Eric Dane has opened up about the profound effects of his ALS diagnosis. The 52-year-old actor, known for his role in “Grey’s Anatomy,” shared insights into his health struggles during an appearance on “Good Morning America.” It was his first interview since the diagnosis, and he told Diane Sawyer that he currently has “one functional arm.”
Dane described the situation, saying, “My left side is working. My right side is completely gone.” He added, somewhat calmly, “I feel like maybe a few more months, and I won’t have my left hand either.”
He revealed that the symptoms of the neurodegenerative disease started impacting him about a year and a half before he lost the use of his right hand. It took him nine months of tests before receiving the diagnosis in April.
“I hadn’t thought about it at the time,” he reflected during the interview.
Dane recounted a tedious journey through various specialists. “I went and saw a hand expert. He sent me to another hand specialist, and then the neurologist sent me to another neurologist, saying, ‘This is way above my salary grade,'” he recalled.
“I will never forget these three letters,” he said, referring to the ALS diagnosis. “It’s the second time I’ve woken up. It’s not a dream.”
Dane has two daughters, 15-year-old Billy Beatrice and 13-year-old Georgia Geraldine, with his wife, Rebecca Gayheart. The couple married in 2004, and although Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018, she reversed that decision shortly before Dane disclosed his diagnosis in March.
Discussing Gayheart’s unwavering support, Dane stated, “We managed to become better friends and better parents. She is probably my biggest champion and my most stubborn supporter. And I’m leaning against her.”
He also expressed concerns about the future, saying, “I’m fighting as much as I can. There’s a lot out of my control. When I was younger, my dad was taken away from me. Now it’s very likely that my girls will be taken when I’m very young.”
Ultimately, he shared, “At the end of the day, all I want to do is spend time with my family and, if possible, work a little bit. They are loved. They know that.”
Despite battling ALS, Dane continues to film for the third season of “Euphoria,” where he plays Cal Jacobs, a role he has held since 2019.
