Rebecca Gayheart: Eric Dane gave his final months to 'moving the needle' on ALS

rebecca gayheart appears in coverage as Eric Dane, best known for more than 100 episodes of Grey's Anatomy as Dr Mark Sloan, died 10 months after confirming he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spent his final months raising funds and awareness for the disease. He was 53.

How Dane spent his last months

Dane publicly announced his diagnosis in April 2025 and told Time magazine, "I'm trying to save my life, " in remarks published less than a fortnight before his death. In September he helped launch a three-year campaign aiming to raise more than $1bn in federal funding for ALS research, and by December he had joined the board of Target ALS.

Rebecca Gayheart and the milestones the campaign hit

rebecca gayheart is named here as part of the broader coverage; the campaign Dane backed surpassed a notable fundraising target when one of its drives exceeded $500, 000, a result Target ALS highlighted after he joined its board in December. The campaign’s goal of securing federal funds over three years remained central to his public work.

Acting and advocacy intertwined

Beyond fundraising, Dane used acting to spotlight the condition: he appeared on an episode of the medical drama Brilliant Minds in November as a firefighter struggling to accept help after an ALS diagnosis. He told a virtual panel the following month that playing a role "so close" to him had been challenging but "cathartic, " and he said it was "imperative" to share his journey to improve the landscape for others living with ALS.

Dane described ALS in public comments as a disease that causes progressive paralysis and the loss of cells controlling voluntary muscle movement, noting that medical treatments and technologies can improve quality of life even though no cure has been found. He framed his work—joining campaigns, serving on a research board and acting—as efforts to "move the needle" for himself and others.

His prominence on television helped draw attention: he was widely known for his role as Dr Mark Sloan, nicknamed "Dr McSteamy, " on Grey's Anatomy, which provided a high-profile platform for his advocacy in the months after his diagnosis.

The three-year federal funding campaign launched in September continues as the next confirmed milestone tied to Dane's public efforts; Target ALS and partner groups are positioned to carry forward the fundraising and research activities he supported.