Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane has died at the age of 53 surrounded by his loved ones.

The tragic news comes 10 months after the actor, who portrayed Dr Mark Sloan in the medical drama and later starred in Euphoria, went public with his diagnosis of ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common form of motor neurone disease.

Dane’s family confirmed the actor passed away on Thursday in a statement to People magazine.

“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” reads the statement.

“He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.

“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight.

“He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always.

“Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received.

“The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It eventually impacts the ability to move, speak, eat and breathe. While treatment can slow the disease’s progression, there is currently no cure.

Although Dane and his wife Rebecca Gayheart separated in September 2017, she had continued to support the father of her children, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13.

In a first-person piece written for The Cut, Gayheart said she made it her “mission” to ensure Dane, who became restricted to a wheelchair, received the full-time care he required.

After two appeals, Gayheart successfully secured around the clock nurse care for her former partner.

During a Good Morning America interview with Diane Sawyer in 2025, Dane revealed he had lost function in his right arm and was concerned about weakness developing on the left side of his body.

“My left side is functioning, my right side has completely stopped working,” he said at the time. “I feel like maybe a couple more months and I won’t have my left hand either. It’s sobering.”

A memoir by Dane is scheduled to be published in late 2026.

“I want to capture the moments that shaped me — the beautiful days, the hard ones, the ones I never took for granted — so that if nothing else, people who read it will remember what it means to live with heart. If sharing this helps someone find meaning in their own days, then my story is worth telling.,” he said in a statement to announce the book.

Source: https://7news.com.au/entertainment/greys-anatomy-star-eric-dane-dead-at-53-following-battle-with-als–c-21699469