Eric Dane, the charismatic actor best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy, passed away on Thursday afternoon in February 2026 at the age of 53 after a valiant battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. His family shared the heartbreaking news in a statement to Us Weekly, describing how Dane spent his final days surrounded by close friends, his devoted wife, and his two daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the light of his life. "With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS," the statement read. "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's death comes more than a year after he publicly disclosed his ALS diagnosis in April 2025, a revelation that thrust him into the role of advocate for awareness and research into the debilitating neurodegenerative disease. Throughout his struggle, Dane remained open about his health, using his platform to highlight the need for better support for those affected by ALS. His journey with the illness paralleled the transparency he had long shown about another personal battle: his path to sobriety after years of substance abuse.
During his tenure on Grey's Anatomy, where he portrayed the suave surgeon nicknamed McSteamy across eight seasons from 2006 to 2014, Dane grappled with addiction that he later described as overshadowing much of his time on the hit medical drama. In a candid June 2024 interview on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast, Dane reflected on how his substance issues intensified amid the pressures of fame and a demanding schedule. "If you take the whole eight years on Grey’s Anatomy, I was f***ed up longer than I was sober. And that’s when things started going sideways for me," Dane said. "It was overwhelming, and I think I just wanted to pretend that it wasn’t and that I was comfortable with it. Act like you’ve been there, but you haven’t been there."
Dane's struggles with drugs and alcohol dated back to earlier in his career, but they escalated during the show's run. He ultimately sought help and achieved sobriety following a stay at a treatment facility in 2011. That milestone marked a turning point, allowing him to rebuild his life and career, including roles in shows like Euphoria, where he played the complex character Cal Jacobs. Yet, sobriety was not without setbacks, as Dane openly admitted in interviews conducted shortly before his death.
One such relapse occurred during an unexpected hiatus in production, when the 2007 Writers' Guild of America strike brought Grey's Anatomy to a temporary halt. In a February 2026 episode of Famous Last Words with Brad Falchuk, which aired just weeks before Dane's passing, he recounted how the sudden downtime unraveled his progress. "I’m not good with a lot of time on my hands," Dane explained. "I need structure and [Grey’s Anatomy] provided a lot of structure for me. When we stopped short for the writers’ strike, I had months off and I found my way back to drugs and alcohol. I knew better because at that time I had been sober for about nine years, so I knew better."
The strike, which lasted from November 2007 to February 2008, disrupted Hollywood broadly, but for Dane, it exposed vulnerabilities in his recovery. At that point, he had maintained sobriety for nearly a decade, a feat he credited to the routine and camaraderie of the Grey's Anatomy set. The relapse, however, did not derail his career entirely, though it contributed to challenges that led to his departure from the series in 2012.
Dane addressed his exit from Grey's Anatomy in the same Armchair Expert podcast appearance, clarifying that while his addiction struggles played a role, they were not the sole reason for his dismissal. "Although it definitely didn’t help. I was starting to become, as most of these actors who have spent significant time on a show, you start to become very expensive for the network," he said. "And the network knows that the show is going to do what it’s going to do irrespective of who they keep on it. As long as they have their Grey, they’re fine." Here, Dane referred to Ellen Pompeo's character, Meredith Grey, the anchor of the long-running ABC series.
His openness about these experiences extended to personal anecdotes that highlighted the raw edges of recovery. In the June 2024 podcast, Dane shared a heated encounter with host Dax Shepard at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, an incident that nearly escalated into a physical confrontation. "Somebody I brought … who probably shouldn’t have been at the meeting … did not stop, was droning on," Dane recalled. "Dax’s friend … kept resetting this timer every time the guy would go over. The timer went off, like, seven times."
The tension peaked when Dane, frustrated, threatened to set the disruptive attendee "ablaze," prompting him and Shepard to step outside for what Dane described as a potential "fight in the driveway." Their shared sponsor intervened, diffusing the situation before it turned violent. Reflecting on the moment, Shepard noted in the podcast that he and Dane later bonded over mutual interests, including a passion for cars and the universal "bag of bulls***" that comes with recovery. This story, recounted with humor in hindsight, underscored the intense emotions often involved in support group dynamics.
Dane's sobriety journey also influenced his acting, particularly in HBO's Euphoria, where he portrayed Cal Jacobs, a repressed father grappling with his sexuality and hidden life. In his Famous Last Words interview, Dane drew direct parallels between his character and his own past. "Well, Cal and I are very similar in that we know what it’s like to lead a double life," he said. "I’ve had experience with that with my battle with drugs and alcohol. I know what it’s like to not have my insides match my outside."
This authenticity resonated with audiences and critics, adding depth to his performance across two seasons of the show, which aired from 2019 to 2022. Dane's ability to channel personal pain into his roles was a testament to his resilience, a quality that would later define his ALS advocacy. Diagnosed in April 2025 at age 52, Dane chose to go public relatively soon after, using interviews and social media to raise awareness about the disease that progressively weakens muscles and impairs nerve function.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, has no cure, and Dane's battle lasted over a year, during which he participated in clinical discussions and fundraisers. His family's statement emphasized his determination: "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." Friends and colleagues, including former Grey's Anatomy castmates, have since paid tribute, recalling Dane's warmth and professionalism despite his health challenges.
Shepard, in a related Us Weekly piece, reflected on their near-altercation at AA as a pivotal moment in their friendship, one that evolved into mutual respect. "Dax Shepard Recalls Nearly Coming to Blows With Eric Dane at AA," the article titled, highlighting how shared vulnerabilities forged lasting connections in Dane's life.
As the entertainment world mourns, Dane's legacy extends beyond the screen to his candidness about addiction and illness. Organizations like the ALS Association have noted an uptick in donations following his death, attributing it to his advocacy. His family continues to request privacy, but they expressed gratitude for the global support that enveloped Dane in his final months.
Eric Dane's story, from the highs of Hollywood stardom to the lows of personal demons and terminal illness, serves as a reminder of the human side of celebrity. Through it all, his honesty inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on fans who followed his journey from McSteamy to advocate.