Eric Dane Ignored This Early ALS Symptom Before Diagnosis
Eric Dane Ignored This Early ALS Symptom Before Diagnosis
Paige Catton Fri, October 23, 2026 at 11:44 PM UTC
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Originally appeared on E! Online
The late Eric Dane is shedding light on the beginning of his battle with ALS.
Months before the Grey’s Anatomy star—who died in February—was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, he experienced his first symptom of the nervous system disease while having dinner with his family in January 2024.
“I’m eating sushi with my kids and suddenly I can’t work the chopsticks with my right hand,” Dane wrote in his posthumous memoir, My Book of Days, per an excerpt obtained by People, “and then my fingers feel numb.”
The Euphoria alum—who shared daughters Billie, 16, and Georgia, 14, with wife Rebecca Gayheart-Dane—admitted that he ignored the symptom, believing it to be “some kind of weird nerve thing.”
Dane wrote that he attempted to “shake it off,” noting his habit of “probably texting too much” caused him to struggle to use the chopsticks.
However, he soon learned that was not the case.
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“Three weeks later, it happens again, only worse,” Dane continued. “I can’t grip the chopsticks at all.”
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This led the Last Ship star on what would become a nine-month period of “searching for answers” to his then-inexplicable symptoms, per the memoir, out Nov. 3.
Dane shared he was ultimately diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, by University of California, San Francisco neurologist Dr. Mark Terrelonge, writing that he immediately called Gayheart-Dane following the appointment.
And he told her the news was “what we feared.”
“I don’t remember a single word I said after that,” Dane wrote. “I remember only feeling a violent impact, like getting the wind knocked out of me, and Rebecca wailing on the other end of the phone, and then I really lose it, and my sobs make my body shudder, and I hear her words pouring out amid her tears, ‘I’m here, we’ll fight this together, I’m not going anywhere.’”
Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images
In April 2025, the Burlesque actor publicly announced his ALS diagnosis, sharing in a People interview at the time, “I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
Up until his death 10 months later, Dane continued to work for as long as he could, while also remaining positive despite his struggles with ALS and advocating for research for a cure.
“It's imperative that I share my journey with as many people as I can because I don't feel like my life is about me anymore,” he shared during a virtual panel hosted by the nonprofit I AM ALS in December 2025. “I would love my life to be all about me, but I just can't. I don't think I would be able to move forward if that were the case. It's been a propulsive sort of component to my existence.”
For a look back at Dane’s journey with ALS, read on…
Opening Up About His Private Health Battle
Eric Daneshared that he was diagnosed withamyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known asLou Gehrig's disease, in April 2025."I have been diagnosed with ALS,” Dane toldPeopleat the time. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”Returning to Set
TheEuphoriastar made it clear that he wasn’t stepping away from the screen amid his diagnosis, sharing in April 2025 that he was continuing to film the final season of the HBO series.And Dane, whose Amazon MGM Studios seriesCountdowndebuted over the summer, admitted that acting has kept him “sharp” has he navigates his health battle."I feel great when I'm at work," heexplained to E! News in June 2025. "Of course, there have been some sort of setbacks, but I feel pretty good. My spirit is always pretty buoyant, so at the end of the day, that's all that matters."Detailing His First Symptoms
Two months after sharing his diagnosis, theGrey’s Anatomyalum spoke candidly about his journey,including the symptoms that led to his diagnosis."I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand," Dane toldDiane Sawyerin a sit-down onGood Morning Americain June 2025. "I didn’t really think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I’d been texting too much or my hand was fatigued, but a few weeks later I noticed it got a little worse."After nine months of appointments, which involved visiting two hand specialists and two neurologists, Dane was told he had ALS."I will never forget those three letters," the father of two explained. "It's on me the second I wake up. It's not a dream."“Sobering" Road Ahead
Whilesharing howtherare degenerative disease has affected him physically so far, healsodetailed where he sees the progression headed.“My left side is functioning, my right side has completely stopped working," Dane shared during his interview with Sawyer. "I feel like maybe a couple more months, and I won’t have my left hand either. It’s sobering."A Close-Knit Support System
As Dane goes through this health battle, his wife of over 20 years,Rebecca Gayheart, whofiled to dismiss their 2018 divorcein March, has been by his side.“I call Rebecca. I talk to her every day,” Dane shared during his interview with Sawyer. “We have managed to become better friends and better parents, and she is probably my biggest champion and my most stalwart supporter, and I lean on her."According to Gayheart,sheand Dane are the “best of friends.”“We are really close. We are great co-parents,” theBeverly Hills, 90210star explained toE! NewsApril 9, 2025. “We really figured out the formula to staying a family and I think our kids are benefiting greatly from it and we are as well.”Prioritizing Family Time
While Dane has been marking milestones with his and Gayheart’s daughtersBillieandGeorgia, he’s admitted he resents how his ALS is affectingthe lives of his family members."I'm angry, because my father was taken from me when I was young," the actor, whose father died by suicide when he was a young boy, said during hisGMAinterview. "And now there's a very good chance I'm going to be taken from my girls while they're very young. At the end of the day, all I want to do is spend time with my family and work a little bit, if I can."Emmys Absence
Dane was set to present at the 2025 Emmys alongside hisGrey's AnatomycostarJesse Williamson Sept. 14 butended up missing the award show. A few weeks after his absence, Dane shared that he had toskip the show because of a hospital visit.“ALS is a nasty disease," he said during an interview withThe Washington Postpublished on Oct. 2. "So I was in the hospital during the Emmys getting stitches put in my head.""I was a really upset about it,” Dane added. “But you know, there was nothing I could do about it."His Hopes for the Future
Danemet with doctors and representatives from the I Am ALS organizationin September, 2025, and spoke with California congressmanEric Swalwellabout federal funding towards research for the currently incurable neurological disease.“I wanna ring every bell,” Dane told Swalwell in aTikTokvideo posted by the politician on Sept. 29. “I have two daughters at home. I wanna see them graduate college, get married, maybe have grandkids.”His Tragic Passing
Dane died on Feb. 19 at age 53 following his yearlong battle with ALS. His family confirmed in a statement to E! that he "spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters."“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,” his family's statement continued. “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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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
