This is such sad news. Eric Dane has been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Dane has been a well-known actor for decades. He’s arguably most famous for his turn as “McSteamy” on Grey’s Anatomy, but he’s had a solid and varied career, mostly on television. He’s also married to 1990s icon Rebecca Gayheart and they have two teenagers. Eric confirmed his diagnosis with People Magazine:
Eric Dane has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), he tells PEOPLE exclusively.
“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” he shares. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
The actor, 52, is married to Rebecca Gayheart and the couple share two children, Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13.
“I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week,” he tells PEOPLE. “I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”
Dane — who stars as the Jacobs family patriarch on Euphoria — is set to begin production of season 3 of the hit HBO show on April 14.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare degenerative disease that causes progressive paralysis of the muscles. Patients first experience twitching or weakness in a limb, often followed by slurred speech. According to the Mayo Clinic, because the disease affects the nerve cells in the brain and spine that control muscle movement, patients slowly lose their ability to speak, eat, walk, and breathe independently.
There’s no cure for ALS, and people usually live three to five years after diagnosis, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. However, some patients can live decades.
ALS is such a devastating disease, and as People Mag says, there’s no cure. He’s relatively young as well – only 52 years old. I’m surprised he’s still going into work, but it could be a situation similar to Bruce Willis, where Bruce tried to work as much as possible to leave his family financially secure before he needed full-time care. While famous and well-known, Dane has always been more of a jobbing actor than a movie star collecting huge paychecks. I feel sorry for Rebecca as well, she must be devastated.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
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- Los Angeles, CA – Eric Dane, known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, has announced his diagnosis with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Despite the challenges ahead, Dane remains committed to his work and is set to return to the set of Euphoria next week. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” Dane shared, expressing appreciation for the support of his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle control loss, paralysis, and ultimately, death. There is currently no known cure. Dane has requested privacy for his family during this time. Pictured: Rebecca Gayheart-Dane, Eric Dane BACKGRID USA 10 APRIL 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Los Angeles, CA – Eric Dane, known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, has announced his diagnosis with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Despite the challenges ahead, Dane remains committed to his work and is set to return to the set of Euphoria next week. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” Dane shared, expressing appreciation for the support of his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle control loss, paralysis, and ultimately, death. There is currently no known cure. Dane has requested privacy for his family during this time. Pictured: Rebecca Gayheart-Dane, Eric Dane BACKGRID USA 10 APRIL 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Los Angeles, CA – Eric Dane, known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, has announced his diagnosis with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Despite the challenges ahead, Dane remains committed to his work and is set to return to the set of Euphoria next week. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” Dane shared, expressing appreciation for the support of his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle control loss, paralysis, and ultimately, death. There is currently no known cure. Dane has requested privacy for his family during this time. Pictured: Eric Dane BACKGRID USA 10 APRIL 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Paris, FRANCE – Eric Dane, known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, has announced his diagnosis with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Despite the challenges ahead, Dane remains committed to his work and is set to return to the set of Euphoria next week. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” Dane shared, expressing appreciation for the support of his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle control loss, paralysis, and ultimately, death. There is currently no known cure. Dane has requested privacy for his family during this time. **SHOT ON 11/09/2017** Pictured: Eric Dane BACKGRID USA 11 APRIL 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: Best Image / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
Oh, how awful. Wishing them much strength to get through
My ex’s dad passed away with ALS and it was brutal. My heart goes out to Eric and his family.
My sister is going thru this. He & his family are in my prayers.
My dad had ALS. it’s one of the cruelest diseases. Leaves the mind intact while the body slowly wastes away.
So sad for them. 💔
My work friend passed from this at the same age. Very tough diagnosis. He and his family need to begin accessing the various organizations that can help deal with his needs as time and his disease progresses. No cure.😢😢
This is horrible sending them
All of my thoughts.
How awful. My cousin passed away from this. I wonder if Sandra Bullock will reach out to them as her hubby had the disease.
So sad, he is so young. Wonder if that affects the disease’s progression. My grandma had ALS and it moved quickly, she was also in her 80’s. Enjoy life while you can!
This is important information, and if you take NOTHING else from what I say now: there is an antibiotic called minocycline that has been shown to be useful in SLOWING THE PROGRESSION of ALS. It doesn’t work for everybody, it is an off label usage, and it is cheap.
Phlyfiremama, do you have a link to a study on this? The only thing that I found is one that says that minocycline actually leads to a faster deterioration in ALS patients. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17980667/
@fina, saw the same. Wikipedia says minocycline harms ALS patients and can cause a more rapid decline.
STOP. If the Mayo Clinic isn’t recommending it, then no, just no.
A couple of decades ago I started having trouble with my feet and after multiple doctor appointments, tests, specialist, more tests, more specialists–including a week at the Mayo Clinic–I was diagnosed with CMT. ALS was one of those diseases that had to be ruled out. It is scary, it is fast, and my heart goes out to all of you who’ve had family members or friends who’ve gotten this diagnosis.
While CMT isn’t fatal, it is progressive, incurable, and untreatable. And I cannot tell you how many times, people–absolutely strangers, kindly friends, co-workers–have suggested this, that, or the other miracle cure, helpful hints, whatever. No, just no. Stop with this. Progressive nerve diseases just don’t work that way. Minocycline, prayer, going gluten-free, green juices, mind over matter, just no.
All the best to Eric Dane & his family as they cope with this difficult, scary diagnosis.
That explains why he and Rebecca Gayheart got back together.
ALS is associated with toxicity damaging the brain. They have seen clusters of ALS crop up in populations also due to eating mushrooms with neurotoxic effects, or other environmental factors. (https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/health-disease/2024/did-eating-false-mushrooms-cause-als-french-village).
Yeah they stopped their divorce. So sad for Eric
I’m so sorry for him and his family.
The road ahead will be brutal.
ALS is at the top of my wishlist of diseases that we need to find a cure for.
I’m the DON for a hospice agency. We consider it an honor to provide patients with end of life care, patients just like him.
We’ve had quite a few ALS patients come though our agency.
I remember every single one of them 💔
Your Title being Don — are you in the British hospice system? Such a great way to care for patients. I wanted to affirm that yes, we do remember every ALS patient we care for. Blessings on your vocation.
I was a chaplain for several patients in the progressive neuro patients like him — ALS and Lewy Body Dementia. The patients had our full esteem and respect, but their diseases were ones that we had much trepidation about. (The more you see certain diseases, the more you make an internal list where you say no – just no. As if you have any control over that.) Anyway, as you get to know these patients on their visits you try to learn are they people of faith? Would the like poetry or a philosophical reading if not? Psalm or Song? May I put my hand on them for connection? Are they missing anything? One man missed his kitten. Everyone cried the day he got to hold it again. So much that we take for granted gets stripped away. I try to bring those things back during a session. Then, I make sure to prayer or do an invocation over them if I do not see them in the time before I see them again.
I was on ALS/MND Treatment for Lou Gehrig’s disease from Uine Health Centre for 6 months. The treatment relieved symptoms significantly, even better than the medications I was given. Reach them at uine healthcentre . c om