Actor Eric Dane shared with People on April 10 that he has been diagnosed with ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
“I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter. I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to [the] set of ‘Euphoria’ next week. I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time,” he told the publication.
Dane is married to fellow actor Rebecca Gayheart, and they share their two daughters, Billie and Georgia. The two filed for divorce in 2018 but asked the courts to dismiss the filing early in March.
Dane, who is known for his role as doctor Mark Sloan in Grey’s Anatomy, was cast in the HBO show “Euphoria” in 2019. He’s since reprised his role as Cal Jacobs for season 2 and is set to star in the show for its third season.
Dane Overcame Other Health Issues in the Past
GettyIn 2008, Dane revealed to OK! Magazine that he had overcome skin cancer on his lips. “I went to my dermatologist. He said it was malignant tissue caused by sun damage,” he said.
Dane’s treatment involved freezing his lips with liquid nitrogen and then treating it with a cream. “My skin is very sensitive, and my lip was traumatized by the procedure I had to go through,” the “Marley & Me” star shared.
He added, “I didnât eat very well for a couple of weeks and lost a bunch of weight.”
Dane was also open about his battle with depression with Today in 2017. He revealed that he took time off from “The Last Ship” in order to focus on his mental health.
âI felt very conflicted about it because I didnât really feel like I had anything to be depressed about,” he said.
The actor shared that medication helped him with the depression and urged viewers, “Youâve got to listen to your body. Itâs a very serious thing. Like I said, I felt very conflicted because I couldnât figure out what I was depressed about. But itâs very real.”
Dane continued, “I mean, Iâd dealt with depression throughout my life, but it was always manageable. I just felt like, you know, everybody kind of feels a little blue. But this just hit me like a truck. I had to take some time off â I went away, I took care of it, and Iâm feeling great.”
Physical Activity Helped Dane With His Depression
Dane returned to season 4 of “The Last Ship” after getting a handle on his depression. He told the Los Angeles Times in 2017 that the physical aspects of his job helped with his mental health.
“Four doctors sitting at a table talking about relationships is a lot different than running around a burning ship,” he said, comparing his role in “Grey’s Anatomy” with the action-packed drama.
Since then, Dane said he upped his workout routine. “I like to get outside and do a lot of cardio these days. When I was younger, I just lifted weights, but as I get older, I realize the importance of cardio. I like to get outside anyway,” he told the publication.
Dane added, “Physical activity is absolutely important for me in my battle with depression.” However, he warned, “I donât want to be cavalier about it. I wish exercise was the complete answer, but itâs not.”
âI guess the science is that if youâre generating endorphins, youâre going to feel better,” he mused.
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