Eric Dane on living with ALS: 'I have one functioning arm'

In his first televised interview since being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Euphoria and Grey's Anatomy actor Eric Dane has shared that he now only has "one functioning arm".
In a candid interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, the 52-year-old actor explained how the first symptoms appeared subtly, before gradually intensifying.
"I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand, and I didn't really think anything of it at the time," the he said.
"I thought maybe I had been texting too much, or my hand was fatigued," he continued. "But a few weeks later, I noticed it had gotten a little worse."
He added: "So I went and saw a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist. I went and saw a neurologist, and the neurologist sent me to another neurologist, who said, 'This is way above my pay grade.'"
He underwent nine months of testing before getting his "sobering" diagnosis in April.
Dane said he will never forget the three letters he received after his diagnosis. "It's on me the second I wake up. "It's not a dream," he stated.
FULL INTERVIEW: Former "Grey's Anatomy" star Eric Dane speaks out for the first time in a television interview about his battle with ALS, a degenerative neurological disorder. "I don't think this is the end of my story." @ABC News' @DianeSawyer reports. https://t.co/NM3oCKiozO pic.twitter.com/gzcuRAkplM
— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 16, 2025
Dane is married to Rebecca Gayheart, and the couple share two children, Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13.
While recounting stories about his diagnosis, the Marley & Me actor revealed that he once nearly drowned while snorkeling after his legs suddenly almost gave out on him.
He recalled how his daughter saved him that day. "She dragged me back to the boat; I was, like, breaking down in tears. I made sure she got back to the water with her friend and continued on with the snorkelling. I was just heartbroken," he said.
The American actor is also known for roles including Jason Dean in Charmed and as Mark 'McSteamy' Sloan on Grey's Anatomy.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Irish Sun

2 hours ago

• The Irish Sun

‘Get her out' rant Love Island fans as they call for star to be kicked off show for ‘bullying'

LOVE Island fans were left fuming during last night's explosive episode - with many demanding one islander be booted from the villa after accusing her of 'bullying' behaviour. Viewers vent their frustration with some even calling on ITV bosses to step in after islander constantly "digs out other girls." 5 Helena is slammed of bringing "mean girl energy" Credit: Eroteme 5 Helena accused Toni of marking her territory with Harrison Credit: Eroteme Viewers previously His confession Since then, Helena has failed to strike up a spark with any of the other boys in the villa. read more love island But she hasn't stayed out of the spotlight - instead, Helena's found herself caught up in the girls' drama. Sitting down with the newest boy Harrison, 22, to chat and flirt, Helena was talking about his other love interest, Toni, 24. Helena explained how she thought Toni was "marking her territory" with Harrison. She also said that it sometimes felt like Toni didn't like her talking to Harrison. Most read in Love Island Harrison was stunned and intrigued as Helena spoke about the American bombshell. Fans are flooding online forums with the same message: 'Get Helena out!' Love Island feud exposed as fans spot girl 'making faces' behind rival's back One wrote: "I feel as though she has such mean girl energy and can't hold a conversation without digging another girl out. "She has flashes of being funny and witty and I think her probably humiliating experience with Harry has left her feeling insecure and feeling worse but I've had enough of it now! "I also think if she left it would break up the unholy bully alliance of Meg/Megan/Helena (and increasingly Emily)". Another added: "Helena is just a boy follower. In all seriousness, Helena is so male centred it hurts. Love Island 2025 full lineup : A 30-year-old footballer with charm to spare. : A 22-year-old Manchester-based model, ready to turn heads. : A payroll specialist from Southampton, looking for someone tall and stylish. : International business graduate with brains and ambition. : A gym enthusiast with a big heart. : A Londoner with celebrity connections, aiming to find someone funny or Northern. : An Irish actress already drawing comparisons to Maura Higgins. : A personal trainer and semi-pro footballer, following in his footballer father's footsteps. : A towering 6'5' personal trainer. : A 25-year-old Irish rugby pro. : Love Island's first bombshell revealed as sexy Las Vegas pool party waitress. : The 24-year-old bombshell hails from London and works as a commercial banking executive. : A teaching assistant from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, who entered Love Island 2025 as a bombshell . : Works as a scaffolder day-to-day and plays semi-pro football on the side. : Pro footballer and model entering Love Island 2025 as a bombshell. Departures : : Axed after an arrest over a machete attack emerged. He was released with no further action taken and denies any wrongdoing. : A model and motivational speaker who has overcome adversity after suffering life-changing burns in an accident. : A boxer with striking model looks, seeking love in the villa. "My insides cringe when she puts down another woman herself or tries to get a man to say something negative about a woman. It's really sad how that is what feeds her own ego." In a spoiler for tonight's episode, A video shows him in tears as he sits with Dejon, who said if he could have it his way he would see the pair together. Semi pro footballer Harry, with tears in his eyes, replies: "Yeah. "Like, we just have nothing. "Do you know what I mean?" He then paused to dab his face and added: "Where it's just like, we were good and then it's just like she can't even be around me. "Geez. It's just weird man. "Like it'll never be the same now after the way I've acted, do you know what I mean?" The official Love Island account on X posted the caption: "The consequences of Harry's antics hit home." Yet many thought he was having a taste of his own medicine following his lothario conduct. One fan was quick to write: "Crying as if all of this wasn't his own doing. Men lack accountability fr." A second posted: "If it isn't the consequences of your own actions…." A third noted: "He's realised he's exhausted all his options that man does not want to be with Helena," while one agreed and put: "And tomorrow he'll want Emily we can't predict his next move." One then mused: "Some self reflection is always good." 5 The footballer said of his former partner 'she can't even be around me' Credit: X / @LoveIsland 5 He comes to terms with that his connection with Helena will 'never be the same' Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Tensions rise between two feuding cliques in the villa Credit: Eroteme

Sunday World

3 hours ago

• Sunday World

Skateboarder Tony Hawk rolls into Shannon Airport after Ireland getaway

Tony Hawk enjoyed a fruitful spell in Ireland and was spotted tearing up a skatepark in Cork last week Tony Hawk was spotted flying from Shannon Airport after a family holiday in Ireland. Photo: Shannon Airport A legendary skateboarder has been spotted jetting out of Shannon Airport after enjoying a getaway in Ireland. American skateboarder Tony Hawk enjoyed a fruitful spell in Ireland and was spotted tearing up a skatepark in Cork last week. The 57-year-old was holidaying with his family and spent two hours at the skatepark in Mallow before sharing the experience on social media. Staff from Shannon Airport posed with 'Birdman' as they shared a snap with the star on Friday evening. The caption read: 'Boarding pass for a boarding legend please. Our Graduate Management Trainee Adam met Tony Hawk. The absolute pleasures of airport life! Tony Hawk's latest Irish venture is an extension of a storied history in the country over the past decade. He married his wife, Cathy Goodman, at a ceremony at Adare Manor in Limerick on June 27, 2015. The San Diego native has been ranked as one of the most influential skateboarders of all time and is credited with bringing the sport to the mainstream. He won over 70 contests across a 17-year professional career and was known for introducing an array of tricks to the skateboarding world. Most notably, he was the first skateboarder to land a '900' – a trick involving two and a half mid-air rotations on a skateboard. Hawk's star has continued to rise since retiring from professional competition in 1999. Over 20 skateboarding games have been released in his name, including the launch of the best-selling Tony Hawks' Pro Skater series which initially ran from 1999-2002. After the series was credited with inspiring a generation of skateboarders in the early 2000s, an up-to-date remake was commissioned for the legendary Pro Skater 3 and 4 titles and is set to hit the shelves on July 11.

RTÉ News​

3 hours ago

• RTÉ News​

Anger as Kanye West to play Slovakia after Hitler song

The American rapper Kanye West, who released a song in May glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, will perform at a rap festival in Bratislava, Slovakia in July, organisers have said. Calling West's appearance a "global sensation", the organisers said it was his only confirmed live performance in Europe this year. West, the winner of 24 Grammys over the course of his career, has become notorious in recent years for his erratic behaviour and increasingly anti-Semitic and hate-filled rhetoric. The 48-year-old, who has legally changed his name to Ye, released Heil Hitler on 8 May, the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. "Hip-hop visionary, cultural icon and controversial genius YE will perform July 20, 2025 exclusively at the Rubicon Festival in Bratislava," the organisers said on the event's website. More than 3,000 people have signed a petition against West's performance in the Slovak capital. The rapper - a vocal supporter of US President Donald Trump - is "repeatedly and openly adhering to symbols and ideology connected with the darkest period of modern global history", two groups behind the petition said. "Kanye West's concert in our city and our country is an insult to historic memory, a glorification of wartime violence and debasement of all victims of the Nazi regime," the petition reads. In the Heil Hitler clip, dozens of black men - wearing animal pelts and masks, and standing in a block formation - chant the title of the song as West raps about being misunderstood and about his custody battle with ex-wife Kim Kardashian. The song ends with an extract of a speech by the Nazi dictator. West has also publicly endorsed fellow rapper and music mogul Sean Combs, who is on trial for alleged sex trafficking and racketeering. The Rubicon festival runs from 18-20 July.