Yesterday, one of the world’s most recognizable television actors, Eric Dane, died. In his final year of life, Eric shone a bright light on his condition, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. At his side, his equally iconic wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, alongside their two daughters, Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Geraldine Dane, bravely walked with Eric. And now, their job is complete, as Eric is finally at peace.
It’s been a long year for this family. Eric only learned about his condition last April. But from there, his illness rapidly progressed. Even still, Eric and his family soldiered on, using their voices to advocate for ALS awareness and research.
To further their work, I would like to take this opportunity to explain what ALS is. We’ll also look back at Eric’s life, ending with his courageous battle with this fatal neurodegenerative disease.
Eric Dane went public with his ALS diagnosis less than a year ago
Last April, Eric sat for an interview with PEOPLE. “I have been diagnosed with ALS,” he revealed. He also noted how grateful he was “to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.” He then spoke about how thankful he was for his line of work, which he hoped to return to in time.
Several months later, Eric went on Good Morning America, where he told Diane Sawyer, “My left side is functioning; my right side has completely stopped working.” However, his left side was starting to wane. “I feel like maybe a couple, a few more months, and I won’t have my left hand either,” Eric admitted.
Despite his diagnosis, Eric felt “very hopeful” about his future. “I don’t think this is the end of my story,” he said, adding, “And whether it is or it isn’t, I’m gonna carry that idea with me.” But tragically, ten months after going public with his prognosis, Eric passed away.
As his representatives shared, “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.” And following his death, “The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
Eric Dane was open about his life with ALS
Eric never shied away from speaking about ALS. “It’s imperative that I share my journey with as many people as I can, because I don’t feel like my life is about me anymore,” Eric explained during an I AM ALS virtual panel last December. “I would love my life to be all about me, but I just can’t,” because now, “I want to make sure that people are aware of what ALS is and what it’s about. And more importantly, what we can do to combat it and improve the landscape.”
So, Eric threw his hat into roles that shone a light on this disease. “I’m willing to do just about anything. I’ll take on any role. But I think from here on out, it’s going to have to be, you know, ALS-centric,” he said.
Last November, Eric guest-starred on an episode of Brilliant Minds. His character was a firefighter living with ALS. “I’ve never played a character who’s going through something [that aligns with] something I’m dealing with in real time, in real life as well,” Eric noted.
“It was hard, and there were moments where it was very difficult for me to even [speak my] lines out,” Eric confessed. But “overall, I was really grateful for the experience. I found it to be a bit cathartic.”
How old was Eric Dane at the time of his death?
Eric was 53 years old when he died. Now, every patient’s journey looks different. But, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the average life expectancy with ALS is three to five years. However, roughly 30% of patients will live beyond these norms, with 10-20% going on to live for over a decade.
That said, “Survival beyond 20 years is possible but rare,” the MDA states. Meanwhile, the Mayo Clinic notes that the normal life expectancy is roughly 14 to 18 months. For Eric, from the time of his first public statement to his passing, he lived with ALS for ten months. However, it’s likely he knew far earlier than the general public, but needed a beat to process things first.
Regardless, as he told Congressman Eric Swalwell, when advocating for funding towards research for this (currently) incurable neurological disease, this Euphoria and Grey’s Anatomy star was hoping to defy all norms. “I wanna ring every bell,” he told the congressman in a TikTok video last September. Because “I have two daughters at home. I wanna see them graduate college, get married, [and] maybe have grandkids.”
TELL US – WHICH CHARACTER OF ERIC’S WAS YOUR FAVORITE? DID YOU FOLLOW ALONG WITH ERIC ON HIS ALS JOURNEY? LEAVE YOUR WELL-WISHES FOR HIS LOVED ONES HERE
