Eric Dane has died at the age of 53, PEOPLE confirms.
Although Eric Dane was a working actor for years, he became a household name with his role as Dr. Mark Sloan — a.k.a. McSteamy — in Grey’s Anatomy.
His death comes 10 months after he went public with his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
In 2004, he married actress Rebecca Gayheart. They welcomed daughters Billie and Georgia in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Rebecca filed for divorce in 2018. However, she filed to have the divorce dismissed in March 2025.
Eric Dane is survived by his daughters.
The family’s statement:
Dane passed on Thursday, Feb. 19. “With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS.”
“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. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
Eric’s career:
Born in San Francisco in 1972, Eric Dane found acting accidentally. He told Gulf Times, “I was a water polo player in high school. My season was short. I ended up getting roped into playing Joe Keller in All My Sons. Dead serious. And I fell in love with it. I was, like, this is the greatest feeling ever!”
After graduating, Eric moved to Los Angeles with “40 bucks in my pocket.”
After doing guest spots on shows like Saved by the Bell, The Wonder Years, Roseanne, and Married… with Children, Eric joined Gideon’s Crossing in a recurring role. Then, he appeared on two seasons of Charmed. Eric’s first movie was 2000’s The Basket.
In 2006, he appeared on the second season of Grey’s Anatomy as Mark Sloan. Because of fan reaction, the part turned into a main role. “I love that character; I just didn’t want to play that guy for the rest of my life,” he said. “It’s counterintuitive to what any actor wants to do with their career.”
Additional credits include Burlesque, Valentine’s Day, Marley & Me, American Carnage, and The Last Ship. Wanting to try something different led him to join Euphoria as Cal Jacobs, a seemingly wholesome dad with a secret life.
