Eric Dane, Star From Grey's Anatomy, Dies, Aged 53

By Valerie Merkowitz

On Thursday, Feb. 19, actor Eric Dane died at the young age of 53. He died of respiratory failure, with ALS, the disease he was an advocate of awareness for since his diagnosis, as an underlying cause of death.

Dane was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gerigs’s disease, in 2024 and shared the diagnosis with the public in April 2025. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a nervous system disease, affecting nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. It is a progressive disease and causes loss of muscle control. Typically, total paralysis and death occur within three to five years of diagnosis. There is no known cure for the disease.

Dane, known for his role as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloane on “Grey’s Anatomy” and Cal Jacobs in “Euphoria”, used his diagnosis for good, speaking out about the disease and helping others feel supported. He worked hard to raise money for the cause and was determined to use his fame and situation for good. In September of 2025, ALS Network named Dane Advocate of the Year for all his advocacy and accomplishments surrounding the disease.

The beloved actor is survived by his wife of over 20 years, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters, Billie and Georgia, with whom he spent his last days. 

A week following his death, the weekly “Grey’s Anatomy” episode aired on ABC with a video tribute to Dane at the end of the episode. The video was a little over a minute, including a montage of Dane’s character, McSteamy, with Tommee Profitt & Fleuries’ cover of Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” playing over it, an iconic “Grey’s Anatomy” song. Dane’s colleagues from the show also shared many beautiful tributes to the actor through social media.

On Feb. 20, only one day after his passing, Netflix released Dane’s final interview as part of their “Famous Last Words” series hosted by Brad Falchuk. The series gives celebrities an opportunity to share words of wisdom and final messages before passing and is seen as an emotional tribute. Dane spoke about his addiction struggles, grief, and the lessons he gained from suffering from ALS. 

Dane was a beloved actor, father, husband, and friend, and he will be dearly missed by all.