Eric Dane, the actor you probably know from Grey’s Anatomy or Euphoria, went public in April 2025 with some tough news—he has ALS. This progressive neurodegenerative disease, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, messes with nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
ALS causes muscle weakness, takes away motor function, and eventually leads to paralysis. There’s no cure yet, which is honestly pretty brutal.
At 53, Dane’s been incredibly open about what’s happening to him. He hasn’t shied away from sharing the emotional rollercoaster, and he’s still working while trying to shine a light on ALS.
Since he told the world, Dane’s daily life has changed a lot. He’s lost function in his right arm and went through some scary stuff—like a moment in the pool where he realized he couldn’t do what he used to.
Still, he’s hanging onto his career and advocacy work. He even returned to Euphoria just days after his announcement, which is wild.
Eric Dane’s ALS Diagnosis and Health Journey
Eric Dane broke the news about his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis in April 2025. That moment changed everything for him—personally and professionally.
He decided to stay transparent about his diagnosis, even while juggling projects like Euphoria and Brilliant Minds. Not everyone would do that, right?
Initial Symptoms and Diagnosis
Dane learned he had ALS in April 2025. The disease slowly destroys motor neurons, so people lose muscle control over time.
He played Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy and Cal Jacobs on Euphoria, but now he’s also known for being open about ALS. Only about 5,000 Americans get diagnosed with it each year, so it’s not exactly common.
He didn’t keep his diagnosis to himself for long. Dane wanted to raise awareness, so he started working with organizations like I AM ALS.
Impact on Daily Life and Career
ALS has already forced Dane to make some tough changes. He missed the 2025 Emmys after a fall sent him to the hospital, even though he was supposed to present with Jesse Williams from Grey’s Anatomy.
But he hasn’t stopped acting. His recent work includes:
- Final season of Euphoria as Cal Jacobs
- Prime Video’s Countdown with Jensen Ackles
- Guest spot on NBC’s Brilliant Minds as a firefighter fighting ALS
He later had to pull out of an ALS Network awards ceremony because the disease just made it impossible. Still, Dane seems determined to work as long as he can.
Managing ALS and Adapting to Challenges
How’s he handling it all? Dane says staying active and working helps him cope. “I’m going to ride this till the wheels fall off,” he told E! News in June 2026. That attitude is honestly inspiring.
His support system is huge. Rebecca Gayheart, who was once heading for divorce, is now his biggest cheerleader. They talk every day and co-parent their daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13.
In a Good Morning America interview with Diane Sawyer, Dane said, “I don’t think this is the end of my story. In my heart, I just don’t feel like this is the end of me. I’m fighting as much as I can.” He tries to spend real quality time with his family and keep his career going for as long as he can manage.
Sharing His Story: Memoir, Advocacy, and Hope
Eric Dane’s not just sitting back—he’s writing a memoir, due out in 2026, and using his platform to support others with ALS. He’s mixing personal stories with advocacy, hoping to help families dealing with neurological conditions.
Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments
Dane’s memoir, Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments, comes out through The Open Field, Maria Shriver’s imprint at Penguin Random House. Instead of a straight timeline, he’s structuring it around the most important days of his life.
He’ll talk about things like his first day on “Grey’s Anatomy,” the births of Billie and Georgia, and getting his ALS diagnosis. “I want to capture the moments that shaped me — the beautiful days, the hard ones, the ones I never took for granted,” he said when announcing the book.
For Dane, it’s not just about looking back. “I wake up every morning, and I’m immediately reminded that this is real — this illness, this challenge and that’s exactly why I’m writing this book,” he explained. He hopes his story helps others find meaning, too.
Family, Support, and Advocacy
Maria Shriver has played a big role in getting Dane’s story out there. She says the book will help people understand ALS and how to support those living with it.
Dane’s main motivation? His family. “Eric wants to give his daughters and family something to be proud of,” Shriver said. The memoir is his way of leaving something meaningful behind and educating people about ALS at the same time.
By sharing his journey, Dane wants to offer hope and guidance to anyone facing a similar diagnosis. “If sharing this helps someone find meaning in their own days, then my story is worth telling,” he said. And honestly, that’s pretty powerful.
Public Appearances and Ongoing Work
Dane got his ALS diagnosis in April 2025, but he didn’t let that stop him. He immediately committed to coming back for “Euphoria” season three, even though production was kicking off right around his announcement. That’s some determination right there.
He’s been pretty upfront about ALS in his public statements, choosing honesty over sugarcoating. Now 53, Dane talks about the daily grind of living with a progressive neurological disease—no filters, just real life.
In December 2025, he announced a memoir. Honestly, that felt like a big moment for his advocacy work.
Dane juggles his acting gigs and raising ALS awareness, which isn’t exactly a walk in the park. His ongoing work in entertainment, plus the memoir, shows he’s all in on both living fully and educating people about his condition.
