Eric Dane, best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan (“McSteamy”) on “Grey’s Anatomy” and as complicated father Cal Jacobs on “Euphoria,” has died at the age of 53 after battling ALS.
Dane died nearly a year after announcing he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ASL), known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a degenerative nervous system disease.
“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,” Dane's family said in a statement on Thursday.
Born in San Francisco in 1972, Dane grew up in the Bay Area, attending Sequoia High School in Redwood City and San Mateo High School in San Mateo. After graduating from the latter, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
In the 90s, he played bit parts on television series “Saved by the Bell,” “The Wonder Years,” “Roseanne,” and “Married… with Children” before landing the recurring role of Dr. Wyatt Cooper on “Gideon’s Crossing” in 2000. That same year, Dane made his film debut in Rich Cowan’s “The Basket.”
He appeared in other movies throughout the early eighties, including “Zoe,” “Duncan,” “Jack & Jane,” “Sol Goode,” “Feast,” “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “Marley & Me.” He also had a starring role in “Open Water 2” and played Jason Dean for two seasons on The WB’s “Charmed.”
In 2005, he made his first guest appearance as Dr. Mark Sloan on a Season 2 episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.” His character was so well-received that he became a regular in the following season and remained so until he was written off in Season 8. Nevertheless, Dane still appeared in two Season 9 episodes and reprised the character once more, 19 years later, in the Season 17 episode “Breathe.”
ABC and 20th Television, the companies behind “Grey’s Anatomy,” issued a statement Thursday night: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Eric Dane,” it read. “His remarkable talent and unforgettable presence on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ left a lasting impact on audiences around the world, and his courage and grace during his battle with ALS inspired so many. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and colleagues, as well as the many fans whose lives were touched by his work.”
Throughout the 2010s, he appeared in the A&E television movie “Wedding Wars” and the theatrical rom-com “Valentine’s Day.” Dane was a main cast member on Michael Bay’s “The Last Ship,” which ran on TNT from 2014 through 2019.
In 2019, he began playing Cal Jacobs, the father of Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi), on HBO’s “Euphoria,” appearing in 12 episodes across the show’s first two seasons. He reprised the role for the show’s third season, which will premiere in April.
The final performances in Dane’s career include roles in the films “Borderline,” “Into the Beautiful,” and “Family Secrets” and the television series “Wireless,” “Countdown” and “Kabul.”
After going public with his diagnosis, he became an advocate for others with ALS, working with I Am ALS on legislation and fundraising.
“I have been an open book about certain things in my life. This is something I felt compelled to share with people,” Dane told the Washington Post. “I don’t really have a dog in the fight, per se, when it comes to worrying about what people are going think about me. This is more of a: ‘How can I help? How can I be of some service?’”
“Not to be overly morbid,” he said. “but you know, if I’m going out, I’m gonna go out helping somebody.”
He is survived by two daughters.
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