Eric Dane, the charismatic actor immortalized as Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, died Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the age of 53 after a courageous and public battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Dane’s passing marks the end of a remarkable 35-year career that wove through some of television’s most beloved series and several major films, while his final years were defined by advocacy and candor about the disease that ultimately took his life.
Born Eric William Dane in San Francisco on November 9, 1972, his early years were marked by tragedy and resilience. When Dane was just seven, his father, a Navy man turned architect, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Raised by his mother, Leah, and supported by his grandparents, Dane found solace and purpose in athletics and, unexpectedly, in acting. He was a competitive swimmer and water polo player at San Mateo High School, but a role in a school production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons set him on a new path. As he later recalled to the Gulf Times, "I was like this is the greatest feeling ever." So, just before graduation, he left school and moved to Los Angeles to chase his dream.
Dane’s early career was quintessentially 1990s: a string of single-episode appearances on shows like Saved by the Bell, The Wonder Years, Roseanne, and Married… with Children. His first recurring role came in 2000 as Dr. Wyatt Cooper on the medical drama Gideon’s Crossing. But it was his 2006 arrival on Grey’s Anatomy—in a now-iconic towel scene—that cemented his place in TV history. Signed for just one episode, Dane’s portrayal of the charming, complicated plastic surgeon Mark Sloan quickly won over fans and producers alike, earning him the "McSteamy" moniker and a regular spot on the show for over 130 episodes through 2012. He returned for a memorable cameo in 2021, visiting Meredith Grey during a COVID-induced coma.
During his tenure on Grey’s Anatomy, Dane’s personal life was far from the glossy hospital corridors. He struggled with painkiller addiction, entering rehab multiple times and battling depression, especially during the 2007 Writer’s Guild of America strike. "If you take the whole eight years I was on ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ I was f— up longer than I was sober and that was when things started going sideways for me," he admitted in a 2024 interview. He also spoke openly about his depression, telling Today in 2017, "I had to take some time off. I went away, I took care of it, and I’m feeling great." Dane credited Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes for her support, noting, "She protected us fiercely. She protected us publicly. She protected us privately." Ultimately, he left the show due to budget constraints, saying, "I wasn’t the same guy they had hired. So I had understood when I was let go."
After Grey’s Anatomy, Dane found new success as the lead in TNT’s post-apocalyptic drama The Last Ship (2014–2018), playing a Navy captain searching for a cure to a global pandemic. He later took on the complex role of Cal Jacobs, the secretive father of Jacob Elordi’s character, in HBO’s Euphoria (2019–2022). His filmography includes memorable turns in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Marley & Me (2008), Valentine’s Day (2010), Burlesque (2010), and more recent roles in Redeeming Love (2022), Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), One Fast Move (2024), and Borderline (2025).
In April 2025, Dane revealed to the public that he had been diagnosed with ALS, a rare, degenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He first noticed symptoms about 18 months before the announcement, with the illness initially causing the right side of his body to stop functioning. By June 2025, he told Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America that he had lost use of his right arm and expected to lose control of his left hand within months. "I will never forget those three letters," Dane said. "It’s on me the second I wake up… it’s not a dream." He added, "I’m fighting as much as I can. There’s so much about it that’s out of my control."
Dane missed the 2025 Emmys tribute to Grey’s Anatomy after a fall—caused by ALS—landed him in the hospital with stitches in his head. Despite these setbacks, he remained determined to work, expressing hope in April 2025 to return to the set of Euphoria. He also used his platform to advocate for ALS awareness and patient rights. In June 2025, he addressed a news conference at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., stating, "Some of you may know from TV shows such as 'Grey's Anatomy,' in which I play a doctor, but I am here today to speak briefly as a patient. When that diagnosis hits and you find out that you're sick, your life becomes filled with great uncertainty. And the worst thing we could do is add even more uncertainty for patients and their loved ones with unnecessary prior authorization."
In a poignant twist, Dane portrayed a firefighter living with ALS in his final television role, an episode of NBC’s Brilliant Minds that aired in late November 2025. Off-screen, his ex-wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, described their relationship as "very complicated" in a December essay for New York magazine, but emphasized their enduring support for one another: "Our love may not be romantic, but it’s a familial love. Eric knows that I am always going to want the best for him. That I’m going to do my best to do right by him. And I know he would do the same for me." She added, "So whatever I can do or however I can show up to make this journey better for him or easier for him, I want to do that. And I want to model that for my girls: That’s what you do. That’s the right thing to do."
Dane spent his final days surrounded by Gayheart and their daughters, Billie and Georgia, whom he often called "the center of his world." His representative, Melissa Bank, 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. 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." The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this difficult time.
ALS, as described by the National Institutes of Health, is a rare, incurable condition that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to loss of muscle function. Dane joins a list of high-profile figures, including Stephen Hawking and Roberta Flack, who have battled the disease. His openness about his struggles—both with ALS and with addiction—helped destigmatize these issues and brought comfort to countless others facing similar challenges.
Eric Dane’s legacy will endure not only in the memorable characters he brought to life but also in the honesty, humor, and heart with which he faced his greatest battles—on screen and off.