Eric Dane is not backing down from the toughest fight of his life. The 52-year-old actor, known for his roles in Euphoria and Grey’s Anatomy, revealed in April that he’s battling ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impacts the brain and spinal cord.
Speaking candidly on Good Morning America, Dane said he’s ready to try absolutely anything if it means slowing down the effects of the disease. “I will fly to Germany and eat the head off a rattlesnake if you told me that that would help,” he told Diane Sawyer during Tuesday’s segment.
Dane is currently undergoing treatment and participating in a research study. Though ALS is incurable, he is taking medication to manage his symptoms and staying active in looking for cutting-edge treatments. His decision to work with Dr. Merit Cudkowicz came down to one key feeling, hope.
“That’s what I got from Merit when I met her, was that there was a sense of hope,” he said. “I didn’t get that from other doctors that I met with.”
That hope is critical for Dane as he faces the difficult reality of a degenerative disease. During part one of the interview, aired Monday, he revealed the physical toll ALS is already taking on his body. “I have one functioning arm. My left side is functioning. My right side, [which is my dominant side], has completely stopped working,” he said. “My left arm is going. I feel like maybe a couple, a few more months and I won’t have my left. … I’m worried about my legs.”
The emotional toll is just as deep. Dane opened up about the fear of leaving his two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, whom he shares with his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart. “I’m angry because, you know, my father was taken from me when I was young and now there’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls while they’re very young,” he shared.
Despite the fear and frustration, Dane remains committed to his family and to staying in the fight. “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. … They’re loved. They know it.”
The actor also emphasized his belief that this diagnosis is not the end of his journey. “I’m very hopeful. I don’t think this is the end of my story. I’m pretty resilient. I just don’t feel like in my heart that this is the end of me.”
For fans, his raw honesty and willingness to speak out sheds light on the brutal reality of ALS, and the importance of hope, resilience, and love in the face of it.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
