TV star Eric Dane is barely recognisable amid sad health update
The former Grey’s Anatomy star has revealed he has ‘no reason to be in a good spirit’ in a new chat about his health battle.
Eric Dane is worlds away from the version of himself viewers came to know during his Grey’s Anatomy era.
The 53-year-old actor, who fans of the long-running medical drama will remember fondly as McSteamy, looked barely recognisable as he gave a devastating update on his ongoing battle with ALS.
During a virtual appearance for I AM ALS, the community-lead non-profit organisation in which he works closely with to spread awareness of the debilitating disease, the actor gave a grim update about how he is managing.
“I have no reason to be in a good spirit at any time, on any given day,” he shared.
“I don’t think anybody would blame me if I went upstairs in my bedroom, crawled under the sheets, and spent the next two weeks crying.”
Dane is currently fighting Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which is a disease of the nervous system affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and ultimately leads to loss of muscle control and deteriorates over time.
Back in June, the Euphoria star revealed that he was diagnosed with the disease after he began to experience weakness in his hands.
“I didn’t really think anything of it at the time,” the actor shared on Good Morning America
shortly after going public with his diagnosis.
“I thought maybe I had been texting too much or my hand was fatigued. But a few weeks later, I noticed it had gotten a little worse.”
The star has sadly been noticeably deteriorating since.
His recent admission comes just months after the actor was spotted using a wheelchair to get around.
Pictures emerged in October with Dane’s worsening symptoms on full display as he wheeled his way through Toronto airport.
His ongoing battle with ALS and its crippling symptoms has seen the star miss the Grey’s Anatomy reunion at this year’s Emmy Awards - a moment he was devastated to miss.
“So I was in the hospital during the Emmys getting stitches put in my head,” he told Washington Post, sharing that he suffered a terrifying fall prior which meant he needed to be hospitalised.
“I missed an opportunity I was really looking forward to.”
Despite his symptoms, Dane has continued to work as much as he can.
He shares his time fiercely campaigning for ALS awareness with roles where he honours those battling the same disease such as NBC’s series Brilliant Minds, playing a fightfighter with ALS.
While his skills on set are now limited, the star said he plans on playing ALS-centric characters to keep working.
“I am fairly limited in what I can do physically as an actor, but I still have my brain and I still have my speech,” he said.
“So I am willing to do just about anything. I’ll take on a role. But I think from here on out, it’s going to have to be ALS-centric.
“It’s going to be very difficult for me to play any other role... and I’m fine with that.”
Dane separated from his wife Rebecca Gayheart, whom he shares two daughters with in 2018. While they remain split, their divorce was put on hold following Dane’s diagnosis.
Originally published as TV star Eric Dane is barely recognisable amid sad health update
Aussie TV actor, 55, suddenly unrecognisable
