Eric Dane, who stars as the unforgettable Dr. Mark Sloan – aka McSteamy – starred in “Grey’s Anatomy” and the hit HBO drama “Euphoria”, died on Thursday. He was 53 years old. News of his death comes ten months after he made public his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share that Eric Dane passed away on Thursday afternoon after a courageous battle with ALS,” the actor’s family said in a statement to People.
“He spent his final days surrounded by close friends, his devoted wife and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.
Commitment to education and research
“During his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for education and research and was determined to make a difference for others facing the same battle,” his family added. “He will be deeply missed and forever fondly remembered. Eric loved his fans and was eternally grateful for the outpouring of love and support he received. The family requests privacy during this incredibly difficult time.”
In April last year, Dane shared that he had been diagnosed with ALS, a rare degenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. In television appearances and on social media, Dane frequently spoke about the challenges of living with the disease and advocated for ALS awareness and research.
“I will never forget these three letters”
“I’ll never forget those three letters,” he told Diane Sawyer on “Good Morning America” as he discussed how his life changed with the diagnosis. “It’s there as soon as I wake up. It’s not a dream.” At this point he explained that the right side of his body was no longer functioning while the left side was still working. “I’m fighting as hard as I can. So much of this is out of my control,” he said.
Eric William Dane was born on November 8, 1972 in San Francisco, California. His father died of a gunshot wound when Dane was seven years old. “He was in the Navy and later became an architect and interior designer. He was a tortured soul,” the actor told the Gulf Times in 2014.
From water polo player to actor
An athlete in high school, Dane initially had no plans to become an actor. “I was a water polo player in high school and my season was short and I finally got talked into playing Joe Keller on ‘All My Sons,'” he told the newspaper. “And I fell in love with it. I thought: This is the greatest feeling ever!”
He moved to Los Angeles in 1993 and competed for roles in film and television for several years, including “Gideon’s Crossing,” “Charmed,” “Saved By the Bell,” “Married With Children” and “X-Men: The Last Stand.” In 2006 he landed his career-defining role as the attractive plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan on the ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy.
Breakthrough with “Grey’s Anatomy”
It was a character he fully embraced. “I felt like I had an artistic obligation not to avoid that part of the character. And in a way, there’s a lot of me in this guy,” he told Glamor in 2019. “But I think in the end you give people what they ask for because it’s the path of least resistance.”
After leaving the series in 2012, Dane played a naval commander on the dystopian series The Last Ship for five seasons before joining Euphoria. The HBO teen drama debuted in 2019, and within the critically acclaimed cast, Dane delivered one of the most menacing performances as the father of Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi.
Ambivalent love for the job
In his 2014 Gulf Times interview, Dane spoke in more detail about his love-hate relationship with acting. “When I love it, I love it more than anything,” he said. “And when I don’t feel it, I feel a deep dislike for it. I don’t know if I can articulate exactly why, but I think, like everything, there is a balance, and you can’t feel intense love for something unless you also know the exact opposite of it.”
Last October, Dane announced that he had to cancel a planned appearance at the Emmy Awards due to a head injury related to his ALS diagnosis. The actor was supposed to present an Emmy alongside his former “Grey’s Anatomy” colleague Jesse Williams, but had to withdraw at short notice.
Use until the end
Although the injury prevented him from attending the ceremony, he traveled to Washington, D.C. a few days later to meet with lawmakers and advocate for more funding for ALS research. (There remains no cure for the disease, and the causes of ALS are not fully understood.)
Speaking about his role as an advocate, especially given that he had access to certain treatments not available to all ALS patients, Dane told The Washington Post: “I’ve been an open book about certain things in my life. This is what I wanted to share with people. I don’t really have a vested interest in worrying about what other people think of me. It’s more about, ‘How can I help? How can I be of use?'”
