Eric Dane is opening up for the first time since sharing his ALS diagnosis â and itâs a moment filled with strength, honesty, and heartache.
The 52-year-old actor, known for roles in “Greyâs Anatomy” and “Euphoria”, sat down with Diane Sawyer for an upcoming Good Morning America interview.
In a teaser clip released on Thursday, June 12, Dane reflects on the daily reality of living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Dane Gets Candid About Living With ALS
âI wake up every day and Iâm immediately reminded that this is happening,â Dane says in the clip. âItâs not a dream.â
The video shows Dane and Sawyer holding hands, their conversation tender but powerful. It ends with the actor wiping away tears, showing just how personal this journey has become.
Eric Dane Remains Hopeful: âThis Isnât the End of My Storyâ
Despite the emotional weight of the diagnosis, Daneâs message is one of resilience. âI donât think this is the end of my story,â he tells Sawyer. âI donât feel like this is the end of me.â
Dane First Revealed Diagnosis in April
Dane first went public with his diagnosis in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE in April. âI have been diagnosed with ALS,â he shared. âI am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.â
He also asked for privacy while he and his family processed the news: âI kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.â
Eric Says His Family Has Been by His Side Through the Journey
Dane shares two daughters â Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13 â with his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart. The couple has kept a relatively low profile but remains united through this chapter of his life.
Eric Dane is widely recognized for his role as Dr. Mark âMcSteamyâ Sloan on Greyâs Anatomy. His credits also include Charmed, X-Men: The Last Stand, Burlesque, The Last Ship, and numerous other films.
His full interview with Good Morning America is set to air Monday at 7 a.m. ET.
What Is ALS? Understanding the Disease
ALS, often called Lou Gehrigâs disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative illness that leads to paralysis by attacking nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Early symptoms usually include limb weakness or slurred speech.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease gradually takes away a personâs ability to walk, eat, speak, and breathe. There is currently no cure, and most patients live three to five years after diagnosis, though some live much longer.
ALS â often referred to as Lou Gehrigâs disease, named after the baseball icon who passed away at just 37 in 1941 â has claimed the lives of several well-known public figures in recent years.
Sandra Bullockâs partner, Bryan Randall, died in 2023 after a private three-year battle. SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg passed in 2018, a year after his diagnosis.
Physicist Stephen Hawking, who defied the odds by living over 50 years with ALS, died in 2018 at the age of 76. Music legend Roberta Flack also revealed her diagnosis in 2022 before passing in February at 88.
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