Eric Daneâs ALS diagnosis has come as a shock to fans of the actor, best known for his iconic roles on Greyâs Anatomy and Euphoria. Heâs 52 years old.
According to the Mayo Clinic, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive nervous-system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing the loss of muscle control over time. While there is no known cure for the disease, the right treatments can slow its progression and relieve symptoms.
âI have been diagnosed with ALS,â Dane said in a statement to People on April 10. âI am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.â
Dane shares two daughters with his ex-wife, Rebecca Gayheart, who filed for divorce in 2018 after 14 years of marriage. Last month, however, Gayheart reportedly filed to dismiss the divorce seven years after their split.
âWe are best of friends. We are really close. We are great coparents,â Gayheart told E! News on April 9. âWe really figured out the formula to staying a family and I think our kids are benefiting greatly from it and we are as well.â
She continued, âI think itâs important to not look at a relationship that ends as a failure. Itâs just a season. It wasnât a failure. It was a huge success. We were married forâI mean, we are still marriedâbut together for 15 years and we had two beautiful kids so I think thatâs a successful relationship, and thatâs how we look at it.â
Eric Dane first became a household name during his six-season tenure as Dr. Mark Sloan (a.k.a. McSteamy) on Greyâs Anatomy from 2006 to 2012. In 2019, he brought the same disarming charm to a much darker role on Euphoria, portraying the destructive, predatory suburban dad of actual psychopath Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi).