Eric Dane has never been afraid to talk about his health.
Before the Grey’s Anatomy alum passed away on February 19 at the age of 53, he spoke candidly about his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“I started to feel a little bit of weakness in my right hand,” Eric recalled of his first health problems during an appearance on Good Morning America last year. “I didn’t think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I was texting too much or my hands were tired, but after a few weeks I noticed that my symptoms were getting a little worse.”
Eric was diagnosed with ALS nine months after first experiencing movement problems. As he says, “Those three letters will never be forgotten.”
And even though the disease (which affects the way nerve cells and muscles communicate, causing paralysis and respiratory failure) weakened his body, Eric didn’t let it end his acting career.
In fact, he continued to work after announcing his ALS diagnosis, filming the third seasons of Countdown, Brilliant Minds, and Euphoria.
