leads to muscle paralysis. It damages nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for voluntary movement, gradually affecting a person’s ability to speak, eat, walk, and eventually breathe without assistance.
Last summer, Dane spoke openly about his diagnosis on ABC’s Good Morning America, saying it left him feeling “angry.” Reflecting on his father’s death by suicide when he was seven years old, he said, “There’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls while they’re very young.”
Born in San Francisco in 1972, Dane began his acting career in the early 1990s, making his television debut on The Wonder Years in 1993.
