Eric Dane, Grey's Anatomy Star, Dies at 53 After ALS Battle

Hollywood actor Eric Dane, famous for his role as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on the hit TV series Grey's Anatomy, has passed away at the age of 53. His family confirmed that he died on Thursday after a courageous battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), less than a year after publicly revealing his diagnosis.

Dane played the charming plastic surgeon on Grey's Anatomy for 15 years and later appeared in the popular series Euphoria. Despite his illness, he was determined to return to filming Euphoria’s third season.

"Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS," his family said in a statement. "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."

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive condition that weakens muscles as the brain loses connection with them. Dane became an advocate for ALS awareness and research, hoping to help others facing the same fight.

Born Eric William Dane on November 9, 1972, in San Francisco, he was the older of two brothers. He started his acting career in 1993 with a role on The Wonder Years and rose to fame in 2005 with Grey's Anatomy. His film work included Marley & Me and X-Men: The Last Stand.

Dane married actor Rebecca Gayheart, mother of his two daughters, but they separated in 2018 after 14 years of marriage. However, just before Dane’s ALS announcement, Gayheart filed to dismiss her divorce petition.

Eric Dane will be remembered for his iconic roles on television, his advocacy for ALS, and his dedication to family.