Eric Dane says ALS has left him with 'one functioning arm', recounts daughter rescuing him from drowning
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Eric Dane has opened up about the life-altering symptoms he’s been facing since being diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
The 52-year-old actor shared his journey during a June 16 appearance on 'Good Morning America', speaking candidly with Diane Sawyer about how the condition is progressing.
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
Eric Dane has 'one functioning arm', fears left hand may stop working soon
Eric Dane explained that ALS has already rendered the right side of his body unusable, and now his left arm is getting weaker.
“I have one functioning arm. My dominant side. My left side is functioning, my right side has completely stopped working,” Dane said in the emotional interview on the show.
“I feel like maybe a couple more months and I won’t have my left hand either. It’s sobering," he added.
The 'Grey’s Anatomy' and 'Euphoria' star was diagnosed in April following nine months of extensive testing.
He recalled first noticing symptoms about a year and a half ago when his right hand started feeling weak.
“I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand, and I didn't really think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I'd been texting too much and my hand was fatigued,” Dane said as per People.
The concerns grew when "a few weeks later, I noticed that it had gotten a little worse.”
Eric Dane says daughter rescued him during terrifying snorkeling moment
As the symptoms worsened, Eric Dane sought help from specialists.
“So I went and saw a hand specialist who sent me to another hand specialist," Dane revealed.
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"I went and saw a neurologist, and the neurologist sent me to another neurologist and said, 'This is way above my pay grade,’” he recalled.
After nearly a year of appointments and tests, the diagnosis came. “I will never forget those three letters,” Dane said. “It’s on me the second I wake up. It’s not a dream.”
While Dane is still able to walk, he admitted, “I'm worried about my legs.”
He also shared a frightening moment when he lost strength while snorkeling with his daughter and had to be rescued.
“She dragged me back to the boat,” said Dane. “I was like, breaking down in tears. I made sure she got back to the water with her friend and continued on with the snorkeling. I was just heartbroken," as per Variety.
Eric Dane opens up about fear of leaving his daughters too soon
Despite his diagnosis, Eric Dane confirmed he’s returning to 'Euphoria' for Season 3. He is determined to keep fighting.
“In my heart, I don’t feel like this is the end for me,” said Dane. “I’m fighting as much as I can. There’s so much about it that’s out of my control," he said on the show.
Dane also shared deep emotional pain tied to his childhood loss. “I’m angry because my father was taken from me when I was young, and now there’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls when they’re very young,” Dane said.
He grew emotional when speaking about his ex-wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, who has stood by him through his health battle.
“We have managed to become better friends and better parents,” said Dane. “She is probably my biggest champion and my most stalwart supporter, and I lean on her," emotional Dane said.
