Eric Dane Dies at 53
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Eric Dane, best known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy and appearing in Euphoria, passed away this Thursday at the age of 53 after battling ALS. Dane died on the 20th anniversary of his first appearance on Grey’s Anatomy.
In a statement, Dane’s family said: “He spent his final days surrounded by close friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world. During his battle with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference in the lives of those fighting this disease.”
Dane announced in April 2025 that he had been diagnosed with ALS. The progressive illness affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing patients to gradually lose the ability to breathe, speak, and move.
Eric Dane was born on November 9, 1972, in San Francisco and moved to Los Angeles shortly after finishing high school. He quickly began appearing in television dramas and sitcoms, including an early role on Saved by the Bell, where he played a self-absorbed teenager who suffers a head injury during a beach volleyball game.
His other credits include The Wonder Years, Roseanne, Married… with Children, the medical drama Gideon’s Crossing alongside Andre Braugher and Rubén Blades, which lasted only one season, the fantasy series Charmed, Helter Skelter, as well as the films Marley & Me and X-Men: The Last Stand.
Dane first joined Grey’s Anatomy in 2006 during its second season as plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan and became a series regular by the third season. Between seasons, he appeared in films such as Burlesque and Valentine’s Day.
In 2012, he joined The Last Ship, where he also served as a producer. In 2019, Dane became part of Sam Levinson’s HBO adaptation of the Israeli series Euphoria, playing Cal Jacobs, the bisexual father of Jacob Elordi’s character.
Following his diagnosis, Dane worked with the organization I AM ALS to raise awareness. He once said: “I don’t think anyone would have blamed me if I’d gone upstairs to my bedroom, crawled under the covers, and cried for two weeks straight. There was no reason for me to be in good spirits on any given day.” Despite that, he wanted to ensure that more people became aware of ALS so that a cure could eventually be found.
He also said: “I feel it’s essential to share my journey with as many people as possible, because I no longer feel that my life is just about me. That’s something I’ve struggled with, because I’m relatively self-centered and I liked my life being completely about myself. But I can’t be that way. If I were, I don’t think I could go on.”
In December 2025, Dane announced that he had written his memoir, Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments.
Eric Dane married American actress Rebecca Gayheart in 2004, and they had two children. Gayheart separated from Dane in 2017 and filed for divorce in 2018, but withdrew the petition about a month before Dane publicly announced his diagnosis.
