Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane has heartbreakingly revealed that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
ALS, also known as motor neurone disease in some countries, is a rare and incurable degenerative condition that gradually impairs the nervous system over time, leading to increasing muscle paralysis.
About half of ALS patients have a life expectancy of three years after the initial onset of symptoms, though some can survive for decades.
‘I have received an ALS diagnosis,’ shared Eric, 52, in a statement to People. ‘I am thankful to have the support of my loving family as we face this next phase together.’
The announcement follows Eric’s reconciliation with his wife, Rebecca Gayheart. They have two daughters together, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, and had recently decided to withdraw their divorce petition.
‘I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week,’ said Eric, a longstanding star of the HBO series. ‘I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.’
Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane has heartbreakingly revealed that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); pictured last May
ALS has been colloquially known in America as Lou Gehrig’s disease ever since it claimed the life of the beloved baseball player in 1941 when he was just 37.
Sandra Bullock’s longtime love Bryan Randall succumbed to ALS in 2023 after a three-year battle, and SpongeBob Squarepants creator Stephen Hillenburg also died of the condition in 2018 just one year after announcing his diagnosis.
Stephen Hawking was another sufferer of ALS, living with the illness for more than half a century before dying at the age of 76 in 2018.
Just two months ago, R&B diva Roberta Flack – whose hit singles included Killing Me Softly With His Song – died aged 88 after sharing publicly in 2022 that she had developed ALS.
Oscar-winning English actor David Niven was diagnosed with ALS in 1980 and died three years later at 73, while The Right Stuff star Sam Shepard lost his life to complications from the illness in 2017, also aged 73.
Former NFL player Steve Gleason is still living with ALS after making his diagnosis public in 2011, three years on from his retirement from football.
The cause of ALS is a process called neurodegeneration, in which motor neurones – specialist nerve cells in the brain and spine – begin to malfunction.
Most people with ALS only start exhibiting symptoms in their 60s, though in very rare cases the condition can develop in people as young as teenagers.
Early symptoms can include weakness in one limb that then spreads to a different one, or difficulty swallowing, or slurred speech, via Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Eric is pictured in a group shot for Grey’s Anatomy with his co-stars (from left) Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey and Sandra Oh
Rebecca and Eric tied the knot in 2004, two years before he landed his fan favorite role as Dr. Mark Sloan aka ‘McSteamy’ on Grey’s Anatomy (pictured)
Rebecca filed to dissolve their marriage of 14 years in 2018, but the pair have stayed notably amicable as they raise their daughters Billie, 14, and Georgia, 13; all pictured 2016
Eric announced his diagnosis one day after Rebecca said they were ‘best of friends,’ adding that they were ‘really close’ and acted as ‘great coparents’
Over time, patients may start falling down, suffering from fatigue, losing motor skills, laughing or crying uncontrollably or feeling their muscles twitch and cramp.
When the condition advances even further, someone with ALS can experience paralysis and have difficulty with functions as basic as swallowing or breathing.
Eric announced his diagnosis one day after Rebecca said they were ‘best of friends,’ adding: ‘We are really close. We are great co-parents.’
She explained that she and Eric ‘really figured out the formula to staying a family and I think our kids are benefiting greatly from it and we are as well,’ via E! News.
‘I think it’s important to not look at a relationship that ends as a failure. It’s just a season. It wasn’t a failure. It was a huge success. We were married for, I mean, we are still married, but together for 15 years and we had two beautiful kids so I think that’s a successful relationship, and that’s how we look at it.
A month ago, it emerged that Eric and Rebecca had performed a stunning U-turn and called off their divorce, seven years into the process.
Rebecca filed to dissolve their marriage of 14 years in 2018, but the pair stayed notably amicable as they raised their daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13.
They dragged their feet on finalizing the split for so long that Rebecca was repeatedly warned her case might be dismissed altogether.
(from left) Sarah Drew, Eric Dane, Sara Ramirez, Justin Chambers, Jessica Capshaw, Chyler Leigh, Patrick Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo, James Pickens Jr., Sandra Oh, Kevin McKidd, Chandra Wilson, Jesse Williams and Kim Raver are all pictured in a publicity still for Grey’s Anatomy
Eric and Billie are pictured in a 2022 snap that Rebecca posted to Instagram of a ‘family vacay’ they enjoyed in Europe together
The duo were seen shopping together with their children during the COVID-19 lockdowns, raising further questions about the state of their relationship.
Eric was seen on more than one date with a 27-year-old actress in recent months, while Rebecca, 53, was out with a 77-year-old mogul in February.
However in an unexplained development, Rebecca filed to dismiss her divorce from Eric this March 5, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
Rebecca and Eric were given ‘final notice’ in January that their divorce might be tossed if they neglected to advance the process, according to In Touch Weekly.
Eric was spotted that month strolling arm in arm with an actress called Priya Jain, 27, igniting speculation he had moved on to a new romance.
Priya and Eric first set off a round of relationship rumors this past November when they were glimpsed out on a sushi date in West Hollywood.
Meanwhile, Rebecca was seen in February attending Chanel’s pre-Oscars party in Beverly Hills with restaurant tycoon Peter Morton, 77, a co-founder of Hard Rock Café and the son of the namesake of Morton’s Steakhouse.
Rebecca and Eric tied the knot in 2004, two years before he landed his fan favorite role as Dr. Mark Sloan aka ‘McSteamy’ on Grey’s Anatomy.
Rebecca stood by Eric through various personal problems, including his rehab stay in 2011; pictured in 2017 the year before she filed to end the marriage
They stayed together through the scandal that erupted five years into their marriage when a home video leaked of them frolicking naked with an ex-beauty queen.
Rebecca stood by Eric through various personal problems, including his rehab stay in 2011 to wean himself off the pain medication he had begun taking for an injury.
Six years later in 2017, Eric entered treatment for depression, resulting in a filming pause on his action drama series The Last Ship.
The following year, Rebecca filed for divorce on grounds of irreconcilable differences, and the pair agreed on joint custody of their daughters with Eric paying alimony.
Rebecca, who acted infrequently after having children, said a few months after her divorce filing that she wanted to start working again.
‘I think that as a female you need to be able to always take care of of yourself and never depend on a man,’ she told Us Weekly. ‘I’m going back to work and I think it’s partly because I want my daughters to see me work.’
She explained that she and Eric were ‘doing our best’ to co-parent their children, acknowledging: ‘It isn’t easy. But we are trying and we are committed.’
By June 2019 Rebecca was informed that her divorce case was in danger of being thrown out, Entertainment Tonight reported citing court documents.
‘If you fail to take the appropriate steps in your case, the court may dismiss your case for delay in prosecution,’ she was told in what was her third warning.
It then emerged on New Year’s Day 2020 that their divorce was still pending and they had not scheduled any hearings, according to The Blast.
The last step they took in their divorce before Rebecca filed to throw it out this March was reportedly an exchange of preliminary financial information in 2019.
