The recent death of actor Eric Dane surprised a multitude of people, most of whom had never even heard of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS.

In April 2025, Dane announced publicly that he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nervous system and muscle strength. According to TargetALS.org, ALS is a devastating condition that affects approximately 1 out of every 400 Americans, with an average of 1.7-2.2 new diagnoses for every 100,000 Americans each year.

Symptoms start small, such as muscle twitching or weakness, but eventually grow much more serious, leading to the individual not being able to talk, walk, or even breathe, which eventually leads to death. Dane began having symptoms about 18 months before he announced his diagnosis publicly, and passed away on Feb. 19.

Eric Dane was an actor who had key roles in multiple shows, such as Dr. Mark Sloan on the popular hospital drama “Grey’s Anatomy.” Although that was his biggest role, he also went on to play roles in movies such as “Marley and Me,” “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Valentine’s Day,” “Burlesque,” and “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” Dane was a beloved member of the acting community, with many loyal fans.

Before his diagnosis, Dane reportedly had been losing strength in his right hand, but he blamed it on fatigue and texting too much. After it got worse, he began seeing multiple neurologists, who all gave him minor diagnoses and referred him to other neurologists. After nine months of searching for an answer, he was finally diagnosed with ALS in September of 2025. After he was diagnosed, he quickly lost feeling in his right arm, followed by his left. He went from being able to continue acting regularly to needing 24/7 help for daily living.

Two other celebrities who suffered from ALS were the famous physicist Stephen Hawking, who fought the disease for a well-above average of 55 years, while still being able to change the world with his studies and theories, and the creator of “SpongeBob,” Stephen Hillenburg, who passed away at the age of 57 in 2018.

To recognize those who are struggling and their families, and with ALS awareness month coming up in May, now is a perfect time to spread awareness about ALS. You can find more information about the disease and support the families of people who have suffered from ALS at ALS.org.