'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Euphoria' Actor Eric Dane Reveals Diagnosis at 52 – Details

He's survived fame, addiction, and the collapse of a marriage. Now, Eric Dane is facing something far more personal — and far more permanent.

Eric Dane has stepped into a new chapter of his life, one marked by strength, vulnerability, and resolve. The Hollywood actor, known for his roles in "Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria," revealed he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The announcement came in a candid interview with People.

"I have been diagnosed with ALS," Dane said, sharing the news with quiet courage. "I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter." At 52, Dane faces the disease alongside wife Rebecca Gayheart and their two daughters: Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13.

For them, this moment is deeply personal. But Dane also knows the spotlight doesn't dim easily. He's not stepping away. "I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working," he added. "And am looking forward to returning to set of 'Euphoria' next week."

ALS is a progressive neurological disorder. It attacks motor neurons, the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscles. These are the muscles responsible for everyday actions like walking, talking, and even breathing.

As the motor neurons break down and die, the brain's signals can no longer reach the muscles. The result is muscle weakness, twitching, and eventually, wasting away. Over time, those with ALS lose the ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe on their own.

While ALS progresses at different rates, the condition is relentless. Most patients live three to five years after symptoms begin. A small percentage, around 10, live for ten years or longer.

Currently, there is no known cure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved several medications that may slow the decline or ease symptoms, but nothing yet stops or reverses the disease.

For Dane, the diagnosis marks the beginning of a difficult path. As he faces the uncertainty of ALS, his personal life has also taken a surprising and hopeful turn.

Just last month, in March, Gayheart filed to dismiss the couple’s long-standing divorce. According to court documents obtained by People, the request came seven years after she initially filed. On March 6, both she and Dane signed the paperwork to officially pause the process.

Their story goes back more than two decades. They met in 2003 and were married the following year in a Las Vegas ceremony. In 2018, Gayheart filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. She requested joint custody of their daughters and spousal support.

At the time, Dane issued a joint statement: "After 14 years together we have decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family… We will continue our friendship and work as a team to co-parent our two beautiful girls."

Though the legal process lingered, the bond between them remained. Over the years, the two continued co-parenting with mutual respect. In 2019, the court even issued warnings about delays in finalizing the divorce. But neither appeared to rush the separation.

Instead, they leaned into family moments. In 2022, they traveled with their daughters to France. A year later, they vacationed together in Cabo. By December 2024, the family was spotted enjoying a beach getaway in Hawaii—together.

Now, with the divorce officially shelved, the couple appears to be giving their relationship another chance at a moment when love, support, and unity matter more than ever.

Long before "Euphoria," Dane made his mark on "Grey's Anatomy" as Dr. Mark Sloan, better known to fans as "McSteamy." But behind the confidence of his character was a man quietly unraveling.

In a revealing interview on the Armchair Expert podcast, Dane reflected on his departure from the Shondaland medical drama. "I didn't leave so much as I was let go," he said, linking his exit to a difficult battle with addiction.

Though he had been sober for about four years before joining the show in 2006, fame and pressure led him into relapse. Plus, the growing demands of celebrity life made staying clean harder.

Still, he doesn't believe addiction was the reason he was let go, but it complicated things. "They didn't let me go because of that, although it definitely didn't help," he explained. Instead, he pointed to the economics of television. He explained that actors who spend a significant amount of time on a show eventually become very expensive for the network.

Dane noted that the network likely believed the show would continue to succeed regardless of which supporting cast members remained, saying it only truly needed its central character, Meredith Grey.

Ultimately, his departure was a quiet one. Dane said it wasn't a ceremonious firing, but rather a subtle message that he was simply not returning.

Still, he expressed deep respect for showrunner Shonda Rhimes. He shared that she had protected the cast fiercely, both publicly and privately. Dane acknowledged that he understood why things ended the way they did.

For him, the experience marked a turning point. His openness about addiction, the pressures of fame, and personal transformation has since become a defining part of his journey—a journey now facing a new and uncertain chapter.

This isn't the first time Dane has faced a health scare. Back in 2008, during an industry strike, he took the rare free time to schedule a dermatologist visit after noticing what appeared to be chapped lips in the mirror. He later told OK! magazine that the dermatologist diagnosed the spot as malignant tissue caused by years of sun exposure.

Dane, who grew up in California, recounted how much time he spent skiing and surfing before realizing the importance of sun protection. The dermatologist treated the area by burning off the malignancy with liquid nitrogen. Dane explained that a follow-up cream was used to eradicate any remaining abnormal cells—but the reaction was severe.

He shared that the treatment left his lips inflamed and painful, making it difficult to eat. As a result, he lost weight and endured a rough recovery. Still, he said the temporary pain was worth avoiding more serious consequences.

However, not long after the story circulated, his representatives stepped in to clarify. While confirming that Dane had malignant tissue removed, they stressed to Access Hollywood that he did not have skin cancer. The magazine cover, they said, was a "misrepresentation" of the facts.

Now, facing ALS, Eric Dane once again finds himself confronting a life-altering diagnosis. But as with his earlier battles, he meets it with openness, resilience, and the quiet strength of someone who knows how to endure.