Eric Dane has died aged 53. The beloved actor was best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloak (a.k.a McSteamy) in Grey’s Anatomy but played a long list of characters in successful films and tv shows, including Charmed, Euphoria and Marley & Me.
Dane’s family confirmed his death on February 19 with the following statement:
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” the statement shared by People 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.
“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.”
Dane revealed his ALS diagnosis
Dane revealed his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in April last year.
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that typically strikes adults aged between 40-70 years old and causes the break down of muscles.
The life expectancy of an adult diagnosed with ALS is between two to five years.
“I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” the actor said at the time of his diagnosis.
Eric Dane’s career
Born in San Francisco in 1972, Dane’s career spanned several decades across film and television.
He played McSteamy for six years on Grey’s Anatomy, playing a lovable ladies man who eventually fell in love with Lexie Grey, the sister of the main character, Meredith.
Dane also had a recurring role on Charmed, where he played Jason Dean, a love interest of witch Phoebe Halliwell.
Other notable roles include Cal Jacobs in teen drama Euphoria, Sebastian Tunney in Marley & Me where he acted alongside Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, and Marcus Gerber in Burlesque alongside Christina Aguilera.
Eric Dane’s personal life
Dane was married to Rebecca Gayheart for over 20 years and was still legally married when he died, despite the pair separating in 2018.
The pair had two daughters together, Billie and Georgia, and Gayheart explained she stepped in to care for Dane after his ALS diagnosis.
“Eric has 24/7 nurses now,” she said in a candid essay for The Cut, in December.
“There are times that shifts aren’t covered, so I cover them,” she said. “There was a 12-hour shift recently that I could not cover. I could only do four hours because of all the stuff that the kids are doing.”
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