ALS-stricken Eric Dane reveals hopes for his TV future amid battle with terminal condition

Eric Dane shares his aspirations for carrying on his acting journey, even as he faces the challenge of a progressive disorder called ALS.

52-year-old former star of Grey’s Anatomy revealed in April that he is fighting against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), an uncommon and non-curable nerve disorder that gradually weakens muscles, impacting physical abilities.

In a heartfelt interview, he expressed his determination to continue with his work on Euphoria, and earlier, he emotionally stated that it didn’t seem like the end.

He told Variety: ‘I will ride that show until the wheels fall off.  

‘I’m unsure about the future of the show, but I can assure you that it requires a tremendous amount of effort to produce. As long as all the necessary components are in place for it to continue, I would be more than willing to keep working on it.’

He also dished on what he knows about Euphoria’s new season.

Hey there! I’ve got to admit, I’m absolutely clueless about the details – scripts come our way a day or two beforehand, and everything is under wraps, top-secret stuff, you know? But

In the character portrayed by Cal Jacobs, there’s an undercurrent of suppressed anger that poses challenges in his role as father to Nate Jacobs, played by Dane Elordi.

Dane stated that he frequently collaborates with Jacob and they often engage in deep discussions outside of filming. He described Jacob as an intelligent, insightful, and talented actor. This observation applies to the entire cast, according to him.

A Danely rose to prominence by portraying Dr. Mark ‘McSteamy’ Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy during its peak period, akin to how Euphoria has gained notoriety today.

It’s astonishing to find myself in two hit TV series that have truly resonated with the times – yes, ‘zeitgeisty’ fits here. I relish being a part of productions that attract audiences, something quite uncommon. This recognition isn’t misplaced.

In the upcoming Amazon series titled “Countdown,” Dan will portray Nathan Blythe – a character who works alongside others to prevent an imminent attack on Los Angeles.

At the time of his ALS diagnosis, Dane and his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, 53, were separated.

Back in early April, just a day before Dane shared his diagnosis news with the world, I, an overly enthusiastic fan, was opening up to E! News about our unique bond. I gushed, “We’re exceptionally close. We make fantastic co-parents.

‘I believe we’ve discovered the secret to maintaining a strong family bond, and I strongly feel that our children are thriving because of it, while we also reap the benefits.’

She emphasized that a relationship ending shouldn’t be viewed as a failure, but rather as a different phase or season in life. In truth, it was an enormous success.

In 2004, Rebecca and Eric got married, which was two years prior to Eric securing his beloved character role as Dr. Mark Sloan, also known as ‘McSteamy’, on Grey’s Anatomy.

During the controversy that arose after five years of their marriage, they chose to remain united despite a private video being released which showed them playfully enjoying themselves without clothing, involving an earlier beauty pageant winner.

Dan and Gayheart have two daughters, Billie Beatrice, who is 15 years old, and Georgia Geraldine, who is 13.

In the year 2017, six years after the initial start, Eric took a break from filming his action drama series The Last Ship to seek treatment for depression.

In the subsequent year, Rebecca initiated a divorce, citing irresolvable disagreements as the reason, and they mutually decided on shared custody of their daughters. Eric was obligated to provide alimony.

However, the divorce was never finalized throughout the seven-year split.

On Thursday, Dane made a sneak peek appearance for an impending Good Morning America interview with Diane Sawyer, sharing a heartfelt look at his private journey of dealing with his recent diagnosis.

He told Sawyer, “I start each day finding myself abruptly aware that this reality isn’t a dream.

In a brief, heartfelt snippet, the actor from Euphoria is depicted walking hand-in-hand with Sawyer, reminiscing about his life’s path.

At some stage, Dane can be observed strolling next to Sawyer, as their discussion delves into more intimate topics.

As the actor shows clear signs of emotion, he brushes away his tears and expresses, ‘I believe there’s more to my tale. I don’t sense that this is the end of who I am.’

Approximately two months back, Dan shared a message detailing his current situation, expressing heartfelt appreciation for the robust network of support around him.

‘I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,’ he said.

I consider myself lucky to be able to carry on with my work, and I’m excited to get back to the Euphoria set next week.

‘I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.’ 

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2025-06-13 18:06