“McSteamy” Gone Too Soon
“McSteamy” Gone Too Soon: Eric Dane Dies at 53 Following Courageous ALS Battle
LOS ANGELES — The entertainment world is in mourning following the loss of Eric Dane, the charismatic actor who defined a generation of television as Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy. Dane passed away on the afternoon of Thursday 19th February, at the age of 53, following a swift and public battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
The news was confirmed by his family and representatives in a heartbreaking statement on Friday morning.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” the statement read. “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.”
A Champion in the Face of Adversity
Dane’s passing comes less than a year after he stunned fans by announcing his diagnosis in April 2025. Rather than retreating from the spotlight, the actor spent his final months as a tireless advocate for the ALS community.
His advocacy was marked by a "relentless spirit," as he recently joined the Board of Directors for Target ALS and lobbied in Washington, D.C., for better healthcare access and research funding. Just weeks before his death, Dane spoke candidly about the disease's physical toll, telling reporters, "This disease takes something from me every day, but I won’t let it take my spirit."
From McSteamy to Cal Jacobs
While Dane’s career spanned decades, he became a household name in 2006 when he stepped out of a bathroom in nothing but a towel on Grey’s Anatomy. As the confident plastic surgeon Mark Sloan, he became a series cornerstone, eventually leaving the show in 2012 only to make a poignant return in a 2021 dream sequence.
In 2019, Dane reinvented his career with a transformative, gritty performance in HBO’s Euphoria. Playing Cal Jacobs, a man trapped by his own secrets and trauma, Dane earned critical acclaim for his range, proving he was far more than just a "primetime heartthrob."
Final Works and Tributes
Despite his declining health, Dane continued to work as long as he was physically able. In November 2025, he drew on his personal experience for a guest role on the NBC medical drama Brilliant Minds, playing a firefighter struggling with an ALS diagnosis. He is also expected to appear posthumously in his final film projects, including Borderline and Kabul.
His memoir, Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments, is currently scheduled for release later this year through Maria Shriver’s The Open Field imprint. The book reportedly chronicles his life from the halls of Grey Sloan Memorial to his final fight for a cure.
Tributes have flooded in from co-stars past and present. Euphoria creator Sam Levinson called him a "gift" and a "dear friend," while Grey's Anatomy co-star Kevin McKidd shared a simple, moving tribute: "Rest in peace, buddy."
Eric Dane is survived by his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters. As the medical community and fans alike process the loss, his family has requested privacy as they navigate this "impossible time."
