Rebecca Gayheart: Eric Dane spent his final months fundraising and raising awareness for ALS

Mo. Basuony

Published: February 21, 2026 9:01 AM ET

rebecca gayheart — Eric Dane, best known for more than 100 episodes of Grey's Anatomy as Dr Mark Sloan, has died 10 months after confirming he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The 53-year-old spent his final months campaigning for research funding and public awareness.

Rebecca Gayheart

Dane shared his diagnosis in April 2025 and said, in remarks published less than a fortnight ago, "I'm trying to save my life. " He was named one of the 100 most influential people in health and launched a three-year campaign in September aiming to raise more than $1bn in federal funding for ALS research.

Dane pushed big funding goals and joined Target ALS

In September he helped start the multi-year effort to secure federal research dollars, and by December he had joined the board of Target ALS, an organization dedicated to research for effective ALS treatments. The board reported that one campaign he supported surpassed a fundraising target of $500, 000.

Using acting and appearances to spotlight ALS

Beyond fundraising, Dane used his craft to draw attention to the disease. In November he appeared on an episode of the medical drama Brilliant Minds as a firefighter struggling to accept help after an ALS diagnosis. He later described playing a role so close to his own experience as challenging but cathartic, and he spoke publicly about the hurdles patients face, including loss of voluntary muscle control that eventually affects speech, eating, walking and breathing.

Dane's public remarks and on-screen work were part of a larger push: he said it was "imperative" to share his journey so that more people understood what ALS is and what could be done to combat it. The campaign he helped launch is scheduled to run for three years and remains active.

He also emphasized immediate personal stakes, telling interviewers, "I'm trying to save my life, " in recent published remarks. Medical treatments and technologies can improve quality of life for people with ALS, but there is no cure.

With his diagnosis disclosed in April 2025 and his subsequent activism, Dane focused his final months on moving fundraising and research forward. The three-year campaign he helped start in September, aimed at securing more than $1bn in federal funding, will continue its work in the months ahead.