Eric Dane says he has 1 functioning arm as ALS progresses: 'There's a very good chance I'm going to be taken from my girls'
Eric Dane has lost function of the right side of his body following his ALS diagnosis, he shared in a new interview.
In a conversation with Diane Sawyer that aired on Monday's Good Morning America, the 52-year-old Grey's Anatomy alum shared his experience living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. He first announced his diagnosis in April.
'I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand, and I didn't really think anything of it at the time — I thought maybe I'd been texting too much, or my hand was fatigued,' Dane told Sawyer.
However, nine months after seeking an answer from hand specialists and neurologists, he learned that it was ALS that was impacting his motor function. Now, Dane's right side has 'completely stopped working.' He believes he won't be able to use his left side in mere 'months.'
Today, the Euphoria actor — who is set to return for the HBO drama's long-awaited third season — is leaning on his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two children. Though Gayheart began divorce proceedings in 2018, Gayheart dismissed their divorce filings in March 2025. In April, Gayheart told E! News that she and Dane are 'best of friends' and 'really close,' even though they were no longer romantically involved.
'We have managed to become better friends and better parents, and she is probably my biggest champion, my most stalwart supporter,' Dane said, noting the two now talk every day.
Though Dane doesn't believe his ALS diagnosis is the 'end' of his story, he said he's aware of his prognosis.
'I'm angry because, you know, my father was taken from me when I was young, and now, you know, there's a very good chance I'm going to be taken from my girls while they're very young,' Dane told Sawyer of his own father, who died by a gunshot wound when he was a child. 'I mean, really at the end of the day, all I want to do is spend time with my family and work a little bit if I can.'
ALS, also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease after the baseball player who was diagnosed with the condition in 1939, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Per the Cleveland Clinic, the disease targets the neurons in your brain and spinal cord, which leads to muscle control issues. Eventually the condition causes your muscles to atrophy, including those that impact breathing.
While Dane's first symptom was weakness in his right hand, ALS symptoms can vary from person to person and depend on which nerve cells are affected, according to the Mayo Clinic. Typically, the condition starts with muscle weakness — such as in the legs, feet, ankles or hands — that slowly gets worse over time and can lead to trouble walking. Some people with the condition may also notice muscle cramps or twitching in areas like the arms, shoulders or tongue. Speech may be impacted or slurred as well. Changes in thinking or behavior can also occur as the disease progresses.
The progression of the disease varies greatly from person to person; however, most people with ALS die due to respiratory failure within three to five years after symptoms begin. About 30% will live five years, and 13% will survive 10 years after the onset of symptoms, per Yale Medicine.
About 5,000 people a year are diagnosed with ALS in the United States, with more than 31,000 people living with it, per the American Medical Association.
Only about 10% of ALS cases are hereditary, meaning a gene linked to ALS is passed down. However, children of those with the gene have a 50% chance of inheriting it, per the Mayo Clinic.
Little is known about what causes nonhereditary ALS, which is the majority of cases. However, there are certain known risk factors that may increase your chances of developing the condition.
ALS is most often diagnosed in people between the ages of 60 and the mid-80s, with risk increasing steadily until about age 75. Men are slightly more likely to develop ALS before age 65, but that difference disappears by age 70.
Environmental factors also play a role, with people who smoke at higher risk. There's also some evidence that exposure to toxins like lead or certain workplace chemicals may raise the risk of developing ALS. Additionally, military veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with ALS, though the exact cause is unclear.
While there is no cure for ALS at the moment, treatments are improving. Medications may help slow the progression of the disease, and new gene therapies for genetic forms of the disease have shown promise as well. In addition, physical therapy, speech therapy and nutritional support can help mitigate symptoms and help people continue to talk, walk and function as the disease progresses.
Organizations continue to fund ALS research to develop the next generation of treatments. In 2014, the Ice Bucket Challenge went viral on social media, with more than 17 million people helping to raise over $115 million for the ALS Association. That funding supported breakthroughs in gene discovery and treatment development.
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