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Eric Dane is published in something very personal and very, very painful.
The actor has been diagnosed with ALS.
The former Gray anatomy star, a consistent and successful television presence for many years, confirmed the condition for herself through a statement to People Magazine.
“I was diagnosed with ALS.” Dane told the outlet Late April 10th. “As I navigate this next chapter, I am grateful that my beloved family is by my side.”
He added:
“I can continue working and look forward to returning to the set of happiness next week. During this time, give my family and my privacy.”
The 52-year-old is married to Rebecca Gayhart, whose spouse shares two children: Billy Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13.
Dane starred in 139 episodes of Gray’s Anatomy as Dr. Mark Sloan.
His other major credits include Euphoria, The Last Ship, Big Screen Hit of Last Year, and Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
In her beloved HBO drama, Dane plays Cal Jacobs, the strict father of Jacob Elordi’s character Nate Jacobs. He will begin filming the role of the long-running third season on April 14th.
ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, as the first baseman of the New York Yankees died in 1941.
The prognosis for people with this rare degenerative disease, which causes progressive muscle paralysis, is usually not positive.
Those with first experience with ALC experience cramps and weakness in the arms and legs, often followed by obscure speech.
According to Mayo Clinic, the disease affects the brain and spinal nerve cells that control muscle movements, causing patients to lose the ability to speak, eat, walk and breathe slowly.
There is no cure for this disease. The Muscular Dystrophy Association says that patients are usually only alive 3-5 years after diagnosis, but they can live for decades.
Sadly, they don’t often live in very comfortable situations.
In addition to Eric Dane, other well-known celebrities diagnosed with ALS include Aaron Lazare, John Driskel Hopkins, Eric Stephens, Joe Bonsal, Roberta Flack, Kenneth Mitchell and Stephen Hawking.
We send thoughts and prayers to Eric Dane and his loved ones.
