Eric Dane had the perfect body, and he wasn’t shy about using it.
The actor originally appeared in a single scene in Grey’s Anatomy in 2006 as Dr. Mark Sloan. In that scene, he charmed Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, and was subsequently punched by her boyfriend, played by Patrick Dempsey. This appearance was only intended to be a one-time event.
However, his handsome appearance and playful expression captivated audiences: the show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes, received so much fan mail that she decided to make Dane’s character a regular part of the show. This decision proved successful when, a few seasons later, he famously appeared coming out of a steamy bathroom wearing only a small white towel around his waist. And with that, the nickname ‘McSteamy’ was created.
As a lifestyle expert, I remember when Dane really captured everyone’s attention – about a decade ago, he started winning over a whole new audience with his role in the hit show Euphoria. He played Jacob Elordi’s father, and let me tell you, it was a complex character! He portrayed a strikingly handsome, yet troubled man secretly struggling with his sexuality and engaging in clandestine affairs at motels. It was a truly compelling performance.
He was, Glamour magazine declared, the ‘most sexualized man in Hollywood.’
Considering everything, the photos this week of a thin and stiff man from Denmark in a wheelchair are especially difficult to see. It’s truly heartbreaking.
Dane, 52, shared that he received a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, a rare and ultimately fatal disease, back in April. Currently, there is no known cure for this condition.
People close to the actor say he has recently been grappling with the realization of his own mortality.
Speaking only to the Daily Mail, a source revealed: ‘It’s natural that people avoid thinking about death, but Eric is currently facing that reality.’
He’s aware of what’s coming and is now focusing on making the most of his life. He wants to be a source of inspiration and support for those who are facing difficulties. Importantly, he also wants to cherish time spent with family and friends and truly live in the moment.
Dane has described his diagnosis as shattering but has vowed to fight hard.
‘Stay strong,’ he said this week while driving through the Washington DC airport. Dane was in the capital to meet with California congressman Eric Swalwell and Mike Quigley of Illinois, who have been working since 2021 to get a bill passed that would fund research into ALS.
ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare and poorly understood condition that affects nerve cells. Approximately 5,000 people in the United States receive a diagnosis each year, and the symptoms can be difficult to identify.
In early 2024, Dane first noticed weakness in his right hand and initially assumed it was due to excessive texting or simply fatigue. It took several visits to different specialists before he received a confirmed diagnosis in April of this year. Unfortunately, by June, he had lost the ability to use his right arm.
Generally, people live for about three to five years after being diagnosed. However, Stephen Hawking lived for more than 50 years. Unfortunately, Dane’s health has been rapidly getting worse, and he is in a lot of pain.
According to a source, Dane is resolved to embrace life to the fullest, even with his recent health news. He believes many people don’t appreciate what they have and often avoid pursuing opportunities simply because they’re afraid.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy.
While attending San Mateo High School in the Bay Area – the same school as Alicia Silverstone – Dane was a talented water polo player. He even changed schools to join a more challenging team. ‘I wasn’t always the top player,’ he shared with podcast host Dax Shepard on his show Armchair Expert last year, ‘but I was really good.’
I was so worried to hear about what happened to the former swimmer! He was enjoying a lovely day snorkeling with his daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, earlier this year, when he unfortunately ran into some serious trouble. It all happened so quickly while they were out on a boat, and it was really frightening to learn about.
He told Sawyer that when he jumped into the ocean and realized he couldn’t swim or paddle hard enough to return to the boat, his first thought was, “Oh, God.” He continued, “And right then, I understood: I was no longer safe in the water.”
Dane got scared, but Georgia understood her father was in danger and pulled him back into the boat.
I was on the verge of tears, so I quickly ensured she rejoined her friend and continued snorkeling with the guide, he explained. I was simply devastated.
Rebecca Gayheart, the actress known from Beverly Hills 90210 and mother to Georgia and Billie, has been a strong support system for Dane, even though she has faced challenges of her own.
The couple first connected in 2003. Gayheart, originally from Kentucky and a former model, had just ended a 13-year relationship with producer Brett Ratner and was acting in Nip/Tuck. Meanwhile, Dane, who had previously appeared in shows like Saved By The Bell, The Wonder Years, and Roseanne, hadn’t yet started working on Grey’s Anatomy.
The couple got married in Las Vegas in 2004, just ten months after they first met. In 2009, they faced intense media scrutiny when a video surfaced showing them with Kari Ann Peniche, a former Miss US Teen, who had previously lost her title for posing in Playboy five years earlier. The video showed the three of them not engaging in sexual activity, but rather spending 12 minutes moving around rooms, using drugs, and later relaxing together in a hot tub. The incident caused a tabloid storm.
Dane and Gayheart filed a lawsuit against Gawker – the publisher of the tape – claiming copyright infringement. The case was resolved privately in July 2010, meaning it was settled out of court.
In March 2010, Gayheart and Dane welcomed their first child, Billie. A year later, their second daughter, Georgia, was born. Dane, who experienced the loss of his father to suicide at a young age (when he was seven), shared with People magazine in 2014 that he felt incredibly fortunate, stating: ‘I never had a family and now I do.’
All the while, however, the actor was battling demons.
He started using marijuana as a teen and says he first stopped using drugs and alcohol at age 26.
I remember when he was on Grey’s Anatomy, from 2006 to 2012, it was a really tough time for him. He actually struggled with substance abuse then, and I later learned he’d had a relapse during the Writer’s Guild strike back in 2007. By 2011, things had gotten so difficult that he bravely went to rehab to deal with an addiction to painkillers. These had originally been prescribed to him for an injury he sustained while playing sports, but he ended up relying on them too much. It was so hard to watch, but I admired his courage in facing it.
He explained that throughout his eight years on Grey’s Anatomy, he struggled with substance abuse more than he experienced sobriety, and that this period marked the beginning of his difficulties. He also stated he was ‘let go’ by Shonda Rhimes.
‘I wasn’t the same guy they had hired, so I understood when I was let go.’
Dane soon landed another role, portraying the captain of a US Navy destroyer in the post-apocalyptic action series The Last Ship. However, he took a break from the show in 2017 to address his depression.
By 2018, Gayheart and Dane’s marriage had hit the rocks, and she filed for divorce.
The couple released a shared statement, explaining that divorcing after 14 years of marriage was the best choice for everyone involved. They stated it was ‘the best decision’ for their family.
They stated that they plan to remain friends and work together to raise their two daughters, who are their top priority. They respectfully requested privacy as they move forward with this new chapter in their lives. They said, ‘We kindly ask that you respect our privacy during this time as we navigate the next phase of our lives.’
Gayheart and their daughters stayed at their home – a $2.4 million farmhouse in the Beverly Hills Post Office area, which they purchased in June 2010. They continued to share parenting responsibilities and even took family trips together. In August 2022, the four of them traveled to Europe, followed by a trip to Mexico in January 2023, and they spent December 2024 together in Hawaii.
It’s been a period of adjustment for me and my family,” Gayheart shared, a year after the separation. “It took us some time to find our footing, and I won’t pretend it was simple. But I’m optimistic about the future because so much is possible now. We have a lot of choices, and thankfully, my children are doing well – they’re happy and healthy.”
After Dane received his diagnosis, Gayheart decided to stop the divorce proceedings. She shared with E! just before Dane publicly announced his condition: ‘We are best of friends. We are really close. We are great co-parents. We really figured out the formula to staying a family and I think our kids are benefiting greatly from it and we are as well.’
She explained, ‘I believe it’s important to reframe the end of a relationship – it’s not a failure, but simply a chapter closing. It wasn’t a failure at all; it was actually a great success. We were married for, or rather, we’ve been together for 15 years, and we have two wonderful children. So, from our perspective, it *was* a successful relationship, and that’s how we choose to see it.’
According to a source who spoke with the Daily Mail, Gayheart’s relationship with her children’s father is now exceptionally good. They described it as ‘nothing short of incredible.’
After Eric received his diagnosis, Rebecca chose to let go of any resentment. Their ability to co-parent has blossomed into a friendship, and that’s exactly what Eric needs at this time, they explained.
She truly supports him in every way. While he doesn’t require constant care right now, she consistently helps him and their children. They all share a common purpose: to provide their kids with the best possible life. They both agree that achieving this together is the most crucial thing – even though their romantic relationship has ended.
It seems she stayed single during their time apart. However, Dane embraced his newfound freedom and actively dated.
Starting in November 2024, he was dating 27-year-old actress Priya Jain. However, in June, he unexpectedly began getting close to a new person – Texan photographer and filmmaker Janell Shirtcliff.
Gayheart accepts the situation, according to our source.
According to a source, Eric’s girlfriend is more like a casual companion – their relationship is inconsistent and undefined. The source also stated that Shirtcliff and Rebecca are friendly acquaintances, but don’t socialize outside of brief encounters. They aren’t close friends who spend time together, the source added.
Eric is doing his best to keep things feeling normal, but Janell is finding it difficult to plan ahead. Everyone is carefully considering all possibilities, and Eric is prioritizing his own happiness. His connection with his children and Rebecca is becoming increasingly important to him, even more so than his relationship with Janell. It’s not that Janell is being excluded, but their relationships with each other are all quite complex at the moment.
Meanwhile, Dane has continued working.
Just a week after sharing his diagnosis, he returned to filming season three of Euphoria, and this time he was joined by Sharon Stone as a fellow cast member.
Stone, 67, recently shared with Entertainment Tonight that he and Eric have been close friends for many years. ‘And I actually helped him prepare for his Euphoria audition,’ Stone explained. ‘He’d come to my house, bring me gluten-free cookies, and we’d talk through his approach because he was really determined to land that role.’
For his part, Dane has insisted that he wants to carry on acting as long as possible.
He stated in June that he’s up for almost any task, but acknowledges he can’t take on every role due to certain limits. ‘I’m currently involved with Euphoria,’ he mentioned. ‘I’ve also completed Countdown. Generally speaking, I’m quite capable,’ he added.
While recent photos may indicate that has changed, Dane has vowed to keep fighting.
‘I’m very hopeful,’ he told Sawyer. ‘I don’t think this is the end of my story.
‘In my heart, I don’t feel like this is the end of me.’
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2025-10-05 15:06