Eric Dane Diagnosed With ALS: What to Know About the Progressive Neurodegenerative Disease

Eric Dane announced that he was diagnosed with ALS in a statement shared on April 10, 2025. The Euphoria actor revealed the news about his health just days before heading back to work on season 3 of the HBO show.

Eric Dane Announces ALS Diagnosis

In a statement to People, the Grey’s Anatomy alum publicly shared his diagnosis.

“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.”

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

What Is ALS?

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is “a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS causes loss of muscle control. The disease gets worse over time,” per Mayo Clinic.

“ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, trouble swallowing or slurred speech,” per Mayo Clinic. “Eventually ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe. There is no cure for this fatal disease.”

Other symptoms include trouble walking, hand weakness, tripping and falling and thinking or behavioral changes.

Is There a Cure for ALS?

There is no known cure for ALS, “but doctors do have treatments and therapies that can slow down or ease symptoms in you or a loved one,” per WebMD. “Researchers continue to study ALS, hoping to learn more about its causes and possible new treatments.”

What Is the Life Expectancy of a Person With ALS?

According to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, “From the time of diagnosis, most patients die within three to five years. Around 30 percent of ALS patients are alive beyond five years after diagnosis, and 10-20 percent of patients survive 10 years or more. Survival beyond 20 years is possible but rare. Factors associated with more favorable survival rates include a younger age, male gender and limb rather than bulbar symptom onset.”

Does Eric Dane Have Kids?

Eric shares two kids with Rebecca Gayheart, daughters Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13.

Rebecca filed for divorce from Eric in 2018 after 14 years of marriage. In March 2025, the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actress filed paperwork to dismiss the divorce, In Touch reported. Eric also signed the documents. In April 2025, Rebecca opened up about where her relationship with Eric stood, one day before he publicly announced his ALS diagnosis.

“We are best of friends. We are really close. We are great coparents,” she told E! News. “We really figured out the formula to staying a family and I think our kids are benefiting greatly from it and we are as well.”

“I think it’s important to not look at a relationship that ends as a failure. It’s just a season. It wasn’t a failure. It was a huge success,” Rebecca added. “We were married for, I mean, we are still married, but together for 15 years and we had two beautiful kids so I think that’s a successful relationship, and that’s how we look at it.”