Celebrities Who Have Faced ALS: From Eric Dane to Other Stars

From Lou Gehrig in 1939 to Eric Dane in 2025, many celebrities have openly confronted what is now recognized as ALS for years.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a terminal neurodegenerative condition. The illness causes individuals to slowly lose muscular control, starting with mild stiffness or twitches and eventually leading to an inability to eat and breathe.

Since Gehrig’s passing in 1941, numerous public figures have battled this disease. American physicist Stephen Hawking began showing symptoms of ALS in 1963 and, despite being given a mere two years to live, he remarkably survived until 2018, raising awareness throughout his journey.

Even with advancements that can slow the disease and alleviate symptoms, a cure remains elusive. Dane disclosed his diagnosis in April 2025, stating in a statement to People, “I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am thankful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this new chapter.”

“I feel blessed that I can continue working and am eager to return to the set of Euphoria next week,” he added. “I kindly ask for privacy for my family and me during this time.”

A representative for Dane confirmed his passing at age 53 in February 2026.

Scroll down to learn about more celebrities who have faced ALS:

Jenny Slatten

90 Day Fiancé star Jenny Slatten shared in May 2026 that she was recently diagnosed with ALS after noticing symptoms for over a year.

“There were rumors that I had a stroke, but it was actually ALS,” Slatten posted on Instagram as she disclosed the news for the first time. “Currently, we are open to any assistance. Treatments, clinical trials, lifestyle adjustments—anything that could help manage this disease or slow its progression.”

Russell Andrews

Actor Russell Andrews announced his ALS diagnosis in May 2026.

“I am a person living with ALS. I was diagnosed in late fall last year. It’s been a humbling experience,” said the Better Call Saul alum during an appearance on CNN’s The Story Is With Elex Michaelson. “I thought I had a stroke during COVID. It was a challenging time.”

Andrews added, “There were moments of twitching. I thought I had pinched nerves in my neck, but they were frequent. I struggled with tasks I typically handled easily. I was dropping cups and glasses, and at night, it felt like things were crawling up and down my arms—those were the nerves.”

Andrews’ fiancée, actress Erica Tazel, will take on the role of caretaker.

“Processing this is a journey. When he first shared the diagnosis, I was surprisingly calm,” Tazel recalled. “In a way, it addressed many questions we had. We noticed certain changes—for instance, it took him longer to clean the pool. His walking had a subtle shift… little things like that. I knew something was off, and now we understand what it was.”

Eric Dane

Dane, known for his role as Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy and Cal Jacobs on Euphoria, announced his diagnosis in April 2025 at age 52. He passed less than a year later in February 2026.

Stephen Hawking

Hawking had a slow-progressing type of ALS, allowing him to live for decades until his death in 2018 at age 76. During his lifetime, he maintained his work as a theoretical physicist and became an inspiration for many with neurodegenerative diseases.

Brooke Eby

After being diagnosed in 2022, Eby started her social media accounts to share her experiences and quickly became a prominent figure in the ALS community. As of April 2025, she boasts over 220,000 followers on Instagram, where she provides updates on her health journey. She has lost the use of both legs and is wheelchair-bound as her arm functionality also begins to decline.

Catfish Hunter

Known as baseball’s first free agent, Hall of Fame pitcher Hunter was diagnosed with ALS in 1997. He passed away two years later at the age of 53.

John Driskell Hopkins

A founding member of the Zac Brown Band, Hopkins was diagnosed with ALS in 2021 and announced it publicly in May 2022. As of April 2025, he continues his musical career, telling CBS in 2024, “I will sing through it.” He also established the organization Hop on a Cure to generate funds for ALS research.

Sarah Langs

The well-known sportswriter began noticing symptoms in 2019 and received her official diagnosis in 2021. Despite her condition, she has continued working for MLB.com and has completed three marathons while managing her symptoms. Langs now uses a wheelchair but is honored by teams across Major League Baseball on Lou Gehrig Day, celebrated annually on June 2.

Aaron Lazar

The actor, recognized for his roles in The Wolf of Wall Street and J. Edgar, revealed in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with ALS two years earlier.

Pete Frates

The former college baseball player gained notoriety in 2014 for his role in making the Ice Bucket Challenge a viral success to fund ALS research. He was diagnosed in 2012 and passed away in 2019 at the age of 34.

Stephen Hillenburg

Hillenburg, the animator and voice actor behind SpongeBob SquarePants, received his diagnosis in 2017 and died a year later at age 57. The 2020 film The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run was dedicated to him.

Roberta Flack

The R&B singer and five-time Grammy winner retired in 2022 after ALS made it impossible for her to continue singing. She was famously known for songs like “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” Flack passed away in February 2025 at age 88.

Steve Gleason

A safety for the New Orleans Saints from 2000 to 2007, Gleason received his diagnosis just weeks before he and his wife discovered they were expecting their first child, son Rivers. In 2019, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his efforts in raising awareness for ALS, and in 2024, he received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award from the ESPYs.

Mike Pocaro

The bassist for the rock band Toto stepped away from the group in 2007 when muscle weakness hindered his ability to play. He publicly announced his diagnosis in 2010 and passed away in 2015 at age 59.

Kim Shattuck

Shattuck was the lead vocalist and guitarist for punk rock group the Muffs. She continued to make music with the band until shortly before her passing, with the Muffs releasing an album just 16 days after she died in 2019 at age 56.

Kenneth Mitchell

The actor, known for his lead role in the CBS series Jericho, shared his diagnosis in February 2020. He continued acting, incorporating his wheelchair into his part in Star Trek: Discovery. Mitchell passed away in 2024 at age 49.

Joe Bosall

A member of the Oak Ridge Boys, Bosall retired in January 2024 due to a neuromuscular disorder that was later revealed to be ALS, which he was diagnosed with posthumously in July at age 76.

Tanea Brooks

The AEW wrestling star announced in May 2026 her diagnosis of “terminal ALS” at the age of 47.

“There isn’t much research on ALS, and we don’t know how much time I have,” Brooks explained. “It clarifies why I struggle with walking and talking [and] all my functions will soon decline. But now, we can prepare for the future and what’s to come.”

She added, “I want to express my gratitude to [AEW founder] Tony Khan and AEW for their support during this medical journey. It’s an unparalleled blessing, and I genuinely thank you all for your prayers. Please keep praying for a peaceful journey and passing.”