What Symptoms Did Eric Dane Experience Before His ALS Diagnosis and Death at 53?

Eric Dane was diagnosed with ALS nearly a year before his passing in February 2026 at the age of 53.

“I’ve always maintained a sense of humor about this,” Dane remarked in a posthumous interview for Famous Last Words on Netflix. “It’s quite intriguing what’s happening to my body. The mechanics of this disease are fascinating. When you zoom in on how it impacts individual moments, that’s when it can be a bit disheartening.”

Dane publicly disclosed his diagnosis in April 2025, confirming that he had ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (ALS is a nervous system condition that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and currently has no cure.)

“Surprisingly, my spirit has remained quite buoyant throughout this journey,” he shared in Famous Last Words. “I have no idea why I feel happy in any given moment, but I do. The progression of this disease is truly remarkable. I think I sound pretty good too, although I feel like I sound like a frog.”

Dane, who is survived by his two daughters with Rebecca Gayheart, had been open about his diagnosis and symptoms. Keep reading for more:

It Took Eric Dane 9 Months to Get Diagnosed

Eric Dane discussed his initial symptoms during a June 2025 appearance on Good Morning America.

“At first, I didn’t think much of it; I assumed I’d just been texting too much and that my hand was tired,” he explained. “A few weeks later, I noticed it had worsened. I consulted a hand specialist who referred me to another specialist, then a neurologist who sent me to another neurologist and remarked, ‘This is beyond my expertise.’”

While waiting for answers, Dane found that his left hand also ceased to function.

“I have one functioning arm. … My left side is working. My right side, which is my dominant side, has completely stopped functioning,” he said. “[My left arm] is still moving. I feel like in a couple more months I won’t have my left either. … I’m concerned about my legs.”

Eric Dane Lost Control of His Body

After Eric Dane’s ALS diagnosis, he took his daughter Georgia on a boating trip. (Dane shares Georgia and her older sister, Billie, with Rebecca Gayheart.)

“When I jumped into the ocean that day and realized I couldn’t swim back to the boat,” he told Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America. “I thought, ‘Oh God.’ That moment made me realize I’m not safe in the water anymore. [My daughter] pulled me back to the boat. I was in tears.”

He added, “I made sure she got back in the water with her friend and continued snorkeling with the guide. But I was heartbroken.”

Finding Hope Through Medicine

Eric Dane shared on Good Morning America in 2025 that Dr. Merit Cudkowicz brought him renewed hope amidst his incurable disease.

“Meeting Merit gave me a sense of hope,” he said. “I didn’t receive that from other doctors I consulted.”

Dane had been on medication and participated in a research study, jokingly stating, “I would fly to Germany and eat the head off a rattlesnake if you told me it might help.”

Eric Dane Remained Optimistic Regardless

“This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit,” Eric Dane emphasized in Famous Last Words, which aired after his passing. “[Resiliency is] my superpower. You can knock me down, but I’ll bounce right back, and I keep coming. I’ll get up time and time again.”

He concluded, “I hope I’ve shown that you can face anything, including the end of your days, and confront hell with dignity.”