Eric Dane Has Sadly Passed Away At 53 Following A Battle With ALS

Eric Dane, the hunky actor who found fame and the nickname “McSteamy” for his eight-year run as the plastic surgeon Mark Sloan on the ABC drama Grey’s Anatomy, has lost his battle with ALS. He was 53.

Dane died Thursday afternoon, his reps announced in a statement. He revealed in April that he had been diagnosed with the rare degenerative disease, having first experienced symptoms a year and a half earlier.

“He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife [actress Rebecca Gayheart] and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world,” reads the statement.

My first true introduction to Eric Dane probably came the same way as many of you. Watching a girlfriend fawn over him while watching 'Grey's Anatomy' in the role of McSteamy. As much as I wanted to hate him, it was impossible to deny that charisma. As time went on, I started seeing him in other movies ('Valentines Day', 'Burlesque', 'Marley & Me', 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die') and other TV series like the underrated 'The Last Ship'. What really blew me away, though, was his performance as Cal in 'Euphoria'. 

Simply an incredible, show stopping performance that stood out against this cast of now huge names like Zendaya, Sweeney, Elordi etc. Really layered, dark, and creepy as all hell. 

He seemed to be reaching a new chapter when he got his ALS diagnosis in April last year. Within a few months this man, who has always been a physically intimidating presence, was wheelchair bound. This is a horrifying disease and it's terrible to see a guy this young get stricken with it. Dane leaves his wife Rebecca Gayheart and two daughters behind.