‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Eric Dane dead at 53

The entertainment world is in mourning following the news that Eric Dane, the charismatic actor who commanded the screen for decades in Grey’s Anatomy and more recently in Euphoria, has passed away. Dane died on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the age of 53, following a courageous ten-month battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

In a heartbreaking statement released to People Magazine, Dane’s family confirmed that the actor spent his final moments at home, surrounded by his inner circle.

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

The family noted that following his diagnosis last April, Dane transitioned into a “passionate advocate” for ALS research, using his platform to illuminate the realities of the neurodegenerative disease.

A Career Born of an Accident

Born in San Francisco on November 9, 1972, Dane’s path to Hollywood was far from linear. His childhood was marked by early tragedy; his father died from a gunshot wound when Eric was only seven. He would later reflect that he didn’t truly grasp the magnitude of that loss until he became a father himself, realizing how devastating his own childhood must have been in the wake of such a horrific accident.

Acting found Dane by chance. A high school water polo player looking to fill his time during the off-season, he auditioned for a production of All My Sons. Playing the role of Joe Keller, he discovered a lifelong passion. “I fell in love with it at that point,” he recalled in a 2014 interview.

That passion led him to Los Angeles, where he cut his teeth with guest spots on iconic 90s staples like The Wonder Years, Saved by the Bell, and Married… with Children.

The ‘McSteamy’ Phenomenon

While Dane found steady work for years, his life changed irrevocably in 2006 when he walked onto the set of Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Mark Sloan. Initially intended to be a brief guest appearance, the audience’s reaction was instantaneous and overwhelming.

Dane’s character—famously dubbed “McSteamy”—became a cultural touchstone, cementing his status as a global sex symbol. He eventually joined the permanent cast, remaining a pillar of the show until his character’s emotional death in 2012.

“It just kind of made sense,” Dane told Glamour in 2019, reflecting on his decision to lean into the character’s sensual energy. “I felt like I had an artistic obligation to not shy away from that part of the character… you tend to give people what they’re asking for, because it’s the path of least resistance.”

In 2019, Dane found a second act that resonated with a younger generation, taking on the complex role of Cal Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria.

The Final Fight: Navigating ALS

Dane’s public journey with ALS began in April 2025. He was candid about the diagnosis from the start, expressing gratitude for his family’s support. By October, he was describing the condition in stark terms, calling it a “nasty disease.”

The physical toll of the illness became public during the most recent Emmy Awards. Dane was scheduled to participate in a highly anticipated Grey’s Anatomy reunion but was forced to cancel following a severe fall.

“ALS is a nasty disease,” he shared at the time. “So I was in the hospital during the Emmys getting stitches put in my head.”

In a final, poignant interview with Good Morning America this past June, Dane recalled the subtle onset of his symptoms. “I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand, and I didn’t really think anything of it… I thought maybe I had been texting too much or my hand was fatigued.”

His search for answers led him from hand specialists to neurologists, eventually culminating in the diagnosis that would define his final year.

Eric Dane is survived by his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and his two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14. As fans across the globe share tributes to the man who brought so much life to the screen, his family has requested privacy as they navigate this “impossible time.”