LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Actor Eric Dane, best known for his roles on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” lost his battle with ALS 10 months after publicly sharing his diagnosis.
Dane, however, continued to work even after he went public with his ALS diagnosis.
He talked about living with the disease and raising awareness of ALS the whole time.
A few weeks ago, the ALS Network gave Dane its top advocacy award as a tribute to his unwavering dedication to helping find a cure.
Because of the physical realities of ALS, he wasn’t able to attend in person, but he did see the dedication video featuring his “Grey’s Anatomy” co-star, Ellen Pompeo.
We spoke with the president of the ALS Network about what it’s meant in the big picture.
“He became the face to do that. In this moment, we together are carrying forward. We are carrying forward his legacy,” Dr. Sheri Strahl said.
Months before his death, Dane recorded what would become his final interview with Netflix as part of their series “Famous Last Words.”
At the end of the interview, he was left alone with the camera and recorded a deeply personal message for his two teenage daughters.
“So, you have to live now. The present is all you have. Treasure it. Cherish every moment. The two of you are different people, but you’re both strong and resilient. You inherited resilience from me. That’s my superpower. I get up again and again and again,” he said.
Tributes for Dane pour in
In a UK radio interview, Patrick Dempsey became emotional as he reflected on the loss of his “Grey’s Anatomy” co-star.
He said Dane always made him laugh, was very professional and really smart.
“We have him in all his glory on ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ so when you watch it, he’s still very much alive,” Dempsey said.
“Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes shared a tribute to Dane on Instagram Friday.
“He was truly a gifted actor whose portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan left an indelible mark on the series and on audiences around the world,” she wrote.
How you can help
The ALS Association says it has seen a 200% increase in donations since the news of Dane’s passing.
If you’d like to learn more about the disease or donate, you can visit ALS.org.
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