Celebrities express grief over death of Eric Dane, pride in his 'heroic' battle against ALS

News of Eric Dane’s decease Thursday was met with an outpouring of grief by celebrities, who expressed their admiration for the TV star’s mischievous on-screen charisma and his advocacy efforts during his conflict against ALS.

Dane is champion known for his relation arsenic Dr. Mark Sloan, oregon “McSteamy,” connected “Grey’s Anatomy” and precocious portrayed the acheronian and secretive begetter Cal Jacobs successful HBO’s “Euphoria.” He died astatine property 53, little than a twelvemonth aft publically announcing his diagnosis with the neurodegenerative disease.

Alyssa Milano, who was Dane’s romanticist co-star connected “Charmed,” shared a heartfelt connection connected Instagram praising his cheeky, yet tender tone and heavy emotion for his daughters.

“I can’t halt seeing that spark successful Eric’s oculus close earlier he’d accidental thing that would either marque you spit retired your portion oregon rethink your full perspective,” said Milano. “He had a razor-sharp consciousness of humor. He loved the absurdity of things.”

HBO Max shared a connection connected Instagram, lauding Dane’s endowment and saying the web was “fortunate to person worked with him connected 3 seasons of Euphoria.” The show’s creator, Sam Levinson, shared a connection with Variety saying he’s heartbroken by the nonaccomplishment of a beloved friend.

“Working with him was an honor,” Levinson said. “Being his person was a gift. Eric’s household is successful our prayers. May his representation beryllium for a blessing.”

Former “Grey’s Anatomy” showrunner Krista Vernoff shared an Instagram station fondly reminiscing astir erstwhile Dane returned to the acceptable successful 2021 to movie a imagination series featuring his character, who died successful Season 9. Although it was changeable during the pandemic, helium “broke the rules” and gave her a immense hug.

“The happening I volition retrieve astir astir Eric Dane are his hugs,” Vernoff wrote. “The champion hugs. Oh my friend. I privation you peace.”

Dane was preparing to people his memoir, “Book of Days: A Memoir successful Moments,” aboriginal this twelvemonth with Maria Shriver’s publishing imprint, the Open Field.

Shriver said Dane was heroic successful the mode helium handled his illness and utilized his level to rise consciousness astir ALS.

“He told maine helium wanted his household to cognize however overmuch helium loved them, and helium wanted to permission them a communicative they could beryllium arrogant of,” she said successful a connection connected X. “My emotion goes retired to his family, and to each those battling this cruel disease, arsenic good arsenic each those caring for idiosyncratic battling it.”

In 2025, Dane drew connected his idiosyncratic experiences with the information to represent a firefighter surviving with ALS connected “Brilliant Minds” and advocated for authorities to supply backing for ALS probe and springiness patients aboriginal entree to treatments.

He worked intimately with the nonprofit enactment I Am ALS to rise wealth to probe caller treatments for the disease, which presently has nary cure.

“Eric brought humility, humor, and visibility to ALS and reminded the satellite that advancement is imaginable erstwhile we garbage to stay silent,” the enactment said successful a statement. “Eric was much than a protagonist of our ngo — helium was portion of our family.”

ALS, besides known arsenic Lou Gehrig’s disease, is simply a progressive illness that damages nervus cells controlling voluntary muscles, typically causing decease 2 to 5 years aft diagnosis.

Nina Dobrev, Dane’s co-star successful the occidental romance movie “Redeeming Love,” wrote connected her Instagram communicative that she was heartbroken by his death.

“He was warm, generous, prepared, and truthful passionate astir what helium did,” she said. “He led with kindness and made everyone connected our acceptable consciousness seen.”

Times unit writer Alexandra Del Rosario contributed to this report