Actress Sydney Sweeney and the rest of the ‘Euphoria’ cast pays tribute to the late Eric Dane after his death at the age of 53. His tragic death comes a year after he first announced he had been diagnosed with ALS.
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Eric Dane honored by the cast of Euphoria after his tragic death
On “Euphoria,” Eric Dane has played the role of Jacob Elrodi’s father, Cal, since season 1. He announced his ALS diagnosis shortly before production began on the series’ final episodes. Shortly after his tragic passing, several stars of the show took to social media to pay tribute to their late costar.
Sydney Sweeney was one of the first to comment, sharing a video of Eric Dane on her Instagram Stories. She wrote: “Forever will love you” alongside a red heart emoji. Barbie Ferreira also reshared a clip of Eric Dane, adding a white heart emoji to her Instagram Story.
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Euphoria creator pays tribute to late actor
Sam Levinson, the creator of the HBO series, also released a brief statement following Dane’s passing. “I am heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend Eric. Working with him was an honor,” he said. “Being his friend was a gift. Eric’s family is in our prayers. May his memory be a blessing.”
An HBO spokesperson also paid tribute to Dane in a statement, writing, “We are deeply saddened by the news of Eric Dane’s passing. He was incredibly talented and HBO was fortunate to work with him on three seasons of Euphoria. Our hearts go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.”
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Eric Dane wanted to continue working despite challenges with ALS
Despite his struggles with ALS, Dane said during a November 2025 panel discussion in conjunction with I AM ALS that he wanted to continue working until the end.
“I’m not about to concede my purpose to an illness. I’m just not capable of doing it,” he said at the time. “I have no reason to be in a good mood at any time, any day. I don’t think anyone would blame me if I went up to my room, crawled under the sheets, and spent the next two weeks crying. And I was a little pleasantly surprised when I realized I wasn’t built like that, because I thought for sure that would be me.”
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Shonda Rhimes pays tribute to Eric Dane
In addition to his role in “Euphoria”, Eric Dane was also known for his role in “Grey’s Anatomy”. Series creator Shonda Rhimes also paid tribute to the actor in a thoughtful statement on Instagram.
“Eric Dane was a beloved member of the Shondaland and Grey’s Anatomy families. He was truly a gifted actor whose portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan left an indelible mark on the show and audiences around the world,” she wrote alongside photos of the two posing together.
She went on to write, “We are grateful for the artistry, wit, friendship and humanity he shared with us for so many years. Our hearts go out to his family, loved ones and all those who were touched by his work.”
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Patrick Dempsey mourns loss of beloved co-star
Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane played Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd and Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
The day after Dane’s death, Dempsey made an appearance on “The Chris Evans Breakfast Show.” Dempsey revealed he woke up that morning to find Dane had passed away and found it difficult to express how he felt.
Dempsey said he had been texting with Dane a week before his death and that some of their friends had visited the actor. According to Dempsey, Dane had already struggled with his speech at that point.
“He was bedridden and it was very difficult for him to swallow, so his quality of life was deteriorating very quickly,” Dempsey said.
Eric Dane’s family confirms his death
On Thursday, February 19, 2026, the actor’s family confirmed that the beloved actor had passed away.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Eric Dane passed away Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” his family said in a brief statement. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.”
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“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same battle. He will be deeply missed and always lovingly remembered,” they continued. “Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
