Eric Dane died from respiratory failure that arose from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His family announced Dane’s death on February 19 of this year, nine months after the 53-year-old actor announced that he was struggling with the illness. “Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always,” they said in a statement. The degenerative disease affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. ALS first presents with muscle weakness, twitching, or trouble swallowing and can eventually lead to full-body paralysis as an individual loses control of muscles responsible for speaking, eating, and breathing. Dane had become an advocate for those suffering from the disease, which currently has no cure. Prior to his death, he also played a firefighter with ALS in an episode of Brilliant Minds to elevate his advocacy. “He did an incredible job at bringing awareness to this horrible disease in those remaining days, which was really brave of him to do,” fellow Grey’s Anatomy alum Patrick Dempsey said about his co-star. Dane is survived by his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and two daughters, ages 15 and 13.
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