Eric Dane, renowned for his role as Dr. Mark ‘McSteamy’ Sloan in Grey’s Anatomy, has passed away at 53 after a valiant and public struggle with ALS.
According to his representatives, Dane died on Thursday afternoon, approximately ten months after he publicly disclosed his diagnosis with the degenerative neurological disorder. He had been experiencing symptoms privately for a year and a half before coming forward.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS. He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife [actress Rebecca Gayheart], and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world,” reads the statement.
“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
Dane was afflicted by ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a rare progressive disease that leads to muscle paralysis.
As the condition advances, it impacts nerve cells in the brain and spine responsible for muscle movement, gradually impairing a patient’s ability to speak, eat, walk, and breathe independently.
Diagnosed in 2025, Dane publicly announced his condition in April, though he had been struggling with initial symptoms privately for over a year before receiving the diagnosis.
Looking back on his diagnosis, Dane expressed to Good Morning America last summer that the news made him feel ‘angry.’
“Because, you know, my father was taken from me when I was young,” he told the programme.
“And now, you know, there’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls while they’re very young.”
Dane’s father passed away by suicide when he was just seven years old.
Despite his frustration, Dane chose not to let his illness define him. In the final months of his life, he became an active advocate for ALS awareness, hoping to inspire progress toward a cure.
Throughout his career, the San Francisco native took on various roles, gaining fame from Grey’s Anatomy between 2006 and 2012, with a return in 2021.
He also starred for five seasons on the TNT post-apocalyptic drama The Last Ship from 2014 to 2018, portraying the captain of a U.S. Navy destroyer in search of a cure for a global pandemic.
Demonstrating his versatility, Dane appeared on HBO’s Euphoria as the father of Jacob Elordi’s character, Nate Jacobs, during the show’s first two seasons from 2019 to 2022.
Beyond television, Dane made his mark in Hollywood with roles such as Marvel’s Jamie Madrox/Multiple Man in Brett Ratner’s X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) and a reporter alongside Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston in David Frankel’s Marley & Me (2008).