Eric Dane has revealed that he has been diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease.
The actor from Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria revealed in an exclusive interview with People magazine that he has received a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (A.L.S.), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” he told the outlet. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
A.L.S. impacts the nerve cells located in the brain and spinal cord, leading to a gradual deterioration of muscle control. Unfortunately, this noncommunicable disease does not currently have a cure.
Despite being most famous for his role as “McSteamy” in Grey’s Anatomy, he has gained recent acclaim for his compelling performance in the popular HBO series Euphoria. In the show, he portrays Cal, the troubled head of the Jacobs family.
He received praise for his performance, particularly in the second season. Variety called him “simply spectacular,” calling the season “a showcase for actor Eric Dane.”
He is set to return for the highly anticipated third season, which is now in production.
This kind of scary health news can obviously be very upsetting, but it seems Dane is taking it in stride.
“I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week,” he told People. “I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”
Dane, 52, is married to actress Rebecca Gayheart, 53. They have two children.
Other notable figures who lived with A.L.S. include physicist Stephen Hawking and singer Roberta Flack.
According to the ALS Association, the disease slowly takes away the ability for a person to walk, talk, eat, and breathe. There are new and developing treatments to slow and relieve symptoms of ALS. The average life expectancy after an ALS diagnosis is between two and five years.
We’re sending our love to Eric Dane and his family during this time, and we look forward to his big return to the small screen with Euphoria.
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