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Eric Dane Before his death from ALS at the age of 53, he opened up about his journey to sobriety.
Dane has previously revealed that he struggled with substance abuse while starring in the film. Grey’s Anatomy. The actor played Dr. Mark Sloan (a.k.a. Mike Steamy) for eight seasons.
“If you watch ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ for eight years, I was comatose longer than I was awake. That’s when things started going my way,” Dane recalled in a June 2024 interview on Dax Shepard’s “Army Expert” podcast. “It was so overwhelming and I guess I just wanted to pretend it wasn’t and I was comfortable with it. Pretend you’ve been there but you haven’t been there.”
Dane eventually regained sobriety in 2011 after heading to a treatment facility. In April 2025, Dane revealed that he had been diagnosed with ALS. Dane died in February 2026 after publicly battling the disease for more than a year.
Dax Shepard and Eric Dane nearly got into a fight at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Shepard, 50, recalled a time when he and Dane, 52, nearly got into a fight in a boy group during the Monday, June 23, episode of the Armchair Experts podcast with guest Brad Pitt. “Eric Dane, I’m fucking him right now (…)
“It is with heavy hearts that we share that Eric Dane passed away Thursday afternoon after a courageous battle with ALS,” the statement read. “He spent his final days surrounded by his dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.” US Weekly. “Throughout his ALS journey, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same battle. He will be deeply missed and forever missed. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he received. The family asks for privacy as they work through this difficult time.”
Keep scrolling to see Dane’s honest words about his journey to sobriety.
Eric Dean relapses during ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ hiatus
Eric Dane recalls his own relapse. Grey’s Anatomy Canceled due to writers’ strike in 2007
“I have a lot of time on my hands and I’m not good at it,” he told Brad Falchuk in a famous last words interview The show aired in February 2026 before Dane’s death. “I needed structure, and Grey’s Anatomy gave me a lot of it. When we were on hiatus with the writers’ strike, I took a few months off, and then I went back to drugs and alcohol. I knew better because I had been sober for about nine years at the time, so I knew better.”
Eric Dean leaves ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ during drug rehab
Eric Dane Memories to be “let go” from Grey’s Anatomy in his battle with drug addiction. The actor clarified that he was not fired from the show due to personal issues.
“It certainly didn’t help though. I started to become like most actors who spend a lot of time on the show, and it started to become very expensive for the network,” he explained during a June 2024 appearance on Dax Shepard’s “The Armchair Expert” podcast. “The network knows that no matter who they keep, the show is going to do what it wants to do. As long as they still have ‘The Gray Robes,’ they’ll be fine.”
Eric Dane and Dax Shepard nearly had a ‘fight’ at AA
Eric Dane recalled during a June 2024 appearance on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast tense moments The two attended an AA meeting.
“One guy I brought in…who probably shouldn’t be in the meeting…didn’t stop and was buzzing,” Dane recalled. “Dax’s friend… resets this timer every time that guy goes by. The timer goes off seven times.”
Dane said he and Shepard went outside to “fight in the driveway” after he threatened to “set a fire.” Their sponsors prevented the argument from escalating into a verbal spat. Shepard added that he and Dane eventually bonded over their shared love of cars and the fact that they carried “the exact same bag of bulls***.”
How Eric Dean’s Struggles Inspired His ‘Euphoria’ Character
exist EuphoriaEric Dane as Cal Jacobs, Jacob ElordThe character of Nate. Dane shared his experience hiding his substance abuse issues as Carl struggled with his sexuality.
“Well, Carl and I are very similar in that we both know what it’s like to live a double life,” he told Famous Last Words in a February 2026 interview. “I’ve been through that with my struggles with drugs and alcohol. I know what it’s like to not match my inner self with my outer self.”
