'Grey's Anatomy' star Eric Dane dies after ALS battle

Russell Falcon

The Hill

60
20.02.2026

Newsletters Morning Report 12:30 Report Evening Report Business Defense Health Care Technology Newsletter Energy & Environment Whole Hog Politics The Gavel The Movement

Technology Newsletter

News Senate House Administration Courts Future America Media Campaign News Education In The Know Latino LGBTQ DC News Race & Politics State Watch Print Edition People in the News

Policy Defense Health Care Energy & Environment Technology Transportation International Cybersecurity National Security Space Sustainability

Business Budget Taxes Personal Finance Lobbying

Opinion Columnists Congress Blog All Contributors Opinions – Campaign Opinions – Civil Rights Opinions – Criminal Justice Opinions – Cybersecurity Opinions – Education Opinions – Energy and Environment Opinions – Finance Opinions – Healthcare Opinions – Immigration Opinions – International Opinions – Judiciary Opinions – National Security Opinions – Technology Opinions – White House Submit Opinion Content

All Contributors Opinions – Campaign Opinions – Civil Rights Opinions – Criminal Justice Opinions – Cybersecurity Opinions – Education Opinions – Energy and Environment Opinions – Finance Opinions – Healthcare Opinions – Immigration Opinions – International Opinions – Judiciary Opinions – National Security Opinions – Technology Opinions – White House

Opinions – Civil Rights

Opinions – Criminal Justice

Opinions – Cybersecurity

Opinions – Energy and Environment

Opinions – Healthcare

Opinions – Immigration

Opinions – International

Opinions – National Security

Opinions – Technology

Opinions – White House

Submit Opinion Content

Events Upcoming Events About

Trump hosts governors

Content from Google Cloud

Homan says immigration authorities who break the law will be ‘held accountable’ Administration | 6 minutes ago

Live updates: Trump hosts governors as he awaits Supreme Court’s tariff ruling Administration | 24 minutes ago

Trump: Iran faces ‘unfortunate’ outcome if deal not reached International | 25 minutes ago

US economy grew far slower than expected in fourth quarter Business | 31 minutes ago

Watch live: Trump hosts governors at White House breakfast Video | 48 minutes ago

Opinion Congress must act on aviation safety before the next midair collision Congress Blog - Technology | 51 minutes ago

Watch live: Whole Hog Politics with Chris Stirewalt and Bill Sammon Video | 54 minutes ago

Opinion AOC’s terrible horrible week just keeps getting worse Opinions - Campaign | 1 hour ago

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Eric Dane dies after ALS battle

(NEXSTAR) — Actor Eric Dane, best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” has died at the age of 53, Dane’s family confirmed to People Thursday.

Dane announced a diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) last year.

“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS… 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 actor’s family said in a statement.

“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,” they continued. “The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”

Eric Dane speaks about ALS during a health insurance conference at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC, on June 23, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Though he soared to notoriety as one the “hunks” of ABC’s long-running hospital drama, Dane led a long and varied career in TV and film.

He made his television debut in a 1991 episode of teen comedy “Saved by the Bell,” and later had roles on popular TV shows like “The Wonder Years,” “Married… with Children,” and “Roseanne.”His longest-running TV role was on “Grey’s,” where he starred from 2006 to 2012, in roughly 139 episodes.

Most recently, Dane starred in HBO’s drama “Euphoria,” where he served as a main cast member from 2019 up until the present. Last year, Dane starred in the one-season Amazon Prime series, “Countdown.” His final listed TV role is a 2025 episode of NBC’s medical drama “Brilliant Minds,” in which he played a character with ALS.

Since news of his diagnosis with ALS, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease, the actor has dedicated himself to ALS advocacy. In December, Dane joined the board of directors of Target ALS, a nonprofit which works to accelerate ALS research and awareness.

ALS is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal chord, according to Mayo Clinic. A degenerative disease, it causes increasing loss of muscle control. Toward the end of his battle, Dane was using a wheelchair to get around.

Dane married actress Rebecca Gayheart in a 2004 Las Vegas ceremony, and though the couple once filed for divorce, the two never officially divorced and were reconciled by the time of his death.

Per the late actor’s family’s statement, he spent his final days “surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.”

© The Hill

visit website

Categories

Sources

Popular

'Grey's Anatomy' star Eric Dane dies after ALS battle

Russell Falcon

© The Hill