Early warning signs of ALS after Eric Dane dies at 53

He passed away less than a year after his diagnosis

Dane, who was best known for his roles as Dr Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy and Cal Jacobs on HBO’s Euphoria, went public with his diagnosis in April of last year.

His devastated family confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement to TMZ:

"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 centre of his world.

They added, "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.”

The actor was married to actress Rebecca Gayheart, with whom he shared two daughters.

Tributes have been pouring in for Eric Dane, with many fans fondly remembering his iconic role as Dr Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy.

Dane was diagnosed with ALS in April 2025, but said he started to experience symptoms in 2024.

The actor said his diagnosis made him angry because he would miss out on seeing his daughters grow up.

He previously told Good Morning America:

"Because, you know, my father was taken from me when I was young," he told the programme.

"And now, you know, there's a very good chance I'm going to be taken from my girls while they're very young."

The actor spent the last few months of his life fundraising and raising awareness for ALS.

What is ALS?

ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in a person's spinal cord and brain.

The first signs of ALS include weakness in limbs, slurred speech, trouble swallowing, and muscle twitching.

The disease progresses rapidly and affects a person's ability to eat, speak, move, and breathe. ALS is a fatal disease.

What are the symptoms/early warning signs of ALS?

ALS often starts off with symptoms such as muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, trouble swallowing, or slurred speech, per Mayo Clinic.

Over time, it impairs the muscles responsible for movement, speech, swallowing, and breathing.

Pain is uncommon, and symptoms typically start in the hands, feet, arms, or legs before gradually spreading to other areas of the body.

Gradually, muscles will get weaker as more nerve cells die, which will eventually affect chewing, swallowing, speaking, and breathing.

Symptoms often vary from person to person, depending on which nerve cells are affected.

Symptoms might include:

• Trouble walking or doing usual daily activities
• Tripping and falling
• Weakness in the legs, feet, or ankles
• Hand weakness or clumsiness.
• Slurred speech or trouble swallowing
• Weakness associated with muscle cramps and twitching in the arms, shoulders, and tongue.
• Untimely crying, laughing, or yawning.
• Thinking or behavioral changes