Actor Eric Dane, best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan on the television medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, has died after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), his family announced Thursday. He was 53.
Dane revealed his diagnosis in April 2025, telling People magazine he was “fighting as much as I can.” ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventually, death.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” a statement released by his family read. “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. 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.”
Dane first gained recognition with roles in television sitcoms including Married… with Children, Saved by the Bell, and Charmed, but achieved widespread fame as the charismatic plastic surgeon, nicknamed “McSteamy,” in Grey’s Anatomy. He joined the show in its second season in 2006, initially intended as a recurring character. However, his popularity with audiences led to a more prominent role, remaining with the series until its ninth season in 2012.
Despite the success of the role, Dane later expressed ambivalence about continuing in the part. “I loved that character, but I simply didn’t want to play that guy for the rest of my life,” he told Glamour magazine. “It goes against the grain of what every actor wants to achieve with their career.”
Dane’s career also included roles in the medical drama Gideon’s Crossing and, more recently, Euphoria, where he played Cal Jacobs. He took on a role in the series Brilliant Minds portraying a patient with ALS, a decision that came shortly before his own diagnosis.
Prior to his diagnosis, Dane’s personal life faced public scrutiny. In 2009, a private video of Dane and his then-wife, Rebecca Gayheart, with another woman was leaked. Dane addressed the incident years later, stating, “I often think about my response. And looking back – was it a mistake? Definitely not. Three consenting adults? Not a bad thing. My wife was one of them? I did nothing wrong. I don’t regret anything and I’m not apologizing for my experiences. They are my experiences and I’m comfortable with them.”
Dane and Gayheart, who married in 2004, have two daughters, Billie and Georgia, born in 2010 and 2011, respectively. A divorce filing was initially made but later withdrawn following Dane’s ALS diagnosis.
In the months following his diagnosis, Dane used his platform to raise awareness about ALS and advocate for increased research funding. “I’m trying to get the word out about what ALS actually is and what it entails,” he shared on social media. “But more importantly – I want to show what we can do to fight it and how to improve the whole situation.”
