‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Actor Eric Dane Passes Away at 53 After ALS Diagnosis [WATCH]

Actor Eric Dane, best known for his role as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on “Grey’s Anatomy,” has died at the age of 53 following a battle with ALS, as reported by Page Six.

Dane passed away on Thursday, 10 months after publicly announcing his diagnosis. His family confirmed the news in a statement to People.

“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” the statement read.

Actor Eric Dane—who has ALS—spoke at an HHS event on health insurance reform:

“Today is about all those who need more certainty, faster answers, and more hope for recovery.”

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“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,” the family continued. “He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always.”

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The statement added, “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.”

In a separate statement to Page Six, the organization I AM ALS said it was “heartbroken” over Dane’s death.

“Eric brought humility, humor, and visibility to ALS and reminded the world that progress is possible when we refuse to remain silent,” the group said in part. “Eric was more than a supporter of our mission—he was part of our family. His impact will live on in the research being funded, the policies being advanced, and the community he helped grow by his honesty, his bravery, and his belief in a better future for anyone struggling with this diagnosis.”

Dane revealed in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

According to the Mayo Clinic, ALS “is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord,” leading to “loss of muscle control” and progressing over time. There is no cure.

In a June 2025 interview on “Good Morning America,” Dane described his first symptom to Diane Sawyer.

“I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand, and I didn’t really think anything of it at the time,” he said. “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.”

By September 2025, Dane was seen using a wheelchair at an airport in Washington, D.C., and appeared to struggle while speaking to a photographer.

“Keep the faith, man,” he replied in a stilted voice when asked what he wanted to say to concerned fans.

In December 2025, during a panel discussion hosted by I AM ALS and “Brilliant Minds,” Dane said he hoped to continue acting despite the progression of the disease.

“I still have my brain, and I still have my speech,” he said, adding that he was “willing to do just about anything.”

Late last month, Dane withdrew from an ALS-related event, canceling “due to the physical realities of ALS” and not being “well enough to attend.”

Dane and his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, called off their divorce in March 2025, one month before he publicly disclosed his diagnosis. The couple married in 2004 and share two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14.

In a December 2025 essay published in “The Cut,” Gayheart wrote that she and Dane “haven’t lived in the same home for eight years,” and that their “love may not be romantic, but it’s a familial love.”

She also noted that “he’s dated other people, [and she has] dated someone” — 78-year-old billionaire Peter Morton — since filing for divorce in 2018.

“Eric knows that I am always going to want the best for him,” she wrote. “That I’m going to do my best to do right by him. And I know he would do the same for me.”

“So whatever I can do or however I can show up to make this journey better for him or easier for him, I want to do that,” she continued.

“And I want to model that for my girls: ‘That’s what you do. That’s the right thing to do.’”

Dane starred on “Grey’s Anatomy” from Season 3 through Season 9, appearing from 2006 to 2012. His film credits included roles in “Marley & Me,” “Burlesque,” and “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.”

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We will always love and miss you Eric🕊️ rest in peace🤍 #ericdane #greysanatomy #inmemory #marksloan #fyp

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He later returned to television as Cal Jacobs on HBO’s “Euphoria,” appearing as a main character in the first two seasons and reprising the role for the upcoming third season, which is set to premiere in April. He also appeared in Season 2 of NBC’s “Brilliant Minds,” portraying a firefighter diagnosed with ALS.

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