Eric Dane, the actor best known for his role as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on the ABC series Grey’s Anatomy, died on Thursday at the age of 53 of complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Dane, who also starred as real estate developer and patriarch Cal Jacobs on the HBO drama Euphoria, was open about his diagnosis during the final year of his life, telling People in April of 2025: “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter. I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week.”
Born and raised in San Francisco, Dane moved to Los Angeles in 1993, where he landed guest spots on sitcoms including Saved by the Bell, Roseanne, and Married…With Children before establishing himself in the public eye with recurring roles on the ABC medical series Gideon’s Crossing and the WB witchcraft drama Charmed. Dane’s film work began with a role in the 2000 indie drama The Basket, going on to include parts in X-Men: The Last Stand, Marley Me, Valentine’s Day, and many more.
In 2006, Dane made his first appearance as Sloan on Season 2 of Grey’s Anatomy, quickly garnering enough admiring fan attention for the character to become a series regular in the show’s third season. “The towel scene has definitely done something for me,” Dane said in a 2007 interview, referring to an instantly iconic Grey’s Anatomy moment in which Sloan emerges from the shower clad in only a towel. He added: “I guess nobody has to guess what is under my T-shirt anymore.” Dane was lauded for widening his range as an actor with his role as Jacobs on Euphoria, telling Entertainment Weekly in 2022: “There s no vanity with this character, especially in this moment. I hope Cal gets an epic soliloquy every season."
Dane is survived by his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, as well as the couple’s two daughters. “[Dane] spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world,” publicist Melissa Bank said in a statement following Dane’s death.
