Eric Dane
, the Emmy-nominated actor who brought depth, charisma, and vulnerability to roles on Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, died February 19, 2026, at the age of 53 from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Born November 9, 1972, in San Francisco, California, Dane discovered a passion for performing in high school, where he appeared in a production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. After graduating, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, spending several years working steadily in guest roles on television series such as Married... with Children, Saved by the Bell, Roseanne, and Gideon’s Crossing, gradually building a reputation as a reliable and engaging screen presence.
His breakout came in 2006 when he joined ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy as plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan, quickly dubbed “McSteamy” by both characters and fans. What began as a guest appearance evolved into a series-regular role, and over six seasons Dane helped turn Mark Sloan into one of the show’s most beloved characters, balancing swagger and humor with tender, emotionally resonant storylines until the character’s on-screen death in 2012.
Dane went on to lead the action-drama The Last Ship for five seasons and worked regularly in film and television, appearing in projects including X-Men: The Last Stand, Marley & Me, Valentine’s Day, and the TNT and streaming dramas that followed. He reached a new generation of viewers with his unsettling, layered performance as Cal Jacobs on HBO’s Euphoria, where he portrayed a deeply conflicted father whose secrets and choices cast long shadows over his family.
In April 2025, Dane revealed publicly that he had been diagnosed with ALS after first experiencing weakness in his right hand in early 2024. As the disease progressed, he lost the use of his right arm and later used a wheelchair, but remained determined to work and to speak out, even appearing in a television episode as a firefighter living with ALS and traveling to Washington, D.C., to advocate for more research funding. He served on the board of Target ALS and supported organizations such as I AM ALS, using his platform to raise awareness and to reduce the isolation felt by others facing the same diagnosis.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dane was candid about personal struggles, including entering rehab in 2011 for dependency on pain medication, and often spoke about the importance of family and support systems. Those who worked with him have remembered him as generous, funny, and fiercely loyal, an actor who brought intensity to the set while also creating an easy camaraderie with cast and crew.
In their announcement of his death, his family said he spent his final days surrounded by close friends, his wife, and his two daughters, Billie and Georgia, whom he frequently described as the center of his life. They noted that he “cherished his fans” and was deeply grateful for the outpouring of love he received during his illness, asking for privacy as they navigate their loss.
Eric Dane leaves behind a body of work that helped define two eras of television and a legacy marked not only by iconic roles, but by courage, advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to those he loved. He is survived by his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters. ~Alexandra Heilbron