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NEED TO KNOW
Eric Dane died on Thursday, Feb. 19, his family confirmed to PEOPLE
Dane, who was 53, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in April 2025
The life expectancy for many is three to five years after diagnosis; however, some can live longer, according to multiple medical outlets
Eric Danedied on Thursday, Feb. 19, nearly one year after being diagnosed withamyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).
His family shared ina statementwith PEOPLE that Dane died surrounded by his loved ones. "Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight," read the statement.
ALS is a progressive "nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord," according to theMayo Clinic. The condition, also called Lou Gehrig's disease (after the famous baseball player who died of ALS in 1941), causes loss of muscle control and impacts one's ability to "move, speak, eat and breathe."
The condition typically worsens over time, and there is currently no cure.
While each patient's journey is different, many with ALS will live three to five years after being diagnosed, per theMuscular Dystrophy Association. However, about 30% live for over five years, and 10-20% for more than a decade. "Survival beyond 20 years is possible but rare," the MDA said.
TheMayo Clinicnoted that for many, the life expectancy could be 14 to 18 months, adding that the leading cause of death among those with ALS is breathing failure.
Various factors are also considered for life expectancy, such as sex and age. Younger males have "more favorable survival rates," per the MDA.
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About 5,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year, according to theCleveland Clinic. While there is no cure, treatments can help slow the impact of the disease.
In April 2025, Dane exclusively told PEOPLE thathe had been diagnosed with ALS. In the months after, he served as a lead advocate in spreading awareness and pushing for extensive research.
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During a virtual panel late last year forI AM ALS— whichmarked his last public appearance— theGrey's Anatomystar opened up aboutwhy it was "imperative"for him to share his experience with ALS.
"I make sure that people are aware of what ALS is and what it's about, and more importantly, what we can do to combat it and improve the landscape, because it's so rocky and littered with hurdles and bureaucracy and all this other nonsense that we're trying to sift through so we can get to a place where we go, start working on solution," Dane said at the time.
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Dane was also adamant about not giving up on his own journey and helping provide resources for others.
"I havetwo daughters at home," he said, referencing his daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14. "I want to see them, you know, graduate college, and get married and maybe have grandkids. You know, I want to be there for all that. So I'm going to fight to the last breath on this one."
"We are heartbroken by the passing of our friend Eric Dane—a fierce advocate, a generous spirit, and a true champion in the movement to end ALS," a spokesperson for IAM ALS said in a statement to PEOPLE late Thursday.
"Eric used his platform not for attention, but for action," the statement continued. "From the moment he joined I AM ALS, he showed up with courage and conviction, asking how he could use his superpowers to help the movement grow. It was an honor to brainstorm with him, to walk alongside him in the halls of Congress on behalf of our community, amplify the urgent need for ACT for ALS and research funding, and drive toward treatments and, ultimately, a cure. He understood that ALS is not just a diagnosis; it is a call to action for families, for answers, and for change."
Dane's impact "will live on in the research being funded, the policies being advanced, and the community he helped grow by his honesty, his bravery, and his belief in a better future for anyone struggling with this diagnosis," the statement concluded.
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