Eric Dane, Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria Star, Dies at 53 After ALS Battle

eric dane died Feb. 19 (ET) at the age of 53, less than a year after publicly announcing an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis. His final months included public advocacy for ALS awareness and a spotlight on health insurance issues tied to care.

Eric Dane’s illness and advocacy

In April 2025, Dane announced he had been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive neurological disease that destroys nerve cells and the connections needed to walk, talk, speak and breathe. His representatives said he died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He spoke about his experience in June 2025 at a Washington news conference focused on health insurance prior authorization, identifying himself as a patient living with ALS and using his platform to press for awareness and access.

After his diagnosis, he accepted an advocate of the year honor from an ALS organization in September 2025, a recognition given for his efforts to raise awareness and support for people living with the disease. Coverage of his final months emphasized both his personal struggle and his public-facing role on behalf of patients.

Career highlights and key roles

Dane developed a devoted fanbase after being cast as Dr. Mark Sloan, a role he first played beginning in the mid-2000s and continued in the series through 2012, with a later reprise in 2021. His portrayal left a lasting imprint on the show, and the character’s legacy is woven into the series’ setting.

He later played Cal Jacobs on a provocative drama that he continued to appear in up until his death. Dane also starred as Tom Chandler, the captain of a U. S. Navy destroyer, in a post-apocalyptic drama; production on that series was halted in 2017 while he battled depression. Colleagues and collaborators noted the range of roles he took on, from a charismatic surgeon to darker, more complex characters.

Family, tributes and what's next

His representatives said Dane spent his final days surrounded by friends, his wife and his two daughters, Billie and Georgia. A statement requested privacy for the family and noted that his daughters were the center of his world. Performers who worked with him remembered his talent and presence; the show where he was best known is expected to include an on-air tribute in its episode when it returns from a break next week.

A memoir titled Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments is scheduled for release in late 2026. That planned publication and the upcoming televised tribute were cited in recent coverage as immediate focal points for remembrance and potential fundraising around ALS. If the episode tribute airs as expected, and if the memoir proceeds on schedule, both events are likely to shape public memory of his life and advocacy.

Key takeaways

• eric dane died Feb. 19 (ET) at age 53 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
• He announced his ALS diagnosis in April 2025 and became an active advocate afterward.
• The show that made him widely known plans a tribute when it returns next week; a memoir is scheduled for late 2026.