‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Eric Dane Reveals He Has Been Diagnosed With ALS

The 52-year-old actor told People that he is eager to get back to work.

Eric Dane attends the HBO Max FYC event for "Euphoria" in Los Angeles on April 20, 2022. Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Actor Eric Dane, best known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan on the ABC medical drama series “Grey’s Anatomy,” has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

Dane, 52, revealed the news in a statement to People, expressing appreciation to his family for all of their support. The actor shares two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, with his wife, actress and model Rebecca Gayheart, whom he married in October 2004.

“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.”

Dane, who portrays Cal Jacobs on the Zendaya-led HBO series “Euphoria,” told the publication he was eager to get back to filming the show’s third season.

“I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to the set of Euphoria next week,” he said. “I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”

Dane garnered his breakout role on “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2006, going on to appear in a variety of other shows, including “The Fixer,” “The Last Ship,” and “Kabul.” He is also known for his film roles, which include “Marley & Me” (2008), “The Ravine” (2021), “American Carnage” (2022), “Dangerous Waters” (2023), “One Fast Move” (2024), and “Borderline” (2025).

According to the Mayo Clinic, ALS, formerly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects the body by attacking nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Motor neurons eventually die off, inhibiting the brain’s ability to control muscle movement. This can lead to a host of symptoms, including trouble walking, slurred speech, and muscle twitching. Paralysis may also occur during the later stages of the disease.

The ALS Association reports that ALS is age-related and typically develops in those between the ages of 40 and 70, with the vast majority of cases arising around age 55.

There is currently no known cause of the disease, which is more prevalent in men than women. Although genetics has played a role in a small number of cases, about 90 percent are not inherited and may stem from a variety of other risk factors, such as environmental exposures.

The average life expectancy after diagnosis is around two to five years. However, it is not uncommon for those with ALS to live upwards of 10 years.

Celebrities With ALS

Several other celebrities have been diagnosed with the rare disease, including Aaron Lazar, a Broadway mainstay known for his performances in “The Light in the Piazza” and “Les Misérables.”

Doctors confirmed that Lazar, 48, had sporadic ALS in 2022. However, the actor, who starred in the 2013 film “The Wolf of Wall Street,” first began experiencing symptoms about eight months before that, including bouts of muscle twitches, weakness, and atrophy, which is the thinning of the body’s muscles.

Aaron Lazar attends "The Last Ship" Broadway opening night in New York City on Oct. 26, 2014. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Musician John Driskell Hopkins, a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning country music group Zac Brown Band, was diagnosed with ALS in 2021. Hopkins, now 53, suffered from symptoms for about two years before the disease was diagnosed.

Canadian actor Kenneth Mitchell, who appeared in “The Recruit” (2003) and “Captain Marvel” (2019), lived with ALS for more than five years before his death. Mitchell died on Feb. 24, 2024, at the age of 49.

Actress Sandra Bullock’s longtime partner, photographer Bryan Randall, was also diagnosed with the disease. Randall died on Aug. 5, 2023, at the age of 57, after battling ALS for three years.