Eric Dane Warned of the 1 Telling ALS Symptom He Had Months Before His Death: ‘I Didn’t Think Anything of It’
Jason Pham
Eric Dane didn’t think anything of his first ALS symptoms before he was diagnosed with the fatal disease. Dane, best known for his role as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy, died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (more commonly known as ALS) on February 19, 2026. He was 53 years old.
Dane’s family announced his death in a statement. “With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS. 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,” the statement read. “Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a nervous system disease that worsens over time and affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing the loss of muscle control. The disease is also often called Lou Gehrig’s disease named after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it in the 1940s. The exact cause of ALS is not known.
What were Eric Dane’s ALS symptoms?
Dane revealed in an interview with Good Morning America in 2025 that his first ALS symptom was weakness in his right hand. “I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand. I didn’t think anything of it. I thought I had been texting too much and my hand was fatigued,” he said. “A few weeks later, I noticed it got a little worse, so I went and saw a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist. I went and saw a neurologist, who sent me to another neurologist, who said, ‘This is way above my pay grade.'”
He continued, “I will never forget those three letters. It’s on me the second I wake up. It’s not a dream.”
The interview was published in June 2025, two months after Dane announced his diagnosis. At the time, he told Good Morning America’s Diane Sawyer that he only had one working arm—his left—and that his right had completely stopped working. His legs were also still functioning, though Dane was worried at the time that all his limbs would soon stop working.
“I have one functioning arm. My dominant side. My left side is functioning,” he said. “My right side has completely stopped working. [My left side] is going. I think a couple more months and I won’t have my left hand either. It’s sobering. I’m worried about my legs.”
He also recalled a scary incident when he was swimming off of a boat with one of his daughters and couldn’t get back on the ship because of the weakness in his muscles. “When I jumped into the ocean that day and realized I couldn’t swim and generate enough power to get back on the boat, I realized, ‘Oh god.’ I realized in that moment I’m not safe in the water anymore. [My daughter] dragged me back to the boat. I was in tears. I was heartbroken,” he said.
According to the Mayo Clinic, ALS symptoms vary from person to person, though they generally start with muscle weakness that spreads and worsens over time. Other symptoms include trouble walking; tripping and falling; weakness in the legs, feet or ankles; hand weakness or clumsiness; slurred speech or trouble swallowing; weakness associated with muscle cramps; twitching in the arms, shoulders and tongue; untimely crying, laughing or yawning; and thinking or behavior changes.
The organization also reported that ALS often begins in the hands, feet, arms or legs before spreading to other parts of the body. As muscles become weaker as more nerve cells die, the person with ALS will start to struggle with chewing, swallowing, speaking, and even breathing. The Mayo Clinic also stated that there’s generally no pain in the early stages of ALS, and it isn’t common in the later stages either. The organization also reported that ALS typically doesn’t affect bladder control or the senses, such as taste, smell, touch, and hearing.
Dane announced he was diagnosed with ALS in an interview with People in April 2025, less than a year before his death. “I have been diagnosed with ALS,” he said. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.” He continued, “I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week. I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”
