Eric Dane, best known for his roles in Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria, has been open about his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a condition that has drastically affected his life.
The 53-year-old actor, who publicly shared his diagnosis in April 2025, recently dropped out of an ALS event due to the progression of the disease, and continues to bravely share his journey with the world.
Dane was set to receive the Advocate of the Year Award at the ALS Network’s Champions for Cures and Care Gala but was unable to attend due to his physical struggles with the disease.
A spokesperson for the organization explained: “The ALS Network has been informed that Eric Dane had hoped to join us this evening to accept his Advocate of the Year Award, but due to the physical realities of ALS, he is not well enough to attend," per Hollywood Reporter.
Broadway actor Aaron Lazar, who also has ALS, accepted the award on Dane’s behalf.
Since being diagnosed, Dane has made it his mission to raise awareness about the disease, even as his condition worsens.
He shared during a virtual panel that he no longer feels his life is just about him, but about helping others facing the same challenges.
"I think it’s imperative that I share my journey with as many people as I can because I don’t feel like my life is about me anymore," he said, per The New York Post.
"And it’s something I’ve had to wrestle with because I’m a pretty selfish person, and I’d love for my life to be all about me, but I just can’t - I don’t think I’d be able to move forward if that were the case," he added.
First Signs of ALS
In a previous interview, The Last Ship star opened up about the subtle signs of ALS that he first experienced, which he initially dismissed as simple hand fatigue.
"I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand, and I didn't really think anything of it at the time," he explained. “I thought maybe I had been texting too much, or my hand was fatigued. But a few weeks later, I noticed it had gotten a little worse.”
The actor sought help from multiple hand specialists and eventually two neurologists before receiving his ALS diagnosis.
It took nine months of doctor visits and tests before the diagnosis was confirmed. ALS, a progressive neurological disease, has since taken a heavy toll on Dane’s body.
"I have one functioning arm. My left side is functioning, my right side has completely stopped working," he shared. “I feel like maybe a couple, few more months, and I won't have my left hand either. It’s sobering.”
A Fearful Future and Struggles with Fatherhood
As his condition progresses, Dane is especially concerned about losing the use of his legs.
He recalled a terrifying incident during a trip at sea with his daughters, Billie and Georgia. When he jumped into the ocean, he realized he no longer had the strength to swim back to the boat.
"When I jumped in the ocean that day and realized I couldn't swim, I thought, 'Oh, God,’” he said. “And then I realized in that moment I’m not safe in the water anymore."
This incident marked a turning point for Dane as it forced him to confront the reality of his condition.
"I'm angry because my father was taken from me when I was young, and now there's a very good chance I'm going to be taken from my girls while they're very young,” he said. His father tragically died by suicide when Dane was just seven years old.
Despite the harrowing nature of his diagnosis, Dane remains focused on sharing his story and advocating for ALS awareness.
His family, including estranged wife Rebecca Gayheart and their two daughters, is his priority.
Dane has also remained active in his advocacy, even taking on the role of a firefighter with ALS in an episode of Brilliant Minds in November 2025.