Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane reveals he’s been diagnosed with ALS
The 52-year-old actor from California has disclosed his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive nervous system disorder that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, as described by the Mayo Clinic.
In his statement to PEOPLE, Dane expressed: "I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter."
The former Charmed star wed Rebecca Gayheart in 2004, and they have two daughters – Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13. Dane, who portrays the Jacobs family head in HBO's popular series Euphoria, plans to join the production of season three starting April 14.
"I feel fortunate that I can continue working and am looking forward to returning to the Euphoria set next week," he added. "I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time."
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease after the baseball player who had it, first shows as minor symptoms like limb twitching or weakness, speaking or swallowing difficulties, before gradually affecting all muscles needed for movement, speech, eating and breathing.
The condition has no cure and is fatal, with patients typically surviving three to five years after diagnosis, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, though some people live longer.
This news emerges shortly after Gayheart withdrew her divorce petition from Dane. The 53-year-old had filed for divorce in 2018 after 14 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences, US Weekly reports.
Before Dane's ALS announcement, Gayheart told E! News that they were concentrating on their family: "We are best of friends. We are really close. We are great coparents. We really figured out the formula to staying a family and I think our kids are benefiting greatly from it, and we are as well."
"I think it's important to not look at a relationship that ends as a failure. It's just a season. It wasn't a failure. It was a huge success," she noted.
"We were married for, I mean, we are still married, but together for 15 years and we had two beautiful kids so I think that's a successful relationship, and that's how we look at it."
Several well-known individuals have also received ALS diagnoses throughout history. The list includes renowned British physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking, along with vocalist Joe Bonsall, performer Aaron Lazar, instrumentalist John Driskell Hopkins, NFL fullback Eric Stevens, singer-pianist Roberta Flack, and Canadian actor Kenneth Mitchell.
