Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane dies at 53 after ALS battle

Eric Dane, the US actor known for his roles in Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria, has died at the age of 53 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

In a statement shared with the Associated Press, his representatives said he spent his final days surrounded by friends and family, including his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters, Billie and Georgia.

The statement said: "He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world.

"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."

Dane became a household name when he joined long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy as Dr Mark "McSteamy" Sloan, the plastic surgeon whose swagger and sharp wit quickly made him one of the show’s most popular characters.

Initially introduced as a guest role, he went on to become a series regular, remaining on the show from 2006 to 2012 and returning for a guest appearance in 2021.

He reached a new generation of viewers as Cal Jacobs, the troubled father at the centre of HBO’s Euphoria.

Born in San Francisco, Dane began working steadily on television in the 1990s, with early credits including The Wonder Years, before his breakout on Grey's Anatomy.

He went on to build a varied screen career, with roles in series such as post-apocalyptic action drama The Last Ship, and film appearances including Marley & Me, Burlesque, Valentine’s Day and X-Men: The Last Stand.

Away from the screen, Dane was married to actress Rebecca Gayheart. Although the pair separated, they remained closely connected as a family while raising their two daughters.

In an essay for The Cut published in December 2025, Gayheart wrote that while their relationship had changed, "our love may not be romantic, but it’s a familial love".

Dane publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis in April 2025, and in a television interview that June, he spoke about how the condition had affected his mobility, saying one side of his body was functioning while the other had stopped working.

He later drew on that experience for a guest role on NBC drama Brilliant Minds in November 2025, playing a firefighter grappling with an ALS diagnosis and struggling to share the news with his family.

Tributes have been paid by friends and co-stars, including actor Ashton Kutcher, who wrote on X about "keeping fighting the fight to solve ALS", and Grey’s Anatomy actor Kevin McKidd, who posted "Rest in Peace, Buddy" on Instagram stories.

Charmed co-star Alyssa Milano also shared a tribute, recalling Dane's mischievous humour and the way he could catch people off guard.

In the past year, Dane also used his public profile to support ALS awareness and research. He received the ALS Network’s Advocate of the Year award in 2025, and a memoir, My Book of Days, is scheduled for publication later in 2026.

ALS is the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND), a progressive condition that affects the nerve cells that control movement, affecting activities such as walking, speaking, swallowing and breathing.

The HSE notes that there is no cure for motor neurone disease, but there are treatments to help reduce the impact it has on daily life.