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NEED TO KNOW

• The Grey's Anatomy star's death comes nearly one year after announcing his ALS diagnosis

• Dane is survived by his daughters Billie and Georgia

Eric Danehas died at the age of 53, PEOPLE confirms. Dane became a star with his role as Dr. Mark Sloan — a.k.a. McSteamy — inGrey's Anatomy. Dane's death comes 10 months after hewent public with his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

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Dane died Thursday, Feb. 19, the actor's family confirms to PEOPLE. "With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS," reads a statement from Dane's family. "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."

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Dane was born in San Francisco in 1972. His father died from a gunshot wound when he was 7 years old. "He was a Navy man and ended up becoming an architect and interior designer. He was a troubled soul," Dane toldGulf Timesin 2014. He said that until he became a parent himself, he never realized how "devastating" the loss must have been for him as a child.

He found acting accidentally. "I was a water polo player in high school and my season was short, and I ended up getting roped into playing Joe Keller inAll My Sons. Dead serious. And I fell in love with it. I was, like, this is the greatest feeling ever!" he toldGulf Times.

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After graduating, he moved to Los Angeles with "40 bucks in my pocket," he told PEOPLE in 2014. "I ended up partying for the next eight years. I got into a lot of trouble."

He landed guest spots on shows likeSaved by the Bell,The Wonder Years,RoseanneandMarried... with Childrenand joinedGideon's Crossingin a recurring role. He then appeared on two seasons ofCharmed. His first movie was 2000'sThe Basket.

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In 2006, he appeared on the second season ofGrey's Anatomyas Mark Sloan. Because of fan reaction, the part turned into a main role. Mark was extremely sexy, and his plotlines often involved him sleeping with his coworkers. Dane was also treated like a sex symbol.

"It just kind of made sense," he toldGlamourin 2019 about leaning into the character's sensual vibes in real life. "I felt like I had an artistic obligation to not shy away from that part of the character. And to a degree, there's a lot of me in that guy. But I think at the end of the day, you tend to give people what they're asking for, because it's the path of least resistance."

"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."

Dane left the series in 2012 when Mark was killed off, though he said in a 2024 episode of Dax Shepard'sArmchair Expertpodcast, "I didn't leave so much as I think I was let go," he said. Noting that he was "struggling" with addiction at the time, he said he didn't think he was let go because of that, but because he had become "very expensive" to the network.

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He added, "I wasn't the same guy they had hired, so I had understood when I was let go, and [show creator] Shonda [Rhimes] was really great."

Dane's other TV and film credits includedEuphoria,Burlesque,Valentine's Day,Marley & MeandThe Last Ship.

In 2004, he married actressRebecca Gayheart. They welcomeddaughters Billie and Georgiain 2010 and 2011, respectively.

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In 2009,a leaked nude videoof Dane, Gayheart and another woman hit the Internet. Two years later, Dane, who was open about his struggles withdepression, went torehab, having begun using painkillers after a sports injury. In 2014,he told PEOPLE that he regretted the situation, explaining, "We've all made mistakes. My one regret is that I got the person I love most wrapped up in all that: Rebecca."

But in 2019, he clarified thathe did not mean that he regretted the nude tape. "I often think about that answer I gave. And looking back now, was it a mistake? Absolutely not," he toldGlamour. "Three consenting adults, one of them being my wife? I wasn't doing anything wrong."

"I didn't regret it, I have no regrets nor do I make any apologies for my life experience," he said. "It's my life experience and I'm at peace with all of it."

Eddy Chen/HBO

From 2014 to 2018, Dane starred onThe Last Shipas Admiral Tom Chandler, though he toldGlamourhe felt the character was too similar to Mark Sloan. Wanting to try something different led to himjoiningEuphoriaas Cal Jacobs, who seemed like a wholesome family man but met people online for anonymous sex.

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"It's been freeing for me to play this role," he toldMen's Healthin 2022, adding, "There's a lot asked of me in this role, and the expectations are high. It's incumbent on me to hit every note because Cal lives such a fragile kind of existence. This guy teeters on what is morally acceptable and what is legally acceptable. So it's important that I hit all the notes because otherwise he can so easily be misunderstood. There's a humanity to this character that I hope comes out."

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Dane also appeared in movies likeMarley & Me,Valentine's Day,Burlesque,American CarnageandBad Boys: Ride or Die.

Gayheartfiled for divorce in 2018. However, she filed to have the divorce dismissed in March 2025.

Dane is survived by his daughters.

Read the original article onPeople

The "Grey's Anatomy"and "Euphoria" star died Thursday, Feb. 19, following apublic battle with ALS, his representative, Melissa Bank, confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY.

"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," the statement read.

Dane played the charming Dr. Mark Sloan from 2006 to 2012 on the long-running medical drama, and he returned for a guest appearance in a 2021 episode. He first appeared as a guest star in Season 2, which aired exactly 20 years before his death, when the medical interns nicknamed him "Dr. McSteamy" opposite former best friend Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), nicknamed "Dr. McDreamy."

He was later cast as a series regular from Seasons 3 to 8, but exited the series in the Season 9 premiere in 2012.

Eric Dane was perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan, aka "McSteamy," in the ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," but he also has other memorable roles under his belt.

Revisit the late actor's best roles, starting with a scene from "Grey's Anatomy" with Ellen Pompeo in 2006.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Hamish Linklater, Eric Dane and Russell Hornsby, stars of ABC medical drama "Gideon's Crossing," during a press tour party in July 17, 2000, in Pasadena.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Members of the cast of "Burlesque": Eric Dane, Stanley Tucci, Christina Aguilera, Cher, Cam Gigandet and Julianne Hough in a portrait made at the Four Seasons Hote in 2010.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Adam Baldwin and Eric Dane in 2014's "The Last Ship."

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How Eric Dane became a TV and film favorite. His best roles

Eric Dane was perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan, aka "McSteamy," in the ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," but he also has other memorable roles under his belt.Revisit the late actor's best roles, starting with a scene from "Grey's Anatomy" with Ellen Pompeo in 2006.

Patrick Dempsey mourns 'Grey's Anatomy' costar Eric Dane

Patrick Dempsey paid his respects to Dane in anappearance on the U.K.'s Virgin Radio.

"I just woke up this morning, and I was very sad to read the news," he said. "It's hard to put into words. I feel really so sad for his children. I was corresponding with him, we were texting, so I spoke to him about a week ago when some friends of ours went in to see him, and he was really starting to lose his ability to speak.

"He was bedridden, and it was very hard for him to swallow so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly," Dempsey explained, before bursting into a laugh and adding: "He was the funniest man, he was such a joy to work with and I want to just remember him in that spirit."

Dempsey continued: "Anytime he was on set, he brought so much fun to it. He had a great sense of humor, he was easy to work with, we got along instantly. First scene was him in all his glory coming out of the bathroom with a towel on, looking amazing, making me feel completely out of shape and insignificant.

"We hit it off because there was never really any competition; there was just this wonderful mutual respect," Dempsey said. "He's wickedly intelligent, and I'm always going to remember those moments of fun that we had together and celebrate the joy that he did bring to people's lives. The real loss is for us who don't have him anymore."

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Dempsey went on to laud Dane's mission to bring awareness to ALS in his final days, calling his former on-screen best friend "brave," and remarking on the importance to be grateful for the time we have here on earth.

Kevin McKidd, Kim Raver remember 'Grey's' star Eric Dane

Kevin McKidd, who played Dr. Owen Hunt on "Grey's Anatomy" also took time to mourn his former costar, calling his onscreen moments with Dane "incredible." Their time on the series coincided with Seasons 5-9.

"He had a natural charisma and comedic dead pan timing like no other. I was honored and blessed to get to work with him on this iconic show. All of us at Grey's send our love and condolences to his family – he is a huge part of our show and always will be," McKidd said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Eric Dane played Dr. Mark Sloan, aka "McSteamy," on "Grey's Anatomy" for six seasons, but he's not done wooing his audiences yet. In 2025, Dane returned to TV on another medical drama, making his "Brilliant Minds" debut as "Bronx-Gen's favorite silver fox."

Dane revealed in April that he'd been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS. See the actor's career in the spotlight from the early 2000's to now, including here as he attends the "Countdown" premiere and afterparty on June 18, 2025, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane attend the Chrysalis Third Annual Butterfly Ball at a private residence on April 17, 2004, in Beverly Hills, California. The former couple, who share two children, got married that year.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left: Publisher of OK! Magazine Tom Morrissey, general manager of A&E Robert DeBitetto, actor John Stamos, executive producer Craig Zadan, actor Eric Dane and entertainment media director of GLAAS Damon Romine arrive at the premiere of A&E original film "Wedding Wars" at the ArcLight Theater on Dec. 4, 2006, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane and Patrick Dempsey pose during the 33rd annual People's Choice Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 9, 2007, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sara Ramirez and Eric Dane arrive at the 33rd annual People's Choice Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 9, 2007, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, top to bottom: Ellen Pompeo, Kate Walsh, Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Sara Ramirez, Justin Chambers, Patrick Dempsey, James Pickens Jr., Eric Dane and T.R. Knight, winners of the ensemble in a drama series award for "Grey's Anatomy" pose in the press room during the 13th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 28, 2007, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane, left, and Patrick Dempsey, winners of the ensemble in a drama series award for "Grey's Anatomy" pose in the press room during the 13th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 28, 2007, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane and Ellen Pompeo attend a party for Dane and "Grey's Anatomy" cast members hosted by Men's Heath magazine at Tenjune May 14, 2007, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane arrives at the 12th annual GQ magazine Men of the Year celebration, Dec. 5, 2007, in Hollywood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, right, and Owen Wilson, center, in "Marley & Me." They arrived together at the premiere at the Mann Village Theater on Dec. 11, 2008, in Westwood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lena Gercke and Eric Dane attend a party to celebrate the fifth anniversary of TV channel TNT Serie at Kesselhalle on May 8, 2014, in Munich, Germany.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> The Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, center, and Admiral Dawn Cutler present actor Eric Dane with a shadow box containing Navy medals earned by his father at the TNT "The Last Ship" Washington D.C. screening at The Newseum on June 12, 2015, in Washington, D.C.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane speaks on stage at "The Last Ship" panel at Comic-Con on July 9, 2015, in San Diego, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rebecca Gayheart, right, and Eric Dane with their children, Georgia Dane and Billie Beatrice Dane, at the 16th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on June 3, 2017, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Adam Baldwin, Bridget Regan and Eric Dane at TNT's "The Last Ship" panel and exclusive sneak peek for Season 4 during Comic-Con on July 23, 2017, in San Diego, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Patrick Mahomes, Eric Dane, Lilly Singh and Jared Goff attend the 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left: Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer, Eric Dane, Maude Apatow, Zendaya, Barbie Ferreira, Sydney Sweeney, Sam Levinson and Colman Domingo attend the HBO Max FYC event for "Euphoria" at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 20, 2022, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> John C. McGinley and Eric Dane, right, who was the 2022 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award Recipient, attend the Global Down Syndrome Foundation's 14th annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself fashion show at the Sheraton Downtown Denver Hotel on Nov. 12, 2022, in Denver.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane and his daughters Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Dane attend the premiere of "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on May 30, 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane shakes hands with Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz during a news conference to discuss health insurance at the Department of Health and Human Services Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on June 23, 2025. During the press conference Kennedy and Oz announced a plan they hope will streamline pre-authorizations for health procedures by health insurance providers.

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From 'Grey's Anatomy' to 'Brilliant Minds,' see Eric Dane's career

Eric Daneplayed Dr. Mark Sloan, aka "McSteamy," on "Grey's Anatomy" for six seasons, but he's not done wooing his audiences yet. In 2025, Dane returned to TV on another medical drama, makinghis "Brilliant Minds" debutas "Bronx-Gen's favorite silver fox."Dane revealed in April that he'd been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS. See the actor's career in the spotlight from the early 2000's to now, including here as he attends the "Countdown" premiere and afterparty on June 18, 2025, in Los Angeles.

Jessica Capshaw, whose played Arizona Robbins on the show, also said she was saddened by Dane's death.

"For four seasons, Arizona and Mark shared the halls of Seattle Grace — trading eye rolls, quips, hard truths, laughter and a whole lot of heart. Beneath all of his swagger was a vulnerability and a fierce love for the people he chose," Capshaw said in a statement to USA TODAY. "I am holding his family in my thoughts tonight. May he rest in peace."

Kim Raver, known to "Grey's" fans as cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Teddy Altman, called Dane "a light."

"You'd see it effortlessly shine from him on the set of Grey's as well as when he was with Rebecca (Gayheart) and the girls. During filming he'd get this twinkle in his eye and with a mischievous look, he would deliver with perfect comedic timing, a line of dialogue that would floor you! You will be missed,"she wrote in an Instagram postsharing a photo of their two characters. "My love and thoughts go out to Rebecca and their girls. We love you."

'Grey's Anatomy' producer remembers Eric Dane

Krista Vernoff, who spent several years as both an executive producer and head writer on "Grey's", tookto Instagramto share text conversations with Dane from 2021.

Actor Eric Dane has died following a battle with ALS. He was 53. He leaves behind two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, and wife Rebecca Gayheart. Look back at the family through the years when they joined together in the public eye.

Actress Rebecca Gayheart and actor Eric Dane attend the Chrysalis 3rd annual Butterfly Ball at a private residence on April 17, 2004, in Beverly Hills, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rebecca Gayheart and husband Eric Dane attend the afterparty for the opening night of "Steel Magnolias" on Broadway on April 4, 2005, in New York City. The pair married in 2004.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart arrive at the premiere of A&E original film "Wedding Wars" at the ArcLight Theater Dec. 4, 2006, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart watch the show at the 6th annual General Motors TEN event at Paramount Studios on Feb. 20, 2007, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane arrive at the premiere of New Line Cinema's "Valentine's Day" held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Feb. 8, 2010, in Hollywood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rebecca Gayheart, Eric Dane, Billie Beatrice Dane, Georgia Dane and guests attend the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Built To Amaze! show on March 21, 2013, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Georgia Dane, Rebecca Gayheart, Eric Dane and Billie Beatrice Dane attend Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival at Madison Square Garden on March 23, 2013, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rebecca Gayheart, Eric Dane and their daughters attend the Huggies Snug & Dry and Baby2Baby Mother's Day Garden Party held on April 27, 2013, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left: Eric Dane, Rebecca Gayheart, Georgia Dane and Billie Beatrice Dane attend the 14th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on June 6, 2015, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rebecca Gayheart, Eric Dane and their family attend Amazon Video's Tumble Leaf Family Fun Day hosted by Au Fudge on Sept. 13, 2015, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left: Billie Beatrice Dane, Rebecca Gayheart, Georgia Dane and Eric Dane attend the 15th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball at a private residence on June 11, 2016, in Brentwood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left: Rebecca Gayheart, Eric Dane, Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Dane attend the 16th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on June 3, 2017, in Brentwood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left: Eric White, Patricia Arquette, Rosetta Getty, June Getty, Balthazar Getty, Violet Getty, Eric Dane, Billie Beatrice Dane, Rebecca Gayheart and Georgia Dane at the 16th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on June 3, 2017, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane and his daughters Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Dane attend the Los Angeles premiere of "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on May 30, 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Eric Dane's family journey in photos

Actor Eric Dane has died following a battle with ALS. He was 53. He leaves behind two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, and wife Rebecca Gayheart. Look back at the family through the years when they joined together in the public eye.Actress Rebecca Gayheart and actorEric Daneattend the Chrysalis 3rd annual Butterfly Ball at a private residence on April 17, 2004, in Beverly Hills, California.

"I called Eric and he answered immediately. I said will you come back? I know it's a pandemic and shooting is a nightmare but we're gonna do it on the beach and keep our social distance because the world needs joy and Mark and Lexie are joy. He said where and when. When I came to set that day, he said, we're breaking the rules and hugging now right?"

She added: "The thing I will remember most about Eric Dane are his hugs. The best hugs. Oh my friend. I wish you peace."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Eric Dane death mourned by 'Grey's Anatomy' star Patrick Dempsey, more