Jensen Ackles 'proud' of incredibly resilient friend Eric Dane battling ALS: 'He is fight, not flight'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jensen Ackles opened up about his admiration for 'Countdown' co-star Eric Dane, who revealed his ALS diagnosis earlier this year.
The 'Supernatural' star shared heartfelt words while promoting the new Prime Video crime series.
Jensen Ackles says Eric Dane brought 'kindness, leadership and experience' to 'Countdown' set
Ackles said he has come to value Dane not only as an actor but also as a person during their time on set.
"He's an incredible human being," Ackles said during an interview with People.
"I can't say enough about him. I was thrilled to get the opportunity to work with him, but even more so to get to know him as a person. He brought a kindness, a leadership, and an experience to the set that I think we all fed off of," he continued.
The 47-year-old actor noted how Dane has remained strong as he navigates amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive disease that affects nerve cells and muscles.
"He's been incredibly resilient," Ackles said. "He is fight, not flight. I'm just overly proud of Eric — of his strength, what he's doing, what he's dealing with, and the journey he's on."
"I'm proud to know him, but I'm even more proud to be his friend," he added.
Eric Dane says 'my right side has completely stopped working'
Dane, 52, revealed in April that he had been diagnosed with ALS. In a June 16 interview with 'Good Morning America,' he shared that the disease has advanced significantly.
"I have one functioning arm," Dane said in the interview. "My left side is functioning. My right side has completely stopped working," he told USA Today.
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
The actor, widely known for his role as Dr Mark Sloan on 'Grey’s Anatomy,' added, "I won’t have my left hand either" in a matter of months, which he called "sobering."
While his ability to walk has not yet been affected, he admitted he's "worried" about his legs. Dane is expected to reprise his role as Cal Jacobs in the third season of HBO's 'Euphoria.'
Jensen Ackles says 'Countdown' cast had 'a disgusting amount of chemistry' on and off screen
Jensen Ackles also spoke about the strong connection between the 'Countdown' cast members during filming.
"I mean, it was intense, it was immediate, and it lasted," he said. "It was almost odd. The crew was almost taken aback."
He added, "They were like, 'Is this even real? Do these people get along like this?'"
In the series, Ackles plays LAPD detective Mark Meachum, who joins a covert task force. He said he related most to his character’s strong “work ethic.”
