The actor died on Thursday after being ill for some time with ALS, a disease he first spoke openly about in April 2025.
Eric Dane, born in 1972, made his television debut in 1993 in series such as “Pang i plugget” and “A beautiful time”. His big break came with his role in the drama series “Grey’s Anatomy,” in which he played plastic surgeon Mark Sloan between 2006 and 2012.
A younger generation will probably know him primarily from the HBO series “Euphoria”. There he played Cal Jacobs, the patriarchal father of the character Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi.
Dane continued “Euphoria” in 2019 and worked until the end on recordings of the third season, which will be released in April, where he is in a wheelchair due to illness. In 2025, he also had a role in the series Brilliant Minds, playing a firefighter with ALS.
He has also appeared in several films, including the films “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “Americana.”
Eric Dane has been married to actress and model Rebecca Gayheart since 2004 and the couple has two children together.
Many of his former colleagues are now expressing their sadness at the news of his death. Alyssa Milano, who worked with Dane on the series “Bewitched,” wrote on Instagram, “I can’t stop seeing the sparkle in Eric’s eyes right before he said something that either made you spit out your drink or completely flip your perspective. He had a razor-sharp sense of humor.”
ABC and 20th Television said in a statement to CBS News: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Eric Dane. His extraordinary talent and unforgettable presence on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ left a lasting impression on viewers worldwide, and his courage and dignity during his battle with ALS inspired so many.”
“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others struggling with the same battle,” his representatives wrote in a statement, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
ALS is a debilitating disease in which the nerve cells that control voluntary movements from the brain to the spinal cord and muscles degenerate and eventually die.
Eric Dane was 53 years old and, according to the family, spent the last part of his life with friends and family.
