Eric Dane, the U.S. actor who rose to fame on Grey’s Anatomy and later earned a new generation of fans on Euphoria, has died at 53 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), his representatives said in a statement shared with The Associated Press.
Dane spent his final days surrounded by friends and family, including his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, and their daughters, Billie and Georgia, his representatives said. No additional details were immediately released.
- Advertisement -
Dane became a household name as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, a swaggering plastic surgeon whose easy charm and sharp wit turned a planned guest spot into a star-making run. Introduced in 2006, he became a series regular and remained on the medical drama until 2012, returning for a guest appearance in 2021.
Born in San Francisco, Dane worked steadily on television throughout the 1990s, with early credits including The Wonder Years, before his Grey’s breakout. He went on to front TNT’s post-apocalyptic action drama The Last Ship and appeared in films such as Marley & Me, Burlesque, Valentine’s Day and X‑Men: The Last Stand. On HBO’s Euphoria, he delivered a darker, layered turn that underscored the breadth of his screen presence.
Off screen, Dane married Gayheart in 2004. Though the pair later separated, they continued to co‑parent closely. In a December 2025 essay for The Cut, Gayheart wrote of their enduring bond: “Our love may not be romantic, but it’s a familial love.”
Dane publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis in April 2025. In a televised interview two months later, he described how the disease had altered his mobility, saying one side of his body was functioning while the other had stopped working. He later drew on that experience for a November 2025 guest role on NBC’s Brilliant Minds, portraying a firefighter grappling with an ALS diagnosis and struggling to tell his family.
Tributes poured in from friends and co‑stars. Actor Ashton Kutcher wrote on X about “keeping fighting the fight to solve ALS,” while Grey’s Anatomy actor Kevin McKidd posted “Rest in Peace, Buddy” on Instagram Stories. Charmed co‑star Alyssa Milano recalled Dane’s mischievous humor and his knack for catching people off guard.
In the past year, Dane used his platform to amplify ALS awareness and research. He received the ALS Network’s Advocate of the Year award in 2025. A memoir, My Book of Days, is scheduled for publication later in 2026.
ALS, the most common form of motor neurone disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects nerve cells controlling movement. Symptoms can include difficulty walking, speaking, swallowing and breathing. There is no cure, though treatments can help reduce its impact on daily life.
Dane is survived by Gayheart, Billie and Georgia, and a wide circle of friends and collaborators who described him as generous, funny and fiercely devoted to his family. His career spanned decades and genres, but it was his warmth—on set and on screen—that fans and colleagues said they will miss most.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
