Eric Dane is fighting ALS to his “last breath.” Recently diagnosed, Eric and his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, are doing everything they can to raise awareness for this disease. But as both can attest, this battle is not easy.
ALS, short for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is a neurological disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. In terms of side effects, loss of muscle control, behavioral changes, difficulties with chewing, swallowing, speaking, and eventually, breathing, are all noted. To date, there is no cure for ALS, which worsens with time. Nevertheless, Eric remains determined to fight this disease head-on, with his wife and family by his side.
From his diagnosis to his advocacy work and his family’s reactions, here’s everything we know about Eric and his battle with ALS.
When was Eric Dane diagnosed with ALS?
Last April, Eric sat for an interview with PEOPLE. “I have been diagnosed with ALS,” he revealed. Right after, he spoke about how grateful he was “to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.” He also detailed how thankful he was for his line of work, which he hoped to return to as quickly as possible.
As for his family, Eric and Rebecca have two children, Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13. And for his career, Eric said, “I feel fortunate that I can continue working, and am looking forward to returning to the set of Euphoria next week.” In the meantime, Eric “kindly” asks that everyone grant his family and himself “privacy during this time.”
Since his diagnosis, Eric has turned to advocacy work to help shine a light on his condition, because “ALS is the last thing they want to diagnose anybody with.” Often, a diagnosis of ALS takes a lot of time. This period precludes patients from clinical trials. And this gap is “why Act for ALS is so great because it broadens the access for everybody,” he said, while speaking to members of Congress regarding federal funding and research for this disease.
On Instagram, Eric spoke about his most recent “campaign to accelerate ALS research” via a movement called Push for Progress under the I AM ALS umbrella. “New treatments are within reach, but thousands of people living with ALS will lose access unless we take action,” Eric penned.
Eric Dane’s kids are “really suffering” amid his ALS battle
Last week, Eric and Rebecca offered an update to PEOPLE while attending Step Up’s 2025 Inspiration Awards. As Rebecca said, she, Billie, and Georgia are now “taking [things with Eric] day by day. We have some professional therapists who are helping us, and we’re just trying to have some hope and do it with dignity, grace, and love,” Rebecca stressed.
And then, Rebecca admitted a hard truth. This journey has been heavy for everyone in their household. “I mean, it’s heartbreaking. My girls are really suffering, and we’re just trying to get through it. It’s a tough time,” she said.
Eric and Rebecca were in a rocky place during the years before ALS entered their lives. But they remain united in this fight, since they are now “dealing with something that has brought us all together,” Rebecca explained.
Whatever happens, “Eric will always be [her] family. Whether we’re married or not. Or living in the same house or not. But yeah, we are closer, but we don’t like the reason why. Overall, It’s a horrible disease, and I wish that there was a cure. I hope they find one soon, because it is just so sad,” she ended.
Eric vows to fight “until the last breath” amid his ALS journey
During a recent trip to DC, Eric further grew emotional while talking about the toll ALS has taken on his family. Regardless, Eric is doing everything he can to soldier on through this fight. Unfortunately, he knows firsthand how it feels to lose a parent at a young age. And this feeling is the last thing he wants his children to endure.
“I wanna ring every bell,” Eric said, because “I have two daughters at home.” Eric hopes to “see them graduate college, get married, maybe have grandkids. I wanna be there for all that. So, I’m gonna fight until the last breath on this one,” he shared.
In a separate interview with Good Morning America, Eric confessed his feelings. “I’m angry because my father was taken from me when I was young. And there’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls while they’re very young. At the end of the day, I just want to spend time with my family and work a little bit if I can.”
Through it all, Eric remains “very hopeful. I don’t think this is the end of my story,” he said. “And whether it is or it isn’t, I’m gonna carry that idea with me.”
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