Eric Dane Reveals ALS Diagnosis Continuing Career Despite Health Battles
Eric Dane has openly discussed his health struggles throughout his career, which now encompass a newly revealed ALS diagnosis.
The actor, known for roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Charmed, confirmed his diagnosis this past Thursday, April 10, through a statement given to People magazine. At 52 years old, Dane expressed, “I’ve received an ALS diagnosis. I’m thankful for my supportive family as we face this upcoming phase together.”
The Euphoria lead, father to Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, with his spouse Rebecca Gayheart, has previously spoken about seeking help for issues such as prescription medication dependency and depressive episodes.
Below, explore Dane’s previous statements regarding his health journey:
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
On April 10, 2025, Dane disclosed his ALS diagnosis, mentioning his good fortune to be able to keep working, specifically on the filming of Euphoria’s third season.
In a statement to People, he stated, “I consider myself lucky to be able to continue my work and anticipate being back on the Euphoria set next week.” He added, “I respectfully request that my family and I be afforded privacy at this juncture.”
Following the announcement of his condition, the actor was seen and pictured several times around Los Angeles.
During June 2025, he participated in a heartfelt conversation with Diane Sawyer for Good Morning America, marking his initial television interview since revealing his diagnosis. A snippet from the interview, posted on the show’s Facebook page, featured Dane remarking, “Each morning I awaken and am instantly aware that this is my reality. It isn’t a figment of my imagination.”
He further asserted, “I don’t believe this marks the conclusion of my journey. I don’t perceive this as my personal ending.”
Dane recalled the initial onset of symptoms, describing a sensation of "weakness in my right hand." By the time of the broadcast, he had lost mobility on the entire right side of his body. He confessed, "I possess only one working arm. … It’s a stark realization."
In a separate interview with Variety that same month, Dane discussed his aspirations for his acting career post-diagnosis, indicating he had several ventures underway.
He stated, “I am prepared and eager to undertake almost any role, yet I acknowledge limitations that will prevent me from portraying specific characters. I am currently involved with Euphoria.” He continued, “I completed [the Amazon Prime series] Countdown. In terms of those commitments, I remain quite able.”
Addiction Recovery
During July 2011, when he was a cast member on Grey’s, Dane’s publicist informed E! News that the actor had recently "chosen to admit himself into a treatment facility to assist him in discontinuing pain medication prescribed for a sports-related injury sustained during the previous break.”
Dane looked back at his path to sobriety in a June 2024 discussion on the “Armchair Expert” podcast, acknowledging, “Considering my entire eight-year tenure on Grey's Anatomy, I was struggling with addiction for a greater period than I was clean, and that’s when my life began to unravel.”
Dane shared that he had maintained sobriety for three or four years prior to joining Grey’s in 2006, but eventually relapsed as he grappled with the unexpected notoriety from his iconic “McSteamy” character, alongside personal body image concerns.
“The experience was intense, and I believe I simply wanted to feign comfort and normalcy. It was like trying to appear experienced when I wasn’t,” he recounted, according to the Daily Mail.
During the same conversation, Dane disclosed, “My departure wasn't entirely my choice; I believe I was released,” speaking of his exit from Grey’s Anatomy at the start of its ninth season in 2012. “I was having difficulties. While that wasn't the direct reason for my dismissal, it certainly didn't improve my situation,” he confessed.
Public Figures Who Have Faced ALS: Including Eric Dane, Stephen Hawking, and Others
Mental Health Challenges
By April 2017, Dane’s representative verified that the filming of his TNT series, The Last Ship, had been paused as the actor addressed his struggles with depression.
His publicist informed Variety then, “Eric requested a hiatus to address private matters. He experiences depression and sought several weeks to recuperate, a request the producers graciously approved. He anticipates resuming work.”
That July, Dane candidly discussed his mental health battles during an interview on the Today show.
“I took a break — I was grappling with a form of depression, which struck me as unusual,” he recounted, as reported by People. “I experienced a profound internal conflict because I genuinely felt I had no tangible reasons for feeling depressed.”
“It was quite frightening, waking up and thinking: ‘I don’t want to leave my bed,’” he elaborated. “I was consulting various doctors, convinced there was a physical ailment, as I had never experienced such feelings before.”
“Certainly, I’d encountered depression at various points in my life, but it was always something I could handle,” Dane continued. “I simply thought, like many, that everyone feels down occasionally. But this particular episode struck me with immense force. I needed to step away — I retreated, addressed the issue, and now I feel excellent.”
Dane urged his admirers to “pay attention to your physical well-being,” further stating, “It’s an extremely grave matter. As I mentioned, I felt deeply conflicted because I couldn’t pinpoint the cause of my depression. Nevertheless, it is undeniably genuine.”
‘Embracing Life with ALS’
In September 2025, Dane showcased the advancement of his condition in a video posted on Instagram.
“My name is Eric. I am an actor, a father, and currently an individual experiencing ALS,” he articulated, his speech deliberate and slightly slurred. Occasionally, his arms exhibited visible tremors. “For more than a hundred years, ALS has remained without a cure, and we can no longer tolerate this reality. We require the most direct route to a treatment, which led me to collaborate with I AM ALS for the Push for Progress initiative. Our objective? To raise one billion dollars in the coming three years.”
Dane proceeded, “Collectively, we will revitalize the crucial ACT for ALS legislation, ensuring access to hopeful treatments for thousands of individuals, including myself. And ultimately, definitively advance towards eradicating this illness. There is an abundance of knowledge to acquire. More actions are needed, and we must undertake them immediately.”
