Eric Dane is facing a life-altering diagnosis just as his personal life takes an unexpected turn.
The TV personality reveals he has been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the announcement coming shortly after he and his estranged wife Rebecca Gayheart hit pause on their divorce.
Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart, who married in 2004 after a whirlwind ten-month romance, share two daughters, Billie Beatrice and Georgia Geraldine.
Eric Dane Plans To Keep Working Amid ALS Diagnosis
Dane is facing one of the biggest battles of his life, and he is doing it with courage and the support of his loved ones. The actor revealed he has been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive neurological disease that gradually robs individuals of their ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe.
Despite the gravity of the diagnosis, Dane says he is staying focused. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” he shared in a statement.
In a show of resilience, the star added that he is not stepping away from the spotlight just yet. “I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to the set of Euphoria next week,” Dane told PEOPLE while also asking for privacy during this difficult time.
The ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Joins Prominent Figures Battling The Rare Degenerative Disease
According to the Mayo Clinic, ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a rare degenerative condition that causes progressive paralysis. Early signs can include muscle twitching, weakness in the limbs, and slurred speech.
As the disease worsens, patients lose their ability to perform basic bodily functions independently. While the average life expectancy post-diagnosis is three to five years, some individuals can live much longer. There is currently no cure.
Dane joins a list of notable figures who have faced the disease, including Aaron Lazar, Roberta Flack, Stephen Hawking, and the late Kenneth Mitchell.
Dane And Rebecca Gayheart End 7-Year Divorce Battle Before Court Deadline
Weeks before sharing news of his ALS diagnosis, Dane closed the door on another long-running chapter in his life, his stalled divorce from Rebecca Gayheart.
The 52-year-old and the actress officially dismissed their divorce seven years after first filing. As The Blast reports, the pair signed off on the paperwork days before a court-ordered hearing that could have forced them to act or risk having the case thrown out altogether.
In January, a judge issued a “final notice,” warning the estranged couple that if they did not move forward, the case could be dismissed entirely. A March 20 hearing was scheduled to settle the matter, with potential penalties for failing to appear.
The ‘Scream’ Actress Asked For Spousal Support And Joint Custody
The couple initially filed for divorce in February 2018, with Gayheart citing “irreconcilable differences” after 14 years of marriage. Subsequently, she requested joint legal and physical custody of their two daughters, Billie and Georgia, and spousal support.
Dane was in complete agreement, and by 2019, they had already exchanged preliminary financial disclosures. But then, everything went quiet.
For years, the case sat in limbo with no significant movement, and despite living separate lives, Gayheart and Dane continued to co-parent with mutual respect.
“After 14 years together, we have decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family. We will continue our friendship and work as a team to co-parent our two beautiful girls, as they are the most important thing in the world to us,” Dane shared after the split.
Eric Dane And Rebecca Gayheart’s Relationship Journey
The couple’s journey began in an unremarkable way. Gayheart once recalled that their first meeting was not anything out of the ordinary: “It’s probably one of the least interesting stories in the world. It went basically like this: ‘You wanna go out?’ ‘Yeah, sure.’ Ten months later, we were married.”
What started as a simple connection soon became a fixture of tabloid headlines. Their relationship was often the subject of intense media scrutiny, as the couple’s quirky and personal moments intrigued the public.
The most infamous incident occurred in 2009 when a private video of the couple and another woman in a bathtub was leaked online. The scandal made waves, but instead of fading into the background, it only deepened public fascination with their marriage.
Eric Dane’s determination to keep moving forward for his family and career is inspiring.