Eric Dane is bravely sharing his struggles with ALS — a battle that’s turning his world upside down — yet he’s choosing to do it with honesty, dignity, and authenticity.
The 52-year-old actor, best known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, first revealed his ALS diagnosis in April of this year. This devastating disease — which slowly destroys motor neurons — leaves its victims progressively weak and less able to move.
During a raw interview with Good Morning America, Eric opened up about his condition and its dramatic progression. “I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand. And I didn’t really think anything of it at the time, I thought maybe I’d been texting too much and my hand was fatigued. A few weeks later, I noticed it’d gotten a little worse. I went and saw a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist. I went and saw a neurologist, and the neurologist sent me to another neurologist and said, ‘This is way above my pay grade.’”
He explained, “I have one functioning arm….My left side is functioning. My right side, [my dominant side], has completely stopped working. [My left arm] is going. I feel like maybe a couple, a few more months and I won’t have my left….I’m worried about my legs.”
While battling this tough reality, Eric finds immense support in his family, especially his wife, Rebecca Gayheart — the two called off their divorce in March 2025 after initially splitting in 2018 following 14 years of marriage. Eric shared, “We have managed to become better friends and better parents. She is probably my biggest champion and my most stalwart supporter, and I lean on her.”
He also recounted a dramatic moment when he fell while snorkeling with his daughter. “She dragged me back to the boat. I was like, breaking down in tears. I made sure she got back to the water with her friend and continued on with the snorkeling. I was just heartbroken.”
ALS is a progressive disease with no known cure — something Eric is forced to come to terms with each and every day — but his candor, humility, and warmth make his struggles profoundly human. The actor’s health might be failing, but his spirit, love for his family, and generosity remain strong.
