Eric Dane Dies at 53 After ALS Battle: GoFundMe for Daughters
A GoFundMe campaign launched by friends of Eric Dane has surpassed $80,000 of its $250,000 goal following the actor’s death on February 19th at age 53 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
The fundraising page emphasizes that Dane’s wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters, Billie and Georgia, were “the center of his world.” The description details Dane’s advocacy for the ALS community during his illness, noting his use of his platform to raise awareness and support research. “Even as his own health declined, he remained deeply committed to helping others facing the same devastating disease,” the GoFundMe message reads. Funds raised will be used to provide stability for his daughters, both teenagers, during a difficult time and to support their future needs.
Dane publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis in April 2025, becoming a vocal advocate for awareness and research into the disease. He frequently discussed the challenges of living with ALS in interviews and on social media. According to a report in USA Today, Dane identified his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, as his primary source of support throughout his illness, stating he spoke with her daily and considered her his “biggest champion.”
News of Dane’s death came ten months after his public disclosure of the diagnosis. Shortly before his passing, Netflix released an interview with Dane as part of its “Famous Last Words” series. The interview, recorded confidentially in November 2025 with the understanding it would be released posthumously, features a final message addressed to his daughters. “Fight with every ounce of your being, and with dignity. When you face challenges, health or otherwise, fight,” Dane says in the video. “Never give up. Fight until your last breath. This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit.”
Gayheart and Dane, who married in 2004, experienced a period of separation, with Gayheart filing for divorce in 2018. However, she dismissed the divorce proceedings in March 2025, just prior to Dane’s public announcement of his ALS diagnosis. Gayheart explained her decision to withdraw the divorce filing in a November 2025 interview, stating she wanted to demonstrate to their daughters the importance of family support “when times are at their worst,” according to reporting from Page Six. She emphasized the value of “showing up for people no matter what.”
In an essay published in The Cut in December 2025, Gayheart described receiving the news of Dane’s diagnosis, recalling the emotional impact and her initial difficulty processing the information. She shared that Dane had begun experiencing symptoms approximately a year before his diagnosis, noting difficulties with simple tasks like using chopsticks during meals.